Vol. 524 No. 2
271 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of vacancies in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, for consultants, senior and junior doctors, technicians and nursing staff; the number of vacant wards and beds resulting from staff shortages; his views on whether the staff shortage is due to a lack of adequate funding to the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21969/00]
The information requested by the Deputy is outlined as follows and applies to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, at present: consultant staffing – there are no consultant staff vacancies; senior and junior doctors – there is one NCHD vacancy. This is in respect of a SHO post in anaesthetics; technicians – there is one vacancy for a technologist in charge, histology-cytology, one vacancy for a senior technician, histology-cytology, one vacancy for a senior technician, haematology; nursing staff: There were 27 nursing vacancies as at 30-9-00. Some of these vacancies have been covered by temporary staff, agency nurses and overtime and a number of vacant wards and beds resulting from staff shortages; in the past week, 21 public beds and 12 private beds were closed due to staff shortages.
