Seymour Crawford
Question:135 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to employ extra ENT specialists. [19797/00]
Written Answers. - Consultant Appointments.
The provision of ENT services is the responsibility of the health boards and hospitals in the first instance. Applications for additional ENT consultant posts will be considered in the context of service developments for 2001.
The medical staffing of public hospitals is being considered by the medical manpower forum at present. The forum is due to finalise its first report shortly. One of the key principles of the forum is to ensure that the highest quality of medical care is provided for those who require the services of hospitals. This will require an increase in the current number of hospital consultant posts and a number of other linked changes. Following completion of the forum's first report, it is proposed that the next steps should be an assessment of the effect of the changes recommended in a representative number of hospitals. This assessment will take into account the changes in medical staffing required to give effect to the recommendations of the forum.