Rory O'Hanlon
Question:134 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health and Children the dates on which the North Eastern Health Board applied for the appointment of a second obstetrician at Monaghan General Hospital in the past five years. [4080/01]
Written Answers. - Consultant Appointments.
Responsibility for the provision of services at Monaghan General Hospital rests with the North Eastern Health Board, which has statutory responsibility for the provision of health services in its functional area.
The board is committed to developing its acute hospital services in line with the needs and requirements of its resident population. In 1998, the board adopted a policy framework for the development of its acute hospitals entitled "North East Hospitals – The Next Five Years – A Framework for Continuing Development". This emphasised the need for high quality, safe and accessible acute hospital services, utilising all five hospital sites within the board's area. It confirmed the board's commitment to developing each hospital site within the two hospital groups, Cavan-Monaghan hospital group and the Louth-Meath hospital group. The Cavan-Monaghan hospital group has been a major beneficiary of this policy.
I am informed by the board that vacancies in respect of consultant medical staff for Cavan-Monaghan have been processed by the board in the usual way following resignation or retirement. It has not, until recently, submitted an application for the post of a second obstetrician for Monaghan General Hospital. On 6 February last, my Department received a proposal from the board seeking immediate approval to the appointment of additional temporary consultant medical staff, to the Louth-Meath and Cavan-Monaghan hospital groups. One of these temporary consultant posts is a consultant obstetrician/ gynaecologist to be based at Monaghan General Hospital.
The question of additional consultant medical posts is a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal, the statutory body set up to regulate appointments of consultant medical staff in hospitals providing services under the health Acts. My Department has confirmed that in the particular circumstances, it has no objection to the submission by the North Eastern Health Board of these proposals to An Comhairle for its consideration.