Vol. 537 No. 4
95 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has had discussions with the Medical Council regarding the concern expressed among consultants that the Medical Council's tightening up of its rules on the qualifications for temporarily registered locum consultants will lead to a severe curtailment of services and an increase in waiting lists from 1 July 2001. [16376/01]
Temporary registration for locum consultant posts in hospitals which have yet to be visited by the Medical Council is only granted to doctors who hold the qualifications and experience specified by the recognised postgraduate training bodies for consultant appointment, and all hospitals have been advised of this. It is acceptable for NCHDs to act up for brief periods of time e.g. holiday and study leave cover, as long as this acting up occurs in the hospitals for which the doctors are registered.
