Vol. 545 No. 1
202 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to set up a national general practitioner manpower strategy as suggested by the Chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners (details supplied). [29598/01]
The Deputy is referring to a subject raised by the chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners which relates to the ongoing commitment of the college to the development of primary care and in particular to the whole area of manpower and training and their wish to establish a group of interested stakeholders which would address these issues.
I am generally supportive of this approach and I would like to progress the matter in the context of consultations which will take place with all stakeholders following the publication of the new health strategy yesterday and the publication tomorrow of the primary care strategy.
203 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals for the development of respiratory medicine; and if this matter will be dealt with in detail in the forthcoming health strategy. [29599/01]
A comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs has been conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. On foot of that review, the Government has decided in the context of the new health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. A total of 650 of these beds will be in place by the end of 2002. The next phase of the review will involve an examination and assessment of clinical activity data by specialty, including respiratory medicine.
