Vol. 545 No. 5
57 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the membership and terms of reference of the national task force to implement the recommendations of the report of the Forum on Medical Manpower; the progress which has been made by the task force to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30896/01]
The Government, in April this year, approved the establishment of a National Task Force on Medical Manpower to, inter alia, prepare and oversee the execution of a detailed implementation programme based on the recommendations in the report of the Medical Manpower Forum and the report of the national joint steering group on the working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors – the Hanly Report. The Government also decided that it would consider the proposed development of a consultant-delivered public hospital service following quantification of the resource and cost implications involved.
Officials of my Department, in consultation with Mr. David Hanly, independent chairperson of the national task force on medical manpower, are currently working on the draft terms of reference and working structures of the task force and I intend to proceed with the establishment of the task force and the holding of its inaugural meeting shortly.
The Deputy may be aware that the forum report sets out proposals for the structuring of consultant posts both in the context of changed work patterns and a consultant delivered service. Following the establishment of the task force, a detailed quantification of the resource implications will be undertaken. It is very important that this study produces detailed and accurate data on the number of staff and the costs involved.
The task force will also address the reduction in working hours for non-consultant hospital doctors arising from the EU Directive on Working Time and the medical education and training requirements of our hospital medical workforce.
