Vol. 550 No. 2
261 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on recent statements made that the provisions of the new Mental Health Bill will be impossible to meet with current consultant staffing levels and a shortage of junior doctors in psychiatry; and if he has met the senior consultant psychiatrists on this matter. [7616/02]
In relation to the numbers of consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors working in psychiatry, the Deputy may be aware that the Government has approved the establishment of a national task force on medical staffing. The task force's recommendations will have implications for the number of psychiatrists, both consultants and NCHDs, required in the public hospital service and will take into account the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 2001. The first meeting of the task force took place on 21 February 2002.
Officials of my Department have met with the relevant representative organisations regarding the implications of the Mental Health Act, 2001.
