Vol. 553 No. 6
230 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children when Comhairle na nOspidéal is likely to approve the appointment of a replacement consultant in Monaghan General Hospital; and when this post, together with the full complement of non-consultant hospital doctors, is likely to be advertised. [14915/02]
Approval from my Department has issued recently for the consultant post referred to by the Deputy. Approval has also issued to the North-Eastern Health Board for the upgrading of this temporary post to permanent status. Comhairle na nOspidéal is the statutory body with responsibility for regulating the number and type of appointments of consultant medical staff in hospitals providing services under the Health Acts. I understand that this post is presently under active consideration by Comhairle na nOspidéal in consultation with the North-Eastern Health Board.
Five additional medical support staff have also recently been approved by my Department to support the NCHD team attached to this post and to support the recent extension of the opening hours of the hospital's treatment room. Following approval from Comhairle na nOspidéal for the consultant post, the North-Eastern Health Board will then proceed to advertise for the recruitment of the additional medical personnel.
