Vol. 555 No. 2
86 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children when the national hospitals agency will be set up; the way in which it is envisaged that the agency should interface with the role currently played by Comhairle na Ospidéal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17919/02]
264 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when the national hospitals agency will be set up; the way in which it is envisaged that the agency will interface with the role currently played by Comhairle na nOspidéal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17933/02]
275 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when the national hospitals agency will be set up; the way in which it is envisaged that the agency will interface with the role currently played by Comhairle na nOspidéal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17944/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 264 and 275 together.
My Department is currently examining all issues relevant to the establishment of a national hospitals agency, including the implications for the future discharge of functions currently vested in Comhairle na nOspidéal. Work is also at an advanced stage on two related projects, both of which will have implications for the role and functioning of this agency. These are the national task force on medical staffing and the audit of structures and functions in the health system, both of which are due to reach their respective conclusions early in the new year.
I expect to bring detailed proposals to Government on the establishment of the national hospitals agency at that time.
I was surprised not to find any proposals to establish a national hospitals agency in the Government's legislative programme, although this matter is fundamental to the national health strategy. If the Minister does not take decisions about hospitals and where consultants are to be deployed, decisions cannot be made about hospital beds or where nurses are to be deployed. This is the hard decision that has to be made. If the national hospitals agency is not going to be established in the near future, there is precious little chance that waiting lists will be reduced or that major funding decisions will be taken in the coming years.
Both reform strands of the overall strategy are going ahead at full speed. A consultancy was awarded in July to Prospectus, a company that is currently undertaking the audit of structures and functions in the health system. The work of the national task force on medical staffing is also proceeding under the chairmanship of Mr. David Hanley. We expect both reports to be ready by January 2003 but it is important there is some synergy between both groups in terms of outcome. Both groups will keep each other up to speed with developments.
The Deputy is correct in saying that the establishment of the national hospitals agency is an important part of the organisational reform of the health services contained in the health strategy. It is important one should proceed with some degree of deliberation to ensure that in establishing the agency the i's are dotted and the t's crossed. It would be possible to establish it on an interim basis under existing legislation. Alternatively, depending on the outcome of these reviews, if primary legislation is necessary it will ensue, but it may not be necessary in the interim.
What impact will the absence of any decisions about the location and designation of hospitals have on the industrial relations problems that are brewing in hospitals concerning non-consultant hospital doctors? It will be impossible to solve their problems without solving all the other problems that exist throughout the acute hospital services. Can the reports of the national task force on medical staffing and the audit of structures and functions in the health system be brought forward to avoid industrial chaos in hospitals?
The two groups that are due to report are not industrial relations fora. It would, therefore, be most injurious to both processes if they were to become embroiled in the area of industrial relations. When we commenced the audit of structures and functions in the health system and, in particular, the national task force on medical staffing, it was clear to all parties that industrial relations issues were not to come within their remits. That would undermine totally the new structures and reforms that need to be put in place.
The existing agencies continue to organise a configuration of services and specialities. Comhairle na nOspidéal is the key body with statutory responsibility for sanctioning the allocation of consultancy posts, specialty by specialty, across the country.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
