Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

544 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals to increase the number of consultant surgeons and consultant cardiologists serving the Munster area; and if his attention has been drawn to the huge demand on the existing cardiology department of Cork University Hospital where there are only two surgeons. [20235/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The advisory forum on cardiovascular health recommended that a working group be set up and chaired by Comhairle na nOspidéal with representatives from the Department of Health and Children and the advisory forum on cardiovascular health to plan the future consultant cardiologist requirements needed to implement the recommendations of the cardiovascular health strategy.

This group produced an interim report in May 2001 recommending the immediate requirement of 25 additional consultant cardiologist posts. Three consultant cardiologist posts were recom mended for the Southern Health Board area – one in Cork University Hospital, one in Tralee General Hospital and one in the Mercy Hospital. The full report from the group will be produced in the near future.

Nationally, progress has begun to put nine of these 25 posts in place with funding from the cardiovascular health strategy. Within the resources available to it and taking account of competing priorities, my Department will continue to attach priority to advancing the recruitment of the remainder of these posts including those recommended for the Southern Health Board.