Bernard J. Durkan
Question:165 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is intended to implement the Hanly report in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31965/04]
View answerThursday, 2 December 2004
Questions (168, 169)
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:167 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of the Hanly report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31967/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 167 together.
The Government is committed to developing acute hospital services in a way that will command the confidence of people throughout the country. The report of the national task force on medical staffing provides valuable advice in this regard. While implementation of some of the proposals in the report of the task force has been hampered by continuing industrial action by hospital consultants, work on the other elements of the proposals is progressing. Detailed assessments have been prepared of the service and resource implications of the forthcoming reduction in non-consultant hospital doctors' working hours in each health agency. Negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation on the reduction in NCHD hours required under the European working time directive are continuing in the Labour Relations Commission. Local implementation groups have been established in eight hospitals as part of an agreed pilot process.
The medical education and training subgroup of the national task force has remained in place. I have asked the group to examine and report to me on the measures required to accommodate NCHD training in all postgraduate programmes and safeguard both training and service delivery during the transition to a 48-hour working week, which is required under the European working time directive by August 2009. The group has agreed a joint approach to training with the medical training bodies and the Medical Council, and has provided formal advice on the provision of medical education and training in a 58-hour working week.