Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2010
93 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence the number of medical staff within the Defence Forces; the number who have a psychiatric qualification; the number in each category serving in a medical role here and overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1917/10]
View answerI am advised by the Military Authorities that the number of Medical staff within the Defence Forces is two hundred and sixty (260), comprising twenty (20) Medical Officers, one (1) Psychiatrist, one (1) Psychologist, five (5) Dentists, three (3) Pharmacists, two hundred and twelve (212) Medics and eighteen (18) members of the Army Nursing Service. Of the 260 medical staff a total of sixteen (16) are currently serving overseas. This is broken down as two (2) Medical Officers and fourteen (14) Medics. The two Medical Officers are serving in Chad and of the 14 medics ten (10) are serving in Chad; three (3) are serving in Kosovo and one (1) is serving in Bosnia.
Following the publication of the Independent Strategic Review of the Defence Forces Medical Service by PA Consulting, I asked that implementation of the recommendations proceed immediately. As you are aware, the PA Report has recommended a programme of major change. The high level recommendations include: A centralized command structure for the Medical Corps; The creation of a Medical Services Management and Administrative function. This structure will provide strategic planning, resource allocation and overall responsibility for the management and delivery of the medical service; The development of medical officer led care teams together with a re-focusing of medical staff on appropriate clinical tasks; Numerous recommendations leading to a reduction in the number of doctor interventions, medical assessments and better management of health services outsourcing. The report reaffirms the need for a dedicated Medical Corps and addresses the challenges facing the Defence Forces in recruitment and retention of Medical Officers.
The structure and systems recommended in the PA Report have been designed to meet the demands and needs of the modern Defence Forces at home and overseas and to provide Medical Officers with a fulfilling and rewarding career. To this end a governance structure for the delivery of change in this area has now been put in place. It consists of a high level Steering Group composed of senior military and civilian personnel. The role of the Steering Group is to provide planning guidance, clarify the approach to recommendations where required and ensure that the project is implemented effectively.
A dedicated Programme Group with civilian and military representatives has also been established and is now co-ordinating a range of projects. It is progressing a number of the PA recommendations including the structure of the Medical Corps, the alignment of Defence Forces and Medical Corps strategies and the development of medical information systems. Work has also commenced on the recommendations on training and education, clinical issues and the centralised command structure, with a number of Working Groups now established to progress these issues.
