Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 March 2013
20. 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. [13150/13]
View answerThe Military Authorities have advised me that the number of medical staff within the Defence Forces is 217, comprising 17 Medical Officers, 5 Line Officers, 4 Dentists, 3 Pharmacists and 1 Clinical Psychologist and the remaining 187 being of other ranks. Of the 217 medical staff, 186 medical staff are in the Central Medical Unit, 6 in the Directorate of the Medical Corps, 8 in the Air Corps and 17 in the Naval Service. A total of 7 (1 Medical Officer and 6 Medics) are currently serving overseas as part of the UNIFIL mission to Lebanon.
The Defence Forces do not currently have a psychiatrist within their medical staff, however a civilian psychiatrist with extensive experience of military psychiatry is engaged in an occupational psychiatry role in St Bricin’s Hospital on a one day per week basis. The Defence Forces have a Clinical Psychologist who operates from St Bricin’s Hospital and takes referrals from medical officers, a civilian psychiatrist and the Personnel Support Services (PSS). In turn she liaises with the civilian psychiatrist.
Following publication of the Defence Forces Medical Service Review by PA Consulting Group in 2009 a number of Working Groups were set up and tasked with identifying the practical steps to be taken to achieve implementation of the PA Report. Following the completion of the work of the Working Groups a time bound implementation plan was drawn up to implement their recommendations.
The Central Medical Unit was formally established in 2012 to enable the detailed structures, processes and personnel to be put in place to provide for the support, management and delivery of modern medical services for the Defence Forces. This new Central Medical Unit brings all medical personnel under one central command. It has responsibility for the management and delivery of medical services, including the allocation of medical resources across the system based on operational requirements and demands.
