Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2013
234. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, hospitals where management have implemented elements of the deal agreed between health service management and hospital consultants at the Labour Relations Commission in Autumn 2012; the nature of the elements of the agreement that have been put in place in each acute hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32466/13]
View answer235. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, the hospitals where management has introduced the rostering of hospital consultants on any five out of seven days under the terms of the agreement reached at the Labour Relations Commission in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32467/13]
View answer236. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, the hospitals where management has put in place roster arrangements to have consultants on duty on a 24 hour basis in specialties such as emergency medicine, neonatology, intensive care and obstetrics as provided in the agreement on work practice reforms brokered at the Labour Relations Commission in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32468/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 236, inclusive, together.
In September 2012, following intensive engagement between health service management and the consultant representative bodies at the Labour Relations Commission, a comprehensive set of measures was agreed. The agreement encompasses a range of flexibilities to enhance productivity and efficiency and to maximise the availability of consultants, as key clinical decision-makers. These arrangements are to be given effect as determined by service needs in any particular hospital and resource considerations. Management across the hospital service have been instructed by the HSE to implement the agreement with effect from November 2012.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy with detailed information in relation to progress at hospital level in implementing the various aspects of the agreement. The extent to which any hospital would utilise the range of flexibilities agreed would vary depending on the nature of services provided.
