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Hospital Staff Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Questions (264)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which an adequate supply of junior hospital doctors is available throughout the health service in 2013; if they are sourced internally or overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40299/13]

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Written answers

The overall position regarding the supply of junior hospital doctors has stabilised since the last training rotation took place on 8 July and the majority of vacancies are now filled. While the majority of doctors are sourced internally, a number of posts are filled through recruitment of doctors from overseas.

Some challenges remain, mainly in smaller hospitals and in certain specialties, including Emergency Medicine and General Medicine at Registrar level. Where sites continue to experience challenges in terms of vacancies, hospital management implement contingency plans. If necessary, hospitals make locum arrangements to ensure continued service delivery. System reform, in particular the implementation of the Report on Hospital Groups and the Framework for the Development of Smaller Hospitals will assist in achievement of a more focused and efficient deployment of NCHD staffing. These changes will build on the significant work that has been done through the HSE National Clinical programmes in recent years.

I am committed to improving the working-conditions of NCHDs and to ensuring that they can have a suitable career pathway within the Irish health system. Intensive work is underway in all hospitals to pursue compliance with the EWTD on junior doctors’ working-hours. At the end of July this year, I set up a working group chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU to carry out a strategic review of the medical training and career structure of NCHDs. I see this as a modernising initiative which is needed urgently and which will, in future years, support the retention of sufficient numbers of doctors trained in Ireland within the system.

Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 6.
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