asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the possible postponement of the new health services, he will consider the appointment of permanent DMOs; and if he will give any temporary DMOs who have been appointed since 1965 full permanent status.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - District Medical Officers.
16.
Because of the expectation of the early introduction of the new service under the Health Act, 1970, most vacancies for district medical officer in recent years have not been filled on a permanent basis. If the postponement of the introduction of a new form of service is likely to be of long duration, I should like to discuss these vacancies with the medical organisations. I would point out that where a vacancy is filled on a permanent basis through the Local Appointments Commission, an existing temporary holder of that office can be appointed only if successful in the competition held by the commissioners.
I have no doubt the Minister is aware of the fact that one third of the present DMOs are temporary appointments. Does he not consider that that is an undesirable state of affairs? In view of the fact that he stated in this House recently that there would be a probable postponement of the health services does he not consider that it is time for him to act and to give the medical officers a permanent appointment so that they may enjoy all the emoluments which go with such appointments?
Of course the temporary officers might be described as quasi permanent positions in certain districts. The Deputy also knows that permanent positions have not been filled because doctors were unwilling to take up the posts. I am establishing a national advisory board on general practice to investigate this whole problem of general practitioners in this country, a problem which incidentally can be found elsewhere. I am not going to make any immediate decision in regard to filling those posts because so short a time has elapsed since the Medical Association and the Medical Union by an overwhelming majority refused to accept the choice of doctor arrangements we made. I do not intend to say anything more about it at the moment.
Would the Minister not consider taking the initiative with the organisations concerned to ascertain what aspects of his offer were rejected by the profession? Would he not ask for a breakdown of the figures in question?
It is simply a matter of whether under the circumstances it would not be better to wait and hear from those organisations. I reserve my own judgment on that at the present time.
Could the Minister give a guarantee that if such temporary appointments are made permanent, the pension rights will be retrospective?
I imagine the pension rights would have to be regarded as satisfactory by the Medical Association and the Medical Union, having regard to the circumstances. Naturally I would wish they would be satisfactory.