asked the Minister for Health if he will approve without delay the appointment of support staff for the maternity unit in Roscommon County Hospital.
285.
Written Answers. - Roscommon County Hospital Appointments.
284.
asked the Minister for Health the reasons a consultant obstetrician has not taken up a post at Roscommon County Hospital.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
The person to whom the post of consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist has been offered following a competition conducted by the Local Appointments Commissioners has indicated to the Western Health Board that he will not accept the post until support staff is provided.
The question of support staff has to be considered in the context of the current financial situation and the Government's policy in relation to the restriction of numbers in the public sector. The Western Health Board are also seeking substantial additional staff for a new maternity unit at Galway Regional Hospital. The board have been asked by my Department to critically evaluate the situation in their area and to identify priorities with a view to meeting their more urgent needs by redeployment of existing resources.