asked the Minister for Health when a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist will take up appointment in the maternity unit of Roscommon County Hospital; and the reasons for the long delay in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscommon Hospital Appointments.
16.
The post of consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist at Roscommon hospital was offered to a person following the holding of an open competition conducted by the Local Appointments Commissioners. The person has indicated to the Western Health Board that he will not accept the post until support staff is provided.
The health board have sought approval to 14 additional staff for the maternity unit. In view of the current financial situation and the Government's policy in relation to the restriction of numbers employed in the public sector I am not in a position at present to provide the resources for the support staff sought.
Would the Minister now indicate when he will sanction the appointment of the consultant obstretician gynaecologist because we in Roscommon have been awaiting this appointment far too long? I do not see why the Minister should deprive our county hospital of its necessary maternity services.
This matter has been raised before. We have had very detailed discussions with the chief executive officer of the health board. The latest discussions were held on 28 October last. It is important to note that the health board regard the funding of the maternity unit in Galway Regional Hospital as their priority. It has been made clear to the health board that no additional funds are at present available for support staff for the obstretician post in Roscommon and that the only way in which that support staff can be provided is by the redeployment of existing resources within the board. I understand that the board are at present considering this matter.
Would the Minister personally entertain this matter? After many years of struggle by the hospital's action committee, public representatives and the local authority could he possibly end this long saga and give us the services we require in Roscommon? I would hope he could make such an announcement prior to Christmas 1983, not in 1984. I am sure the Estimates are at present being prepared. The Minister is totally responsible for the situation in Roscommon at present. I am asking the Minister now to intervene and effect a just settlement of this problem.
I am not stopping the appointment of an obstretician gynaecologist in Roscommon at all. The person concerned, who was offered the post following a competition by the Local Appointments Commission, indicated that he would not take up the post unless he got 14 staff to work with him. We have advised the health board that they have a responsibility to redeploy staff to ensure that the obstretician post is properly staffed. They are at present considering the matter. There are severe limitations on my funds and so far, at the conclusion of this Question Time, in relation to the Department of Health we have now spent £79.5 million.
The Minister did say that he was not holding up the appointment. But would the Minister not accept that the consultant in question is correct not to take up duty until there is sufficient staff there to ensure that there will be adequate care for potential maternity patients in Roscommon?
The person concerned has indicated that he will not accept the post unless the various staff criteria laid down are met. For example, they want a number of porters; they want this and they want that. I am saying to the Western Health Board and to the CEO that they can have the consultant obstretician appointed by redeploying nursing and other staff within the health board to Roscommon hospital, that they have adequate resources available to do that and that I will not agree to appoint 14 new staff for a particular post willy-nilly because I do not have the kind of money available in 1984 to enable me to do so. I think the message has got through. I think the Deputy will find a very resourceful CEO there and that both he and his outstanding programme manager will respond in an appropriate way without spending another £300,000 or £400,000 of taxpayers' money which cannot be provided.
Is the Minister aware that if he does not provide funds we will not get the service in Roscommon County Hospital? He should not wash his hands of this issue.
It is now well past 3.30 p.m. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Ba mhaith liom a fháil amach——
No, we will have the Order of Business first and then anything else that arises.
Ba mhaith liom a fháil amach cén fáth gur dhiúltaigh tú ceist a bhaineann le Udarás na Gaeltachta. Sílim gur náireach an rud é gur dhiúltaigh tusa agus an tAire géilleadh don cheist a chuir mé agus an t-eolas a bhíomar ag lorg a fháil anseo sa Dáil agus é a phlé go poiblí in áit é a phlé taobh amuigh den Dáil.
The practice has been for a long time that the Order of Business is taken first and then anything that may be in order can be raised afterwards.