asked the Minister for Health when additional anaesthetists will be appointed for hospitals in the North-Eastern Health Board region; and the number of anaesthetists appointed and the board areas appointed in 1984 and 1985.
Written Answers. - Appointment of Anaesthetists.
140.
Additional anaesthetists are appointed by employing authorities in line with the statutory provisions and other procedures required prior to the making of such appointments. These processes include a requirement that my Department will give its observations on the financial implications before an application is made to Comhairle na nOspidéal for approval to a consultant post. Comhairle na nOspidéal is the statutory body set up under the Health Act, 1970 to regulate the number and type of appointments of consultant medical staff.
At present the following proposals for additional appointments in the North-Eastern Health Board are being processed:—
One post in Louth County Hospital in respect of which observations on the financial implications of approving the additional post have recently been issued by my Department. Approval for this post is now a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal.
A proposal to create a post at Cavan General Hospital was recently submitted by the North-Eastern Health Board. This is currently being processed and the observations on the financial implications of approving the post will be issued in the near future.
A proposal in respect of an additional post at Monaghan General Hospital was received from the health board some time ago. About £¼ million would be required to fund this post and this is being examined at present.
The following table sets out the number of anaesthetists appointed and the board areas to which they were appointed during 1984 and 1985.
|
1984 |
1985 |
|
|
Eastern |
6 |
12 |
|
Southern |
3 |
4 |
|
Mid-Western |
— |
3 |
|
South-Eastern |
1 |
— |
|
North-Eastern |
— |
— |
|
Western |
— |
— |
|
North-Western |
— |
— |
|
Midland |
— |
— |
|
10 |
19 |