Written Answers. - Shortage of Anaesthetists.
Brendan McGahon
Ceist:
147
Mr. McGahon and Mr. Yates
asked the
Minister for Health
the steps he intends to take to rectify the situation in relation to the shortage of anaesthetists, by allowing the appointment of non-EC doctors in this and other specialities where they have exceeded their five years employment-training in the Irish health service; if he will outline the implications of a recent Supreme Court case in this regard and the respective powers of himself and the medical council in changing the regulations relating to these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As indicated in response to a question in this House on 30 January 1990 the provision of anaesthetic services is being kept under review by my Department. My Department have had regular discussions with the Faculty of Anaesthetists and with Comhairle na nOspidéal, the body with statutory responsibility for the regulation of the number and type of consultant staff, about the maintenance and development of the service generally and in particular about means of attracting and retraining consultant anaesthetist staff in smaller units outide the major urban areas.
Statistics being compiled by An Comhairle indicated that on 1 May 1990, 24 consultant anaesthetist posts were vacant out of a complement of 171. These posts have been approved for permanent filling by Comhairle, interviews have already been held for many of these posts and some offers of appointments have been made. Many of these vacancies may be filled in a locum capacity. The above mentioned vacancies would not include more recently vacated posts which have not as yet been processed by Comhairle.
The registration of persons in the register of medical practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in accordance with the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978, is statutorily a matter for the council. Section 29 of the Act provides for the temporary registration of doctors who qualified outside the European Community and who satisfy the Medical Council as to the adequacy of their training and experience for the efficient practice of medicine. Subsection (29) (2) of the 1978 Act expressedly limits the aggregate period of such temporary registration to five years.
Section 27 of the 1978 Act provides for full registration including a provision which provides for the full registration of persons who are not otherwise entitled to apply for full registration on the basis of a specified Irish qualification or in accordance with the provisions of European Community Directives. Section 27 (2) (d) of the Act provides for the full registration of
A person who satisfies the (Medical) Council that he has undergone such courses of training and passed such examinations as are specified for the purposes of the Section in rules made by the Council.
The Medical Council have adopted rules in accordance with the provisions of this section in April 1989. The first examination under the new rules was held in November 1989 and a second examination was held in April 1990. The judgment in the Supreme Court case referred to by the Deputies confirmed that the means of obtaining full registration for EC nationals who pursued their medical training and obtained qualification outside the European Community is by way of the rules adopted by the Medical Council in accordance with the provisions of section 27 (2) (d) of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978. These rules are statutorily a matter for the Medical Council.
In view of proceedings being taken in the High Court by a number of doctors in respect of registration it would not be appropriate for me to offer further comment on this issue.
