Vol. 418 No. 1
133 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction the appointment of a rheumatologist to the Mid-Western Health Board; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at present medical card holders who need the services of a rheumatologist, must avail of the service of private consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The 1991 review by Comhairle na nOspidéal of consultant staffing in hospitals in the Mid-Western Health Board area recommended that in the long term a specialist rheumatology service be among the services available in the region.
The appointment of consultants is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. The question of appointing a consultant rheumatologist will be considered as sympathetically as possible in the context of the health board's priorities and the resources available to my Department for desirable service improvements throughout the health service.
