Michael Finucane
Ceist:152 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health if he will be appointing a neurosurgeon at the Limerick Regional Hospital, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Limerick Regional Hospital Neurosurgeon.
The appointment of hospital consultant staff is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. I understand that there are no plans at present to appoint a neurosurgeon in the Mid-West region.
Comhairle na nOspidéal, in its report on consultant manpower in the mid-west, did not envisage neurosurgery as a speciality appropriate to the long term development of Limerick Regional Hospital. The policy of Comhairle is that the neuroscience/neurosurgical unit at Cork Regional Hospital should continue to be developed as the major centre for the Munster area, including the Mid-Western region.