Liam Burke
Ceist:13 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Health the ratio of non-consultant hospital doctors to consultants in the country's hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors
The present ratio of non-consultant hospital doctors to consultants is approximately 2:1.
A joint colloborative study group, representative of my Department, Comhairle na nOspidéal and the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board, has recently submitted a report to me on the whole area of medical manpower. I have decided to circulate this report as a discussion document to those with an interest in the area of medical manpower.
I will be inviting observations on the recommendations made in the report and I hope at the end of that process agreement can be reached on a programme to redress the imbalance which presently exists.
This is a matter to which we referred in the course of priority questions. I put it to the Minister that the report to which he referred was completed last December. When does he expect to be in a position to act on this report? In relation to a new EC Directive on the working week, which I understand is 65 hours, what changes are envisaged by the Minister particularly for non-consultent hospital staff? What are his plans for further permanent consultant posts having regard to the fact that there are 2,200 non-consultant staff and a little over 1,000 consultant staff?
We had a fruitful discussion on this matter the last day we had questions when the issue was raised by Deputy McManus. I have since been able to release the report. The first thing I will do is listen to the views of those concerned. I expressed my view on the last occasion that the ratio was out of balance. There should be more consultant posts, for a number of reasons, one of which is that non-consultant doctors are, theoretically, in training. I do not think they should spend such a long portion of their professional life in training. They should be in positions where they are not with a consultant if there is supposed to be a training element involved. There is a need to improve the career structure, including opportunities for promotion, and that will create a need for more consultant posts. Obviously, that will be the end result of the process.
I do not know whether the Minister is aware of this, but we are having some difficulty in obtaining information from his Department about county hospitals in particular. I tabled a question some time ago in which I asked the ratio of people and beds and whether they were acute or medical beds in county hospitals. In the reply the Department told me that the information was not readily available and that I would receive it some time later. That was three or four months ago and I have not yet received that information. I am surprised that in reply to Deputy Flanagan the Minister indicated that he has a considerable amount of information available about county hospitals. I would ask the Minister what information he has available about Ennis General Hospital and the ratio of consultants and non-consultants there?
Quite honestly, we cannot get into seeking additional information.
I am not sitting down. I have asked the Minister——
You will sit down, Deputy.
May I respond to the Deputy? I regret that information promised was not forthcoming. I will certainly check it out as a matter of urgency and ensure that a reply is issued as soon as possible and discover the reason an inordinate delay occured. The information I am giving to the House now is that a joint collaborative study group report is now available and I will circulate a copy to the Deputy for his own information.
I would like to ask the Minister the timescale and his approach to this massive decision he intends to make at some stage in the future. It is reasonable to ask what timeframe he is talking about. The report is out six months. It has already been the result of a certain amount of consultation and he has now embarked on another round of consultation in that he has published the report and is allowing people a chance to comment on it.
A question, please, Deputy.
When does the Minister intend to make the final decision and do something about it?
In fairness to my five months in office, I do not think I can be accused of being tardy in relation to decision-making. Decision-making has been a feature of the first five months of my time in office.
If I accused the Minister of that he would get upset.
It is easier to take comments like that from the Deputy here.
We have seen another side of the Minister.
Why does the Minister not decide to postpone it?
When a decision of this nature has to be made it is more important to make the right decision than to make an instant decision. There is a huge number of issues on my desk, as Minister for Health, on virtually every aspect of the health services. In terms of this decision I want to have the views of those involved, including the professional organisation, and I will make a decision when it is opportune.
Has the Minister indicated to the professional bodies when they should have their submissions made or will it be open-ended in which case the Minister could be waiting forever to get the information?
Chomh luath agus is féidir.
The Minister did not make any reference to my supplementary regarding the EC Directive on the working week. Can the Minister clarify the matter of an Irish derogation and whether as part of this review he will bear in mind the EC Directive on the 65 hour week and its application to health care and hospital work in particular?
I will take cognisance of the Deputy's remarks and come back to him.
I am calling Question No. 14.