Michael Creed
Ceist:69 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the appointment of a further consultant urologist to Cork University Hospital. [11200/96]
Written Answers. - Cork Hospital Appointment.
Limerick East): There are currently two consultant urologists employed in the public sector in Cork, one in the Mercy Hospital and one in Cork University Hospital. Arrangements are in place for cross-cover between the two hospitals.
The Deputy will be aware that a key recommendation of the recent comhairle review of consultant manpower needs for the Cork region was the establishment of a pan-hospital structure. This structure is designed to act as a vehicle for achieving consensus between the agencies in Cork with regard to the priority consultant posts and the location of these posts within the Cork hospital system.
I understand that the consultation process set up under the pan-hospital structure, in association with the management of the agencies concerned, is almost complete. I anticipate detailed proposals in relation to agreed priority consultant posts in the near future.
Once I am in receipt of these proposals, I will then be in a position to consider the question of additional consultant appointments for Cork city. The timing of those appointments will depend on the availability of development funding and the competing demands for priority in use of those resources.