Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 1

Written Answers. - Physiotherapist Appointment.

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

128 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation to having an assistant physiotherapist appointed to Carndonagh District Hospital, County Donegal, to relieve the current waiting lists. [12494/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): In the first instance, the appointment of paramedical staff in County Donegal is a matter for the North-Western Health Board.

The community hospital services in County Donegal are divided into eight districts and the board's physiotherapy staffing plan is to provide a physiotherapist for each district. The board has experienced difficulties in recruiting physiotherapists and, therefore, the service has to be shared between districts. All urgent cases receive an immediate appointment. However, the physiotherapist providing the service at Carndonagh Community Hospital also provides a service in the Buncrana district, which results in a waiting list for non-urgent cases. The board is currently running a competition for physiotherapists, with a view to filing vacant posts.