Vol. 486 No. 1
565 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make funds available to the Southern Health Board in response to their request for an additional consultant anaesthetist in order to enable the provision of an epidural service in both Saint Finbarr's and Erinville Hospitals in Cork. [1549/98]
The identification of priorities and the appointment of additional staff is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. My Department has not received an application from the Southern Health Board in respect of the post referred to by the Deputy. Should such an application be submitted, it will be considered in the context of available resources and the priority accorded to it by the board.
The Deputy will be aware that the improvement of obstetric services generally is presently being dealt with by a project team for the amalgamation of maternity and neonatology services in Cork, on the Cork University Hospital site. I understand from the Southern Health Board that the brief for an Amalgamated Obstetric Unit on the site of the Cork University Hospital is almost complete and I look forward to receiving the brief from the board in due course.
