Vol. 508 No. 1
453 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the psychiatric unit at Cork University Hospital requires at least three occupational therapists; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that for a period during 1999 there was no occupational therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17556/99]
The provision of occupational therapists in the psychiatric unit at Cork University Hospital is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. At present there is one senior and one basic grade occupational therapist in the Cork South Lee mental health service.
The basic grade occupational therapist based in unit GF, Cork University Hospital, resigned from the service on 31 March 1999 and the workload was covered in so far as possible by the senior occupational therapist, until the position was filled on 7 September 1999. The difficulty in recruiting qualified occupational therapists and the non-availability of temporary occupational therapists led to a the delay in filling the post.
The board proposes to sectorise the Cork South Lee mental health service and the need for additional occupational therapists will be addressed as part of this process.
