Rory O'Hanlon
Ceist:106 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of established obstetrics and paediatrics posts in Monaghan General Hospital which have not been filled. [5364/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Appointments.
Responsibility for the provision of services at Monaghan General Hospital rests with the North Eastern Health Board, which has statutory responsibility for the provision of health services in its functional area.
I have been advised by the board that there are no established consultant posts in either obstetrics or paediatrics at Monaghan General Hospital which are vacant.
I am further advised that there are two consultant paediatricians in the Cavan-Monaghan Hospital Group, both of whom have sessional commitments to Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan General Hospital and that there is one consultant obstetrician with a full-time commitment to Monaghan General Hospital.
At a special meeting on 5 February last, the board mandated the chief executive officer to seek, as a matter of urgency, approval for the appointment of temporary consultant obstetricians to Cavan-Monaghan and Louth-Meath Hospital Groups to facilitate the continuation of maternity services at both Monaghan and Dundalk and to seek, in addition, approval for the immediate appointment of on-site paediatric cover at both hospitals.
The approval of any such posts is a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal, which is the statutory body set up to regulate appointments of consultant medical staff in hospitals providing services under the health Acts. I understand that the board has applied to Comhairle na nOspidéal for approval for these additional temporary posts and that this application will be considered by Comhairle na nOspidéal at its next meeting.