Bernard Allen
Ceist:160 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received an application from the Southern Health Board for funding for the appointment of an obstetrician with a special interest in IVF. [17354/01]
Written Answers. - Consultant Appointments.
My Department has not received any application from the Southern Health Board for the approval of the appointment of a consultant obstetrician with a special interest in IVF. Interim measures have been put in place and I have asked the board's chief executive officer to write directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:161 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received proposals from the three Dublin maternity hospitals for the provision of 36 new consultant posts over the next four years in order to provide a 24 hour consultant service in these hospitals. [17355/01]
I am aware that the three Dublin maternity hospitals have indicated that they would be in favour of providing a 24 hour consultant service. However, I have not received any formal proposals in this regard.
I received the final draft of the report of the medical manpower forum following its final meeting on 28 November. This report and the report on the working hours of NCHDs were brought to Government on 27 March 2001 for its consideration.
In regard to medical manpower, the Government has noted the recommendations in relation to a consultant delivered public hospital service. It will consider these proposals again in the light of the results obtained from a costing study of the matter which is also to be undertaken by the newly established national task force on medical manpower.
The report of the Forum on Medical Manpower sets out proposals for the restructuring of the medical workforce both in the context of changed work patterns and a consultant delivered service. The next stage is to quantify the costs, following which the Government will reconsider the proposals. A detailed quantification of the resource implications will now be undertaken. This assessment will form part of the functions of the national task force.