Dinny McGinley
Ceist:168 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the standard of health services available to the Defence Forces; and, if not, his plans to improve the situation. [25307/03]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.
The reorganisation of the medical corps, which was effected as part of the Defence Forces review implementation plan in November 1998, was embraced as an opportunity to redirect the focus of military medical care in the Defence Forces from a predominantly hospital based service to one in which primary, occupational and field support would continue to be further developed.
At present, in addition to St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin, three military medical facilities, MMFs, are located at the headquarters of each of the field medical companies in Cork and Athlone and at the medical detachment supply and services unit in the Curragh. They have associated infirmaries for the care of "living-in" personnel – largely recruits and other training course students – who may become injured or ill. There are appointments for a physician at each MMF.
There are currently X-ray, pharmacy and screening audiometry facilities at each MMF and physiotherapy facilities at MMF Cork and Curragh. Nurses of the Army nursing service have taken up new appointments as members of occupational care teams in the Air Corps and Naval Service and it is planned that more nurses will be offered similar appointments in the larger barracks throughout the country.
Over the past number of years the medical corps has been unable to attract more than one or two medical officers per year into the service. Most of those who have joined have left after one or two years and the overall pattern is one of reducing rather than expanding numbers. Part of the difficulty in attracting applicants may be due to the unique nature of military medical officer appointments. Service in the medical corps is not a professional training employment similar to non-consultant hospital doctor appointments or vocational training schemes in general practice.
The range of services provided by the medical corps is as follows: a military occupational medical service; a primary medical care service; a secondary medical care service; a preventive medical service; provision of medicines and dressings; dental services; a field medical service; training; maintenance of medical records; and medico-legal services. Where no military medical or dental officer is available arrangements are made for the provision of services by local civilian practitioners.