Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2009
486 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for an appointment with a consultant dermatologist in Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33631/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra487 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients awaiting an appointment with a consultant dermatologist in Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33632/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra488 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to appoint a consultant dermatologists to Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33633/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra489 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason she supported a situation (details supplied) in Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33634/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra491 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is morally or legally right to permit a system of making and cancelling appointments to see non-existent consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33636/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra492 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will issue an apology to the patients of Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, who were issued with false appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33637/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra493 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the name of the person or organisation who gave the authority to Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath to issue false appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33638/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra494 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the midlands has been targeted for the cutting of medical services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33639/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra496 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath was permitted to issue appointments with a consultant dermatologist that could not be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33641/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra497 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason she and the Health Service Executive failed to reply to queries in relation to the malpractice at Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath in relation to appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33642/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra498 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the person who prompted the spokesperson for Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital to say that appointments which were false were made in good faith. [33643/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra499 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm what constitutes good faith in the medical services for which she has responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33644/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra500 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the potential risk to the health of patients who were given false appointments to see a consultant dermatologist who had left Longford/Westmeath Regional Hospital six months previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33645/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 486 to 489, inclusive, 491 to 494, inclusive, and 496 to 500, inclusive, together.
All hospitals funded by the HSE, including those in the Dublin/Midlands region, are required to deliver a high quality service to its patients, while remaining within the financial allocation provided.
The first Consultant Dermatologist for the Midlands Area was appointed to the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar in September 2007. This Consultant Dermatologist resigned her post earlier this year.
The HSE sought on a number of occasions to recruit a suitable temporary replacement without success. Discussions have taken place between the HSE and a major teaching hospital in Dublin with a view to expanding the remit of the post. As a result of these discussions, the HSE intends to advertise the permanent restructured post within the coming weeks. In the meantime, the HSE is endeavouring to put arrangements in place pending filling of the post permanently.
I understand that the appointment times issued to patients by the hospital were based on an expectation, at the time, that the consultant post was about to be filled. Unfortunately, the expected appointment did not materialise. The hospital management regrets any confusion resulting from this.
In the meantime, some patients who required urgent treatment have been seen in Dublin and arrangements have also been made for children to be treated in Dublin.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy on the waiting times and numbers of patients on the waiting list.
