Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
651. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the problem the Health Service Executive is having hiring obstetricians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21334/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of my priorities for 2015 is the publication of a National Maternity Strategy. This will provide a roadmap to better maternity services. It will ensure that women have access to safe, sustainable, well staffed maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. An extra €2 million has been included in the HSE National Service Plan 2015 to address current pressures within the Maternity Service. The measures proposed by the HSE include the appointment of 7 consultant obstetricians.
Planning and providing for future manpower needs is pivotal. At present, there are 42 doctors on the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s Higher Specialist Medical Training (HST) programme for Obstetricians & Gynaecologists 2015/2016, which is a 5 year programme. This compares to 33 trainees in clinical posts at any given time as approved by HSE, up to 2014. For the 2014/2015 intake year this was increased to 38 trainees in clinical posts.
I also expect that the revised pay scales for new entrant consultants agreed between Management and the IMO at the LRC on 7th January 2015 will help us to keep more of our medical graduates at home and persuade consultants who are working overseas to return to Ireland. I want this new package to send a strong message to Irish medical graduates that pay and also working conditions are improving again and that they can be part of the health recovery in Ireland. The recruitment of additional consultants, in particular, obstetricians, is a priority and arrangements are in train to recruit consultants. A joint HSE/Public Service Appointment project team has been appointed to progress the recruitment process for consultants.
