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Health Services Staff Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2016

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Ceisteanna (145)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

145. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters (details supplied) regarding the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3368/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government is committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country continue to have access to GP services. It is imperative that services meet patients' needs and standards for general practice service provision and in that context that existing GP services are retained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly qualified GPs. The HSE, the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation are currently engaged in a review of the General Medical Services contract and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs. This review is taking place within the context of the Framework Agreement which was signed by the above named parties in June 2014 and the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in February 2015. Among the many topics comprehended by this review process is the issue of supports for General Practice to ensure retention of doctors in remote rural and deprived urban areas.

The number of consultants has grown significantly in recent years to 2,725 WTEs. This includes an increase of 330 in the last five years, notwithstanding the economic crisis, and the Government is committed to further growth. The number of NCHDs has also increased significantly in recent years, by over a 1,000 since March 2011, and now exceeds 5,500. This increase will help to address service needs and also progression of EWTD compliance, thereby improving the working conditions of doctors.

The ability of the HSE and the health service to attract and retain high quality frontline staff shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. The MacCraith Group, established in 2013 to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures, made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and planning for future needs. The implementation of the Group's recommendations is being actively pursued and monitored. On foot of the Group's recommendation on new entrant consultants pay, improved rates incorporating incremental credit for relevant experience and qualifications have been agreed and are being implemented.

According to the most recent figures on waiting lists published at www.ntpf.ie, the waiting list for IP/DC Dermatology patients is 501 with 15 patients waiting over 1 year. For outpatients 29,504 are waiting for an appointment, with 3,451 (11.6%) waiting over 1 year.

The latest NTPF Waiting List data, published on 8 January 2016, shows that progress has been made to reduce the numbers of patients on waiting lists by end December 2015, with improvements across all waiting list categories. These figures continue to show the positive trend which was seen in November 2015. HSE figures for the end of December 2015 show progress against the 15 months maximum wait. For In-patient and Day Case waiting lists, overall performance equates to 95% achievement of the 15 month maximum permissible wait time. For outpatient waiting lists, overall performance equates to 93% achievement of the 15 month maximum permissible wait time. It should also be noted that a number of patients who have not yet had appointments have been scheduled for treatments or appointments in the coming weeks.

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