Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2018
23. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the measures taken to tackle the appointment of non-specialist doctors as consultants; the steps he has taken to address this issue since it was first raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16980/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 57 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE’s regulatory functions include responsibility for all Consultant appointments in the public health service in Ireland including HSE hospitals, voluntary hospitals, mental health services and other agencies; whether additional, replacement, temporary or locum.
In March 2008 the HSE amended the qualifications specified for Consultant posts to require membership of the specialist division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council. The HSE Policy in respect of all Consultant Appointments, both permanent and temporary, requires that they are on the Specialist Register. There are limited circumstances where in order to ensure Senior Medical coverage that an experienced Registrar not on the Specialist Register may cover for an absent Consultant to ensure the provision of safe quality care. This will only occur as a final option in emergency circumstances.
Any doctor who occupies a consultant post, even if he/she is not on the specialist register would still hold a medical licence and would be on a division of the Medical Council Register. They would therefore be fully qualified to practice medicine though not as consultants.
The HSE issued instructions to all managers last July in relation to the management of those in posts who are not on the Specialist Register:-
- Management are to ensure that the registration status of each consultant in the employment of the service concerned is properly recorded.
- A risk mitigation plan must be put in place for each consultant post where the appointee does not hold the qualifications specified for the appointment by the HSE. This plan is to include appropriate senior clinical oversight as required.
- Consultants appointed prior to 2008 who do not hold specialist registration are to be supported in achieving registration in conjunction with National Doctors Training and Planning Unit.
- Employers were also asked to ensure the contracts of temporary/locum doctors who do not hold the qualifications required for the post they occupy be ended and their employment terminated.
It is essential that the HSE comply with statutory requirements and its own policy directions when filling consultant posts. I am satisfied that doing so will enable it to address this issue.
At a national level the Government remains committed to continuing to increase the number of consultants and to the delivery of a consultant-led service. At the end of February 2018 there were 2,977 consultants (whole time equivalents) in the public health services. This is 98 more than the end of February 2017 figure and an increase of 750 in the past decade.
