Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for the tremendous work they have done over the last few years. Given that the birth rate has increased from 54,000 to 75,000 per annum without a significant increase in staff levels, we have achieved great success in reducing the perinatal mortality rate. I understand smaller units are experiencing problems in regard to availability of junior doctors. Consultants in smaller units may be on a one in two call or one in three call rotation and if they are not assisted by good junior doctors they are put under further pressure. Is anything being done to increase co-operation between smaller and larger units in regard to training programmes for junior doctors? For example, a junior doctor could work for two years in Dublin followed by a year in one of the smaller units. In fairness to the big units in Dublin and Cork, they are very supportive of the smaller units and are on call on a 24-seven basis to provide assistance.