Mr. Michael Walsh:

Such a situation is not unusual. In north County Dublin there have been 35 consultants over a six-year period. The statistics are available and prove that the situation is nothing new.

In order for a service to progress one needs a consultant who will stay and a plan of operation that he or she can implement. If a consultant only has a contract for six months or a year then he or she will not remain on and will have no interest in developing the service. Why would he or she put all of his or her energies into the job? Consultants spend most of their time arguing with management for the proper development of the service and securing safe and proper buildings in which to see patients as opposed to seeing children.