Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 February 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

CervicalCheck Screening Programme Update: Discussion

On the other issue of expertise in the area of cervical cancer, I refer to the backup support groups. Are we facing a challenge in respect of retaining people but also replacing those who will be retiring? Have we considered that issue in terms of the next four or five years? For instance, there are 450 or 500 consultant posts vacant in a number of areas in the medical service.

This is an area in respect of which one needs expertise. The HSE is competing on the world market. I wonder where matters stand in the context of long-term planning in that area.