Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The provision of cancer services is a matter of very serious concern to a great number of people at the moment. In 2000, the House debated a report on the employment of locum consultants around the country. The then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, committed himself to setting up a working group to examine the structures, criteria and standards that should be in place for the employment of locums. We have heard of concerns in very high profile cases recently about the involvement of locum practitioners. I refer to the case of Rebecca O'Malley and her misdiagnosis. A locum who worked in Galway for six months and who left Galway under a cloud was subsequently employed in Cork. The individual working in Portlaoise was a locum before taking up permanent employment.

What has been the impact of that working report in respect of the implementation of the structures for the employment of locums? What changes were brought into effect? Was there contact between officials in the health services in Galway, who were so concerned about the locum who worked there that they contacted HIQA, and officials in the health services in Cork in respect of the employment of the locum in question?

What happened to the working group set up by the then Minister, Deputy Martin? What are the conditions and why was there a breakdown in communications between health services whereby a locum in one area left under a cloud and was subsequently employed in another?

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