Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

The Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar provides an extensive range of acute services to the population of Dublin and the midlands and, in particular, to people in the Longford-Westmeath area. The Government has shown its commitment to the hospital by the capital improvements that it has supported in recent years.

The first consultant dermatologist for the midlands was appointed to the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, in September 2007. Prior to this, a consultant dermatologist from Temple Street Hospital provided two sessions per week at the hospital. In December 2008, the consultant dermatologist appointed at the hospital tendered her resignation to take effect from 31 January 2009. On 8 January 2009, approval was received from the consultants appointments unit to fill the post on a temporary basis pending the permanent filling of the post. In mid-January, the temporary post for consultant dermatologist at the hospital was advertised. There were no applicants for this competition. In February 2009 an offer of employment was made to a Belfast-based dermatologist to provide a temporary dermatology service at the hospital. However, it was not possible to agree contract terms with this consultant and he did not take up duty.

The post was then re-advertised in the press, journals and websites from 1 March to 27 March 2009. Resulting from this competition, two inquiries were received. Neither of these candidates met the qualifications for the post. The HSE sought on several occasions to recruit a suitable temporary replacement without success. Discussions have taken place between the HSE and a major teaching hospital in Dublin with a view to expanding the remit of the post. As a result of these discussions, the HSE intends to advertise the permanent restructured post in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the HSE is endeavouring to put arrangements in place pending filling of the post permanently.

The appointment times issued to patients by the hospital were based on an expectation, at the time, that the consultant post was about to be filled. Unfortunately, the expected appointment did not materialise. The hospital management regrets any confusion resulting from this. In the meantime, some patients who required urgent treatment have been seen in Dublin. Arrangements have also been made for children to be treated in Dublin. The hospital will continue to focus on the best possible quality of care for all its patients.

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