John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am responding to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, who unfortunately cannot be here this evening.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. PET-CT scanning is one of a number of sophisticated diagnostic tools used in the acute hospital setting in the diagnosis and management of disease. In 2006, the HSE decided to procure a PET-CT scanner for Cork University Hospital. Construction of the new facility and installation of the scanner was completed in 2009.

In order to implement savings on public service numbers, the Government decided that, from March 2009 to the end of 2010, no public sector post may be filled by recruitment, promotion or payment of a higher duties allowance. A HSE circular gives effect to the Government decision and other specific aspects of the employment control framework for the health services.

While the Government decision applies to all permanent and temporary staff, including nursing staff, there are specific exemptions. For the health service, the employment control framework specifically exempts the following front line grades from the moratorium: medical consultants, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, behaviour therapists, counsellors, social workers and emergency medical technicians.

The framework allows for growth in numbers in those posts within the overall approved employment ceiling for the health sector. In addition, special provisions apply in relation to certain specialist grades under the national cancer control programme. The Government decision was modulated to ensure that key services are maintained as far as possible in the health service, particularly in relation to children at risk, older people and people with disabilities.

Health employment levels are monitored by the joint employment control monitoring committee, which comprises officials from the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Finance and the HSE. This committee also reviews implementation of the moratorium and any issues arising. A process is in place to fill critical vacancies and formal approval is required for non-exempted posts. Where approval is granted, recruitment then takes place.

With regard to Cork specifically, and staff required for the PET-CT scanner, the HSE has identified posts required to operate the scanner and has begun the application process for approval to fill non-exempt posts. Until the PET-CT in Cork University Hospital becomes operational, patients will continue to travel to St. James's Hospital or the Mater Hospital in Dublin, with whom the HSE has service level agreements for the provision of PET-CT services. In 2009, a total of 108 patients from the Cork and Kerry region were referred to St. James's and the Mater hospitals in Dublin, in line with service level agreements in place.

The HSE is working to bring this project into operation as soon as possible to ensure that the people of Cork and Kerry have easy access to the most advanced diagnostics available, thus ensuring that better outcomes are achieved for patients.

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