James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I am working with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure the filling of as many as possible of some 475 non-consultant hospital doctor posts which are due to be filled from 11 July. I can confirm that as of 27 June, 221 of these posts have been filled, which leaves 254 vacancies. The HSE conducted an extensive recruitment drive in India and Pakistan in recent months and succeeded in identifying 439 potential candidates for NCHD positions in Ireland. I have held meetings involving my Department, the Medical Council, medical training bodies and the HSE with a view to identifying measures to facilitate the appointment of suitably qualified doctors from abroad. The drafting of a Bill to amend the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 to enable the Medical Council to register doctors in supervised posts for a defined period is at an advanced stage.

Notwithstanding this and other initiatives, it is unlikely that all NCHD vacancies can be filled by 11 July. Hospital managements are working with clinical directors in a planned way to devise contingency arrangements which can be implemented if required to ensure that any resulting impact on services is minimised and that the safe delivery of hospital services is assured.

I recognise and support the need to reduce the hours worked by NCHDs. If further progress is to be made it is essential that, over time, reliance on NCHDs to deliver services is reduced. An expanded role for nurses and a better skill mix generally in hospitals is one crucial way of achieving this. An increase in the number of consultants and greater team-working, with a consequential reduction in the number of NCHDs, is also required. The 2008 consultant contract and the 2010 NCHD contract allow for more flexible work patterns and the further development of consultant-delivered services in hospitals. The inclusion of a better skill mix in rostering arrangements has been identified as a priority in implementing the public service agreement in the health sector this year.

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