James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. The number of non-consultant hospital doctors, NCHDs, in the public health system has increased by more than 200 in recent years and now exceeds 4,900. However, there are international shortages of NCHDs in certain categories and specialties. There are also some hospitals, such as Letterkenny, to which it has been difficult to attract NCHDs, for a range of reasons including training opportunities and rural location. We must live with this fact and do everything we can to address it.

Letterkenny General Hospital had an NCHD complement of 105 whole-time equivalents prior to the drive to support implementation of the European working time directive. To facilitate the implementation of the directive, it has received approval to employ a further 16 whole-time equivalents, increasing the total approved NCHD complement to 121.

Since July 2013, there have been ongoing efforts to recruit doctors for the January 2014 intake of NCHDs to ensure recruitment of all 121 whole-time equivalents. Unfortunately, due to national and international shortages of NCHDs, Letterkenny General Hospital, as of 11 February, has 26.5 vacant posts.

However, 14 of these posts are covered by agency locum non-consultant hospital doctors employed on a temporary basis to ensure continuation of service delivery at the hospital. Efforts are continuing to recruit additional NCHDs to the existing vacant posts.

Particular difficulties are being experienced in Letterkenny General Hospital regarding the recruitment of NCHDs in general medicine, and this is replicated in many hospitals nationally. There at 8.5 whole-time equivalent posts vacant in the general medicine specialty, comprising 7.5 registrar and one senior house officer posts. The recruitment and retention of non-consultant hospital doctors is required to support service delivery, address reliance on agency locums and facilitate the achievement of compliance with the European working time directive.

Last summer I set up a group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian MacCraith to undertake a strategic review of medical training and career structure.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The group is to make recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system, planning for future service needs and achieving the maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training. The group provided an interim report in December 2013 with a focus on training. It is examining career structures and pathways following training with a view to submitting a report by the end of March 2014. In addition, the HSE is considering the establishment of a new service grade of non-consultant hospital doctor. The establishment of the hospital groups will also assist hospitals such as Letterkenny as the revised structures will facilitate the use of resources across the group. Indeed, the current shortages at Letterkenny are being considered in the context of the NCHD resources available to the west and north-west hospital group.

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