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

Just for clarity, and I am not in any way trying to be difficult, but the Deputy mentioned radiographers. They are the people who take the pictures and are not consultants per se. Radiologists are the consultants who read the pictures.

I will conclude my answer. The ability of the public service to attract and retain high-quality consultants shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. As such, I set up a group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian McCraith last July to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The group submitted an interim report focused on training to me in December and is now progressing examination of the career structure to apply on completion of specialist training with a view to reporting to me shortly. Broader issues relating to recruitment and retention of non-consultant hospital doctors, NCHDs, and consultants will be given further consideration on receipt of this report.

I do not profess to be familiar with the specific problem in Kerry, so I apologise. Sometimes, hospitals that are geographically isolated experience difficulty in attracting consultants and NCHDs.

The group hospital scenario helps to address that, as they can be part of a group and move around through the hospitals, thus making themselves available to the broadest range of individuals within the service.

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