Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The most worrying aspect of the Minister's response is that there are a number of other hospitals involved. Can he indicate in how many more hospitals these locum consultants worked? How many more patients will have to worry until they get clarification in this regard?

The reason this issue arises is because we are so reliant on locum consultants. As the Minister will know, consultant radiologist posts in Roscommon County Hospital have been vacant for a number of years. We have been trying to get approval to recruit consultants. We have no permanent consultant radiologist at that hospital. Can the Minister give me an assurance here that those appointments will be made?

I wish to make two further brief points. The first is that the Minister failed to answer a key question. If patients in Ireland were potentially put at risk in regard to these doctors, patients in the UK and Australia where those doctors are now working are also potentially at risk. I raised an issue here in the past regarding a consultant who was not up to standard here and who continued to practise in the UK. I want an assurance that no other patient is being put at risk, be it in this jurisdiction or any other jurisdictions, if these doctors are not up to scratch.

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