Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A lot of change is taking place in the health services, as the Minister knows. Of the most recent changes taking place, the new health regions are a key to the future health of citizens. However, according to the Royal College of Surgeons and the national doctors training and planning board, the model 3 hospitals are critical in delivering the new model of healthcare. Model 3 hospitals, such as Letterkenny University Hospital, have a crisis in general-surgeon consultant workforces. In Letterkenny, 27% of consultants are non-permanent, 31% are aged between 56 and 65 and 7% are over 66. The Minister will agree those shocking statistics are a basis on which to assess hospital staffing. In Letterkenny's case, it is particularly bad when we consider it is more than 250 km to the model 4 hospital within the Saolta group, which leaves huge numbers of people in Donegal dependent on Letterkenny for services.

The model 3 hospitals report, compiled by the HSE, the Royal College of Surgeons and the national doctors training and planning board, lays out a process to counter the change needed, and as Colm Henry, chief clinical officer of the HSE, states in its introduction, it lays out "in stark terms for the first time, the challenges facing Model 3 hospitals in the successful recruitment and retention of consultants." The report states, "The public is entitled to the same high standard of medical care across Ireland, regardless of their location." I definitely agree with that, as I am sure the Minister does as well. With 24% of consultants in model 3 hospitals on non-permanent contracts, that is twice the level in model 4 hospitals. The report recommends a model 3 implementation project is established as soon as possible, with a timeframe of 18 months for completion. This action would optimise the chances of achieving improvements for patients and staff in model 3 hospitals.

I believe that, as one of the busiest hospitals and the one that is the farthest from a model 4 hospital, Letterkenny University Hospital should be one of the pilot sites for the implementation of this project. It seems the Department of Health does not share this view about the implementation group or the pilot sites. It seems to favour a more scattergun approach that might not provide clear directions on where to progress the development of model 3 hospitals.

Will the Government make sure an implementation group is formed and that Letterkenny University Hospital will be one of the hospitals to model the roll-out of the study to improve retention and ensure everyone has access to vital health services?

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