Results 6,521-6,540 of 21,427 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: It looks like the complaints process will have to be changed. I will address that point to the Minister. A volte-face will be needed after what has been revealed. I am concerned. There are two ways of looking at this, either as a deep concern or as a good thing. We do not have enough consultants and they are overworked and overstretched. The hours they are working are insane, as are the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: That is very interesting because it means there is no correlation between public concerns about malpractice and the conditions consultants work in and related factors. The absence of a correlation shows consultants must be working at a maximum level or close to the edge as otherwise there would be an increase in complaints.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: They are completely different.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Yes, it is interesting that the statistics have flatlined, despite the fact that we all know we have fewer consultants proportionately than we had some years ago. The figures have been flatlining for a number of years. That says an awful lot for the consultants. It is a good thing and a good statistic. I am not sure if people are aware of that because to be honest, I was not aware of it....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Why not? That information would be very useful to us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: If I could make a suggestion, could the Medical Council change its qualitative research process and collect that information? It would be very interesting to know what disciplines people are leaving.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: One would over two or three years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: In three or four years' time, we would have trend analysis. We have to start somewhere.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: From a qualitative point of view, what is the gut feeling on the disciplines specialists are leaving?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: I believe that is probably accurate. I am also interested in statistics on geography. Do we know where the consultants and doctors who have left the system are working? Do we have a breakdown of that information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Would Ms O'Farrell mind providing that information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Would it also be possible to change the inputs to gather that information in the future? It will be very useful to know, from a geographical perspective, the facilities such people left, the final posts they held and their specialties. That information is incredibly important to us; we are talking about it all the time. The Medical Council does not distinguish between public and private....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Does Dr. Doyle have a gut feeling about it? We now know that consultants are on two-tier contracts. That is an issue we have talked about ad nauseamand most of us are on the same page in respect of it. Is access to an opportunity to practise privately a variable to be considered for medical practitioners who are deciding to leave the country?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: We all know that the conditions in which many consultants work are unacceptable although it is not the same across the various hospitals. Those of us in the mid west know there is a particular issue in UHL that is incredibly bad in comparison with the position in Beaumont Hospital. The number of doctors per head of population in Beaumont versus UHL is a national scandal. Doctors in UHL are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Does Dr. Doyle have a gut feeling? I am asking a lot of questions because the quantitative and qualitative data that has been provided does not seem to provide a lot of answers. Hopefully it will do so in the future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: That is a good and welcome statement. I thank Dr. Doyle.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: He certainly would not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Is it comments or questions or both? The Chairman knows me too well. I have a few questions and I do not wish to go over old ground. I have great sympathy with regard to the pay differential. None of us can give a guarantee of being in the Oireachtas or in government after the next election, but the issue will certainly have to be dealt with by any coalition that is in place. It is high...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: Why is it not a union?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in the Health Sector: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alan Kelly: May I make a suggestion? The association should become a union.