Seanad debates

Tuesday, 20 November 2007

5:00 pm

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

No one more than I wants key clinicians to work with our plans. Perhaps they will after the consultant contract is behind us. Senator O'Toole asked about the problem in that respect. There are a number of issues, but access to private practice in public hospitals is a large stumbling block. From time to time, others who may have different opinions have referenced other issues, but this remains a concern. We have endorsed the chairman's recommendations.

We want to move forward. The changes we want include having clinical directors, a clinician in charge of a surgical team with seven day cover, 24 hour service, longer working days and so on. I keep reading about people going to work seven days per week, but that is not the case. We do not want junior doctors in training staffing our hospitals' accident and emergency departments at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. That is not a quality patient service.

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