Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator O’Donnell about the current problem we have with the medical profession. It was recently revealed at the Joint Committee on Health and Children that there are 253 vacant consultant posts. In one of the medical newspapers this weekend it was suggested that as many as 20% of all consultant posts might be vacant. That is a serious issue because we are losing senior medical personnel. I signalled three years ago that the problem would arise and it is time we started to deal with the issue. The MacCraith report and another report have already been produced. I read in a report over the weekend that certain targets had been set for each of the four quarters of 2014. I am not convinced any of the targets have been reached. If that is the case then questions must be asked because we are now facing into a changeover of junior doctors on 7 July and many of the posts will remain vacant.

Another issue that must be highlighted and on which there is a need for a debate is the cost of professional indemnity insurance for doctors and in particular those in the private health care sector, which is increasing by more than 100%. For instance, an orthopaedic consultant will now pay approximately €97,000 per annum for professional indemnity insurance. People might not be concerned because it is the private sector but 41% of all elective surgery is currently carried out in the private sector. If some of the private facilities close then the public sector will not be able to absorb it. Very good offers are being made to people who have experience from New Zealand, Australia and Canada and they are accepting them. The matter requires to be dealt with urgently. At the moment-----