Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue I wish to raise relates to the health sector. I agree with the remarks made by Senator Mullins. The general doctors issue is getting quite serious and by this time next year we will face a major problem. For the last 15 to 20 years we have been relying on doctors from non-EU countries to come here and apply for the jobs in this country, but the number of doctors from non-EU countries will decrease by up to 50% over the next 12 months. Part of the reason for that is the introduction of the working time directive.

The basic salary of general doctors was reduced four or five years ago. Nobody questioned it at the time because people were getting additional hours of overtime and therefore were being suitably rewarded for their work. Now there is a restriction on the number of hours they can work. Everybody sought that and it is correct, but the basic salary has remained at the same level as five years ago. As a result, the number of doctors coming here from abroad will decrease substantially over the next 12 months, so there will be a major shortfall. We have done absolutely nothing about it. The MacCraith report was published in three separate reports over the last nine months and I submitted a question to the HSE on what is being done on its implementation. There is a serious question as to whether there is a commitment to the implementation of that report.

Another issue in the health sector relates to dieticians employed in hospitals. At present, dieticians employed by the HSE are not required to visit nursing homes. If a person in a nursing home requires a consultation with a dietician, he or she must be taken to attend the clinic at a hospital, at huge cost. Any new dietician who is employed should be required to visit nursing homes. The State is incurring a huge cost with the current procedure. This relates to Senator Mullins's request for a serious debate on all the issues in health with the new Minister. There are many issues we have not mentioned which must be examined and reformed. The employment of dieticians is one such area in respect of how they are employed and their responsibilities to a group of people for whom it is extremely important that they get proper care and back-up support.