Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the process by which consultant doctors are approved to practise; the number of consultants currently approved in each of the specialties; the basis on which these staffing levels are set; if she is satisfied there are adequate numbers of consultants in each of the specialties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9890/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Medical Practitioners Act 1978, the Medical Council is the statutory body charged with primary responsibility for the regulation and registration of medical practitioners. All doctors wishing to practise medicine in this country should be registered with the Medical Council. The Medical Council sets out the relevant qualifications, training and experience required for registration.

The national hospitals office, Comhairle, informed me that on 22 March 2005 the number of approved hospital consultant posts was 1,947. These posts are divided into medical specialties as follows: anaesthesia 287; emergency medicine 52; medicine 378; obstetrics and gynaecology 104; paediatrics 108; pathology 176; psychiatry 295; radiology 183; and surgery 364.

Staffing levels are set following detailed analysis of current staffing, workload, casemix, existing work practices and resource requirements in each specialty and sub-specialty. Service needs are influenced by many factors, including the nature and frequency of disease and disorders, population demographics, available therapy and service provision. Detailed policy advice on the organisation and operation of hospital services is formulated by national committees or advisory groups established by the Minister for Health and Children, the national hospitals office — Comhairle, individual specialty associations and training bodies.

It is Government policy to substantially increase the number of consultants in the next decade. All non-consultant hospital doctors are given the opportunity of proper skills development on the basis that many in this category will be the consultants of tomorrow. There is a need for the development of a coherent, strategic approach to workforce and human resource planning. This should be aligned closely with strategic objectives and the service planning process. Planning for the development of new and existing services must be based on a robust and realistic assessment of the skill and human resource needs to deliver these services. The way forward is to have enhanced skills mixes by matching skills to service needs, which will subsequently benefit patients and empower health personnel to reach their full potential. This optimises their contribution to quality health care. The continued implementation of the action plan for people management has a crucial role to play in improving retention and reducing the turnover of skilled staff. In addition, the Health Service Executive will be centrally involved in the development of an integrated workforce planning strategy for the health sector.