Written answers

Wednesday, 26 April 2006

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the efforts she has made to improve clinical audit and competence assurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15504/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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All medical practitioners have a responsibility to ensure their practices are safe and their skills are up to date. In this regard, I have pursued a number of important policies and actions, in particular the introduction of a new contract for hospital consultants, which is intended to include provisions for clinical audit and competence assurance and the introduction of a new medical practitioners Bill, which I hope to bring to the House later this year.

The medical practitioners Bill will provide for a statutory basis for an appropriate scheme of competence assurance for medical practitioners. The Medical Council will be the body responsible for the co-ordination and administration of the scheme. Pending the introduction of the legislation, the Medical Council has actively worked on addressing the gaps in this area. Recently, it announced a scheme of voluntary random performance assessments for doctors. The audits will complement existing schemes of continuing professional development which many medical practitioners participate in at present. The scheme is a welcome development in this area. Furthermore, I have asked my Department to develop mechanisms in conjunction with the HSE to ensure that clinical governance arrangements are strengthened throughout the health system.

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