Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 314: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action being taken regarding the hospice beds in a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo; if a medical officer has been appointed; if the Health Service Executive have advertised for this position again; if the HSE have alternative proposals to facilitate the reopening of these beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3626/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote.

Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Actual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.