Written answers

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Department of Health

Health Service Staff

3:00 pm

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff and their cost at all levels and grades employed in the minor injuries unit in Louth county hospital, Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6450/11]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the effect of the recruitment ban in the Health Service Executive on the acute hospital services and community health services in County Louth; if any surgery has been cancelled as a result of staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6451/11]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to any shortage of anaesthetists staff; if he will make a commitment to employ extra staff and not redeploy from one hospital to another, leading to a loss of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/11]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised my Department that approximately 150 of 4,638 Non Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) posts are vacant and that some vacancies exist in anaesthetics. The moratorium on public sector recruitment is not a factor in these NCHD vacancies. The moratorium does not apply to NCHDs and in addition allows for the recruitment of one consultant for every two NCHD posts that are suppressed. Other countries are also experiencing difficulties in recruiting NCHDs at present.

The HSE has developed a range of strategies and initiatives to maximise recruitment. It has advised that a recruitment process is currently in progress for the July 2011 intake of NCHDs. It is currently organising an additional overseas recruitment campaign in India and Pakistan.

In relation to redeployment it is appropriate that resources are shared, moved and redeployed across hospital groups to meet service demands, mitigate against risk and improve the patient's experience. Local management teams have the flexibility to move local resources to best meet patient need. This does not reduce the services available to the population of the area served.

The Louth Meath Hospital Group (LMHG) had a significant shortage of junior hospital doctors in Anaesthesia in July 2010. During 2010 the LMHG undertook extensive recruitment abroad to address the shortfall. Currently the Hospital group has 14 registrar positions all of which are filled by suitably qualified staff. In addition approval for seven additional Anaesthetic NCHDs has been received to extend the provision of On Call to a third layer of Registrars. Currently 2 Registrars and a Consultant provide on call out of hours, this third layer is in line with recommendations from a previous review of Anaesthesia. In addition, the group have been working closely with the College of Anaesthetists to increase the number of accredited teaching posts to attract a high calibre of doctors to these posts.

The Louth Meath Hospital group is comprised of one hospital, operating across three sites. It is appropriate that resources are shared, moved and redeployed across the group to meet service demands, mitigate against risk and improve our patient's experience.

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