Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health his views on issues in respect of Nenagh General Hospital, County Tipperary; the effect that the lack of non-consultant hospital doctors will have on the hospital, most notably on the intensive care and accident and emergency units (details supplied); if he will give assurances regarding the security of these units; the effect that the lack of non-consultant hospital doctors will have on Limerick Regional Hospital, most notably on the accident and emergency department; if he will give assurances regarding the security of such into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19105/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to ensuring that acute hospital services at national, regional and local level are provided in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. In particular I want to ensure that as many services as possible can be provided safely in smaller, local hospitals. I have also made it clear that patient safety must be the overriding priority. I want patients to be treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, and efficient and as near to home as possible. However, ongoing reform of the system will require some changes in how care is delivered in some locations across our health system.

I am conscious of the Deputy's concern in relation to the retention of services at the hospitals in the Mid West Region that he refers to in advance of the next rotation of Non-Consultant Hospitals Doctors (NCHDs). The position is, however, that the shortage of suitable NCHDs is an issue in many European countries. In this context I am working with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure the filling of as many as possible of some 475 NCHD posts which are due to be filled from 11th July 2011. The HSE conducted an extensive recruitment drive in India and Pakistan in recent months and succeeded in identifying 439 potential candidates for NCHD positions in Ireland. I have held meetings involving my Department, the Medical Council, medical training bodies and the HSE with a view to identifying measures to facilitate the appointment of suitably-qualified doctors from abroad. Drafting of a Bill to amend the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007, to enable the Medical Council to register doctors in supervised posts for a defined period, is being finalised.

The HSE is focusing on addressing particular staffing issues in a number of hospitals including in the Mid West Region particularly Limerick Regional given that it provides the regional 24 hour seven day week ED service. The HSE has assured me that this service will continue to be provided. Notwithstanding this, it is unlikely that all NCHD vacancies nationally can be filled by 11th July. Hospital management are working with Clinical Directors in a planned way to devise contingency arrangements which can be implemented, if required, to ensure that any resulting impact on services is minimised and that safe delivery of hospital services is assured.