Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that there is a replacement consultant rheumatologist at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, prior to the maternity leave of the existing consultant; and his plans to increase the number of paediatric rheumatologists available to the thousands of children in need of this care. [31975/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the Health Service Executive has identified Paediatric Rheumatology as a priority service for children's health services and has approved the recruitment of a new Paediatric Rheumatology Consultant for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. The recruitment process for this new post is currently underway.

The Paediatric Consultant post already in place in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, will shortly fall vacant due to maternity leave. A locum position was recently advertised but unfortunately there were no applicants for the post. The hospital has had discussions with the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, to identify the level of support they can provide to ensure continued service delivery. As a result of these discussions arrangements are in place for provision of consultant cover. The hospital is writing to the parents of patients with outpatient appointments to explain the arrangements being put in place. In addition it is important to remember that the rest of the specialist rheumatology team, including the clinical nurse specialist, will continue to provide services and support and an additional non-consultant hospital doctor with specialist interest in this area has been assigned to the unit for the duration of the maternity leave. I can assure the Deputy that my Department has been in contact with the Health Service Executive to emphasise the need to ensure that this important service is maintained.