Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to a query (details supplied) regarding hospital consultants roster arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41811/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The new arrangements agreed between health service management and the consultant representative bodies at the LRC include provisions relating to 24/7 rostering. It is envisaged that in some settings, for example emergency medicine, radiology and obstetrics, consultants will be required to participate in 24/7 rostering based on international norms for specialist staffing, availability of appropriate NCHD staffing, multi-disciplinary supports and the frequency, volume and acuity of workload. These arrangements, which provide for increased consultant availability in key areas, with less reliance on NCHD cover, are intended to improve the quality of patient care.