Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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556. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the worsening staff shortage crisis in Cork University Hospital [29183/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Particular hospitals and specialties have experienced difficulties filling NCHD posts over the past number of years. Addressing this issue has been a priority for the health service and has included a number of recruitment programmes internationally. As a result, over the past three years, the vast majority of NCHD posts – 98% - have been filled normally. Where staffing issues exist, there remains sufficient agency staff to meet service needs. This means that the hospital system has operated with a small ongoing vacancy level in recent years. NCHDs are recruited twice a year – in January and July – to accommodate training rotations. A number of recruitment processes are underway in preparation for July 2013.

Improvements in staffing and processes overall in the ED at CUH include the recruitment of two additional Consultants in Emergency Medicine at the beginning of 2013, which ensures full Consultant presence within the ED from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition, NCHD staffing has been increased by 5 WTEs. A Consultant led Rapid Access treatment programme has been put in place to ensure patients are seen by senior doctors and treated and discharged within the shortest timeframe possible. At CUH recruitment of NCHDs for the intake commencing 8 July, 2013 is still being finalised. Not all registrar posts are filled at this stage and the hospital is pursuing a number of options to ensure a sufficient number of staff will be available.

More effective use of staff in hospitals is also critical and in this regard the establishment of hospital groups which I announced last month will allow for greater flexibility and help address implementation of the European Working Time Directive. The establishment of hospital groups will enable staff to be deployed under one management across the hospitals in each group to allow more effective use of skilled resources, removing any unnecessary duplication and concentrating where the need is most in the group. It will support staff recruitment to cover smaller hospitals, as staff will work both in the larger hospitals and be rostered for periods in the smaller hospitals in the group as required.