Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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165. To ask the Minister for Health the number of anaesthetists who work in our health services; his plans to recruit more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24970/14]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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166. To ask the Minister for Health if he will give the maximum support to anaesthetists in our health service in 2014-15 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24971/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

Though the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and to support service delivery, there are difficulties in recruiting consultant anaesthetists and NCHDS training to be anaesthetists, at present. I am currently progressing measures to ensure that we will have an adequate supply of consultants and NCHDs into the future.

While the number of consultants (Whole Time Equivalents) has increased by 700 since the establishment of the HSE, more recently it has become more difficult to fill posts and there are some specialties, including anaesthesia, where this is especially so. The Personnel Census shows that the number of consultant anaesthetists at the end of April 2014 was 351 (WTEs), 4 less than the corresponding figure in April 2013.

The ability of the public service to attract and retain high quality front-line staff shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. I set up a group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian McCraith last July to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The Group is making recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and planning for future service needs. It provided an Interim Report in December 2013 focusing on training. In April 2014 the Group submitted its second report to me and this dealt with medical career structures and pathways following completion of specialist training. The final report of the Group will deal with workforce planning and this is due to be submitted by the end of June 2014. The work of the Group is fundamental to ensuring that we have attractive propositions for consultants and doctors in training, NCHDs, in the years ahead.

Where front-line staffing shortages exist, the HSE makes alternative arrangements to ensure service provision, including recourse to agency and locum cover. However, it is preferable that sufficient numbers of key staff are recruited to permanent posts to support the most efficient and effective delivery of services.