Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the scheduled appointments of consultants at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway. [13758/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Considerable efforts have been made by the Saolta Healthcare Group to improve the staffing levels at Portiuncula Hospital. In March 2016, the Hospital hired one extra ED consultant, an increase from one consultant to two.

In the area of Medicine, the Hospital has five consultants in post; two permanent, three locum and two vacancies. The three locum posts are being filled on a permanent basis with a Consultant General Physician and a Consultant Respiratory Physician commencing in September and a Consultant Cardiologist who will commence in October 2016. The two vacant posts, namely a Consultant in Geriatrics and a Consultant Gastroenterologist are to be advertised.

In the area of Obstetrics, the Hospital has five consultant posts. A Consultant Obstetrician, who will fill a post vacated due to a recent retirement, will commence in July 2016.

In Anaesthesia, there are currently four Consultants in post. A new Consultant Anaesthetist/Intensivist,with responsibility for the Intensive Care Unit, has recently been secured and is a joint appointment with Galway University Hospital. Also, an additional Consultant Anaesthetist is due to commence in early January 2017.

Finally in Radiology, there are two permanent Consultants, one locum and one vacancy. Two Consultant Radiologist posts are in clearance stage. The first is to commence later in 2016, the second is due to take up post in 2017.

All of these new posts demonstrate commitment to the care of patients at Portiuncula Hospital.