Hospital staff consultation
O'Hanlon asked whether hospital management and staff were consulted. The Minister said his Department gathered information from hospitals, and that discussions with a union and related assurances had resolved the matter.
Were the management or staff of the hospitals consulted before this equipment was purchased?
Comment on this
The professional staff of my Department sought the maximum possible degree of information from a number of hospitals and projected areas which were intended for use, for example, Tralee hospital. As the Deputy knows, that required trade union negotiations and there were discussions with one union in particular. I was involved in those discussions and the union received assurances so far as people working in hospitals could be given assurances but, overall the matter has been resolved.