Government response on pancreas services
The Leader rejects the suggestion that the Health Minister avoids Seanad debates but agrees to seek his attendance to address the absence of pancreatic transplant consultants at Beaumont and wider consultant vacancies.
The Minister for Health was in the House to take a Commencement matter prior to the Order of Business.
Comment on this
It is not a question of the Minister avoiding Commencement debates.
Comment on this
He picks and chooses the debates he will attend.
Comment on this
I will try to bring him here to discuss pancreas transplants and the fact that there is no surgeon at Beaumont Hospital. While everybody welcomes the fact that services are being transferred to St. Vincent's University Hospital, there is a need for consultants. It is a problem not only in the case of transplants. The lack of consultants is a major problem in the health service and will have to be tackled to attract consultants to work in the service. There are vacancies in practically every hospital in the country, which makes it a very serious matter.
Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 70, non-Government motion No. 17, be taken before No. 1. I do not propose to accept the amendment.