Faster consultant access needed

It is because of expected reductions in applications for NCHD posts – and not because of budgetary challenges – that the HSE is seeking “reductions in tiered on-call and improved cross-cover arrangements”, Health Minister Harney has claimed. Speaking in the Dáil, she said: “Instead of cases being referred through successive tiers of doctors, we need to increase the extent to which consultants and other senior clinical decision-makers respond to urgent or emergency cases.” {openx:269} Harney conceded there are likely to be difficulties in filling some NCHD posts when doctors begin their next rotation in July. “The indications are that there…