Efforts ‘ongoing’ to fill hospital consultant posts
NO consultant posts in Craigavon Area Hospital are held vacant to cut costs, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust stressed this week.
The hospital was responding after figures obtained by the SDLP this week revealed the number of vacant posts across Northern Ireland - including 12 at Craigavon Area Hospital and seven in Daisy Hill Hospital.
There had also been claims that they were not being filled for financial reasons.
A spokesperson for the trust said the figures were based on a Vacancy Survey dating back to September 2011, and that of the 19 vacancies reported, 14 are now filled. “The remaining vacancies are new posts which have been created due to service expansion and are in the recruitment process,” the spokesperson said.
The Trust also confirmed that none of these posts were in the Emergency Department. The pressure on emergency departments has been highlighted in recent weeks with the death of an elderly man on a trolley in the Royal in Belfast and claims that A & E departments are at breaking point.
The Trust spokesperson pointed out that since last September, five extra consultants have been recruited to work in the Emergency Departments at both Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital.
He added, “Vacancies may arise for a number of reasons; from the creation of new posts due to expansion or because we need to replace staff members who have left.
“The Trust is very proactive in trying to fill any vacancies but in a small number of specialist areas, for example haematology or ophthamology (a new trust service development) attracting suitable applicants is an ongoing challenge. This is reflective of the position nationally and is not just a problem particular to trusts in Northern Ireland.”
Upper Bann MP David Simpson said he had raised the reports of unfilled consultant posts with senior Trust representatives. “My primary concerns as Member of Parliament for the area is the health and care of patients and the well-being of very dedicated and highly professional staff who do such a remarkable job in what are often very trying conditions,” he said.
“It is undoubtedly the case that there was a significant spike in emergency admissions right across Northern Ireland during the month of February. This placed a considerable additional strain on staff and resources.
“At this point the Southern Trust has managed that extra pressure and strain very effectively. We can never afford to be complacent and there can be no let up in day-to-day vigilance.
“But I can say that when it comes to these reported vacant posts none of them are in Emergency Departments across the Southern Trust and that 14 of the 19 reported vacancies have since been filled. Some other posts have become vacant since this survey was carried out and recruitment processes are in place to fill them.”
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