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Two under-qualified consultants working at Galway University Hospitals
Galway Bay fm newsroom – There are two under-qualified doctors currently working as consultants at Galway University Hospitals.
That’s according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, which says nationally there are almost 70 under-qualified consultants employed in Irish hospitals.
A specialist doctor is a qualified doctor who has undertaken higher specialist training – which can typically take up to eight years to complete.
Since 2008, HSE guidelines state that doctors must be on a specialist register with the Medical Council in order to be appointed to consultant positions.
However, figures from the Irish Hospital Consultants association show that nationally, there are 127 doctors currently employed as consultants who are not listed on the register.
Of these, 65 were appointed as consultants after the introduction of rules requiring registration with the Medical Council.
Six non-specialist consultants are employed at Galway University Hospitals – which consists of UHG and Merlin Park Hospital – two of whom have been appointed since the new guidelines were introduced.
The situation does not mean the doctors in question have not undertaken specialist training – but does mean the HSE itself does not know if they have, which breaches its own employment guidelines.
Last week, solicitors warned that the situation in Irish hospitals could leave the HSE legally exposed in the event of injury to a patient.
According to the Sunday Business Post, the HSE does not know how many consultants employed through agencies are not on the specialist register – meaning the real number could be far higher than figures suggest.
Non-specialist consultants in hospitals nationwide include 12 psychiatrists, 10 surgeons, seven anaesthetists and six obstetricians.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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