HSE to recruit new palliative care specialist for elderly of Westmeath and Longford

The HSE has sanctioned the appointment of a second palliative care specialist for the midlands region, to work in Longford and Westmeath.

Because it could take almost a year to recruit a suitable candidate, a locum is to be appointed for the interim.

“The HSE is hoping to have the consultant appointed by Quarter Two or Quarter Three of next year, and they’re hoping to put a locum in place in January,” Cllr Peter Burke, chairperson of the Dublin Mid-Leinster HSE Forum revealed this week.
Cllr Burke raised the issue at the forum’s monthly meeting, held in Tullamore last Tuesday.

He was informed that the engagement of a second consultant for palliative care medicine has been included in the HSE Service Plan 2015. The consultant is to be based in Mullingar, working alongside the existing consultant who would then be based in Tullamore and covering Laois and Offaly.

Priority
The engagement of a palliative care consultant was identified as a priority by speakers from the floor at a meeting of the five voluntary hospice committees from the midlands in Mullingar last month.

The meeting, called by the Irish Hospice Association for groups from Westmeath, Longford, Offaly and Laois, was held to look at ways of having a level three hospice provided in the midlands.

“After that meeting, I wrote to the Minister for Health, and I had a motion down at Tuesday’s meeting of the Dublin Mid-Leinster Forum in relation to the recruitment of a palliative care consultant for this area,” said Cllr Burke.

“I also asked about the appointment of a social worker for the North Westmeath Hospice, because that committee has committed to funding that role – but because of the staff embargo, they weren’t allowed take someone on,” said Cllr Burke.

He was delighted with the commitment given on Tuesday regarding the appointment of a palliative care consultant – but disappointed that there was a less firm commitment on the timescale involved in allowing recruitment of a social worker.

“I am not satisfied with the delay in relation to the recruitment of a social worker, which is essential for the area, and Mr Pat Bennett, chief officer, assured me that this issue will receive his immediate attention and I would be hopeful of some good news in the short term.”

Appointment

The HSE, in its written response to Cllr Burke said that the job description and supporting documentation for the second palliative care consultant are currently with the Consultants Appointment Unit (CAU), which is due to formally approve the contents of the post by the end of November 2015.

“Thereafter the post will go to the National Recruitment Process (NRS) for recruitment,” the reply stated.

However, the reply continued, there were several stages, including advertising,
shortlisting, interviewing and, eventually, giving notice, and the timeline for occupancy of the post was dependent on these factors.

Social Worker

The reply stated that on the question of a social worker for the North Westmeath
Hospice, the HSE was awaiting the outcome of the deliberations on the impact of
the recent budget on its estimates submissions and service plans for 2016.

The response said that HSE Midlands had “indicated willingness” to the North Westmeath Hospice that if the hospice continued to provide funding, that it would secure a relevant position number/whole time equivalent for the post.