In a major report on the future of surgery in the Republic, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has called for a 135 per cent increase in the number of consultant surgeons over the next 10 years.
The Future of Surgical Specialities in Ireland is the RCSI response to the three major health service reform reports, Hanly, Brennan and Prospectus. It specifies the requirements for a "first-class" surgical service between now and 2013.
In a significant contrast to other reform documents, it identifies a definite role for medium-sized hospitals in the State. "An agreed proposal will be needed to incorporate medium-sized, well-funded and well-run hospitals into the new Hanly concept," the report states. Asked about the significance of this statement, the president of the RCSI, Mr Michael Butler, told The Irish Times it was difficult at present to see where "well-functioning hospitals like Tullamore, Portlaoise, Kilkenny and Wexford would fit into the regional plan outlined in the Hanly report".
But he emphasised that the Hanly reforms were "very pro-surgical" and had the full support of the RCSI. On the issue of smaller hospitals such as Nenagh and Ennis, the report echoes the Hanly proposals by calling for the reconfiguration of small local hospitals and their linkage to larger regional centres.
It strongly criticises the shortage of acute beds within the hospital system.