Close to half of the consultant obstetricians working outside of the State's four largest cities are seeking early retirement. In all, 14 of the 31 consultants who work in obstetric units outside of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway want to take early retirement.
Most of these consultants are working in two-man maternity units. To compound the problem, units with less than three consultant staff will, from the 1st January, 2001, no longer be recognised for training purposes. This decision means that posts at registrar level and below will be impossible to fill, as they will no longer be accredited by either the Irish Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists or the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Despite the looming crisis, the Medical Manpower Forum has not met since February. Sources have confirmed to The Irish Times that while a meeting is expected in the autumn, the Department of Health has yet to set a date to reconvene the forum, which is responsible for addressing the manpower crisis in the health services.
The revelation that so many senior obstetricians are seeking early retirement will reopen the debate about the viability of smaller maternity units. There are currently two one-man units in the State at Monaghan and Dundalk.
The Irish Hospitals' Consultants Association is convening a national meeting of obstetricians and gynaecologists in September to discuss the problem. "We are calling on the manpower forum to fast-track the obstetrics issue to ensure a minimum third post in all two-man units before January 1st," according to Mr Finbar Fitzpatrick, secretary general of the IHCA.
He also confirmed it is IHCA policy to seek the closure of the one-man obstetric units in Monaghan and Dundalk.
As a result of these unprecedented manpower problems, the Minister for Health will now be forced to consider the future of the State's smaller maternity units, with only Waterford, Letterkenny and Ballinasloe currently meeting the three-man minimum consultant staffing level.