Third consultant in six months quits

ANOTHER leading consultant is to quit his post in Cork, bringing to three the number of specialists to leave the region in six months.

Dr Eamon Rogers, a consultant urologist at the Mercy Hospital, is set to leave his post after being offered a job in Galway. Just three months ago, consultant paediatrician Dr David Coghlan handed in his notice in protest at what he described as a lack of resources.

In March, award-winning cancer specialist, Dr Oscar Breathnach, announced he was quitting Cork University Hospital after four years of campaigning unsuccessfully for a dedicated in-patient cancer ward. Sanctioned this week, it will not be open before 2008.

In another blow to the southern area of the Health Service Executive, a consultant paediatric gastroenterologist, who was appointed to a Cork hospital job a year ago, changed her mind and remained in Dublin.

Yesterday Dr Séamus O’Reilly, a consultant oncologist and colleague of Dr Breathnach’s, described Dr Breathnach’s and Dr Rodgers’ departures as a significant losses to the region. “They are significant individuals whose contribution has been enormous in their time here. Many of us are very sad to see them going. It’s very upsetting.

Statistics from Comhairle na nOspidéal - the body responsible for regulating consultant posts - show Cork is lagging behind in consultant appointments.

Figures for March 2005, show that while the eastern part of the country has 36% of the population, it has almost half the number of consultant - 47% of the 912 - while the southern region has 15% of the population but four times fewer consultants at 12% (243).

Yesterday, a statement from the Mercy Hospital confirmed one of its consultants is considering a move elsewhere “for personal reasons.”

It said should that consultant choose to leave, a replacement will be appointed as quickly as possible.

The hospital pointed out it has been successful in obtaining approval from the HSE for five new consultant posts this year, in addition to approval for a consultant haematologist with a special interest in paediatric haematology. That appointment process will begin later this year.

Dr Chris Luke, A&E consultant at the Mercy, said he was sorry Cork was to lose “three brilliant doctors.”

However, he defended the Mercy Hospital’s record saying personal reasons and market forces were often a factor in a consultant’s decision to move on.