CARDIOLOGIST APPOINTED TO UHK FINALLY

A CARDIOLOGIST has finally been appointed to a full-time position at University Hospital Kerry in a move widely welcomed this week.

News of the appointment came in the Dáil on Monday – the very day Dr Grace O’Carroll took up the position of Consultant Cardiologist.

Dr O’Carroll’s appointment comes roughly a year and a half since the previous consultant had resigned from the position.

Fianna Fáil Deputy John Brassil, who had asked the Minister for Health on numerous occasions about the appointment of a new cardiologist, raised the matter again on Monday in a parliamentary question.

Deputy Brassil asked the Minister for Health of ‘the status of an appointment for a person to the cardiologist post at University Hospital Kerry’ and if the Minister would make a statement on the matter.

In reply to his question, the deputy received a succinct update from University Hospital Kerry manager Ferghal Grimes:

“Dr Grace O’Carroll, Consultant Cardiologist commenced in UHK today, Monday, October 7, on a full-time basis,” he explained.

Deputy Brassil said he welcomed the news of the key appointment to the hospital, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over the position.

The Ballyheigue native had previously been very critical of the Department on the matter, having been informed immediately after the resignation of the previous consultant that the HSE had commenced the replacement process. But 10 months later, it emerged the HSE had still not even advertised the role.

Deputy John Brassil