Friday 5 January 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will detail (a) her assessment of the Cancer Registry since it was set up in 1994, (b) what problems have been identified with the registry and (c) what refinements are still to be made to it.

(AQW 975/00)

(a) The Cancer Registry is a vital source of key information for the planning of cancer services and is a very necessary part of the infrastructure that is needed in our efforts to reduce the incidence of cancer. Without the registry we would not know with any certainty the incidence of different cancers, the outcomes of our preventative programmes or the outcomes of our treatment services. In addition, no meaningful research in cancer can be done without proper registration.

The registry is also involved in collaborative work with the Cancer Registry in the South of Ireland and will soon produce, in conjunction with the South’s registry, an All Ireland Cancer Incidence Report. In addition, the registry is collaborating with the National Cancer Institute in the USA on research on melanoma. The Registry has received recognition for the quality of its data by being made a voting member of the International Association of Cancer Registries. I visited the Cancer Registry in August this year and was most impressed with the work of the registry and the dedication of the staff.

(b) I am not aware of any problems with the registry or its work.

(c) The registry is continuing to refine its procedures on an ongoing basis, particularly in relation to data capture and validation using, where possible, electronic means to do so.

(a) Is foinse ríthábhachtach an Chlárlann Ailse le haghaidh eochaireolais i bpleanáil sheirbhísí ailse, agus is cuid shár-riachtanach í den infrastruchtúr atá de dhíth leis an iarracht s’againne ar mhinicíocht ailse a laghdú. Gan an chlárlann ní bheadh a fhios againn go cinnte faoi mhinicíocht ailsí difriúla, faoi thorthaí na gclár coisctheach ná faoi thorthaí ár seirbhísí cóireála. Lena chois, ní féidir taighde fiúntach ar bith a dhéanamh gan chlárú ceart.

Tá baint ag an chlárlann le comhoibriú leis an Chlárlann Ailse i nDeisceart na hÉireann agus cuirfidh sí amach gan mhoill, i gcomhar le Clárlann an Deiscirt, Tuairisc Mhinicíochta Ailse Uile-Éireann. Lena chois, tá an chlárlann ag comhoibriú leis an Institiúid Náisiúnta Ailse i SAM ar thaighde ar mheileanóma. Fuair an chlárlann aitheantas as cáilíocht a chuid sonraí nuair a rinneadh ball vótála de Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na gClárlanna Ailse di. Thug mé cuairt ar an Chlárlann Ailse i Lúnasa na bliana seo agus chuaigh obair na clárlainne agus díograis na foirne i bhfeidhm go mór orm.

(b) Ní fios domh fadhbanna a bheith ann leis an chlárlann nó lena cuid oibre.

(c) Tá an chlárlann ag leanúint léi ag tabhairt a nósanna imeachta chun foirfeachta maidir le bailiú sonraí agus bailmheas, ag úsáid na meán leictreonach lena thabhairt i gcrích nuair is féidir.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if, in the light of the Campbell Report on cancer services, which identified three areas of concern, she will detail (a) what progress has been made on the concept of cancer care, (b) the concept and development of cancer units, (c) the primary care input to cancer services and (d) what areas have yet to be implemented.

(AQW 976/00)

(a) Significant progress has been achieved on the implementation of the Campbell Report, ‘Investing for the Future’, which recommended the reorganisation and improvement of cancer services to ensure more effective treatment and care of patients. This has entailed the introduction of a multidisciplinary, multi-professional team approach for the treatment of cancers, with increased specialisation in cancer management. Services are now provided on a network basis through a cancer centre in Belfast and cancer units in each of the four health and social services board areas.

(b) The cancer units, which are located at Altnagelvin, Antrim, Craigavon, Belfast City and the Ulster Hospitals, now provide a wide range of services for cancer patients, including specialist diagnostic, therapeutic and support services such as radiography, endoscopy, chemotherapy for the more common cancers and laboratory services. This year’s additional allocation of £8 million for cancer services is enabling the recruitment and training of additional staff for the cancer units. However, the availability of key specialist staff will dictate the speed at which improvements in cancer services can be implemented.

(c) To help primary care teams in the diagnosis, long-term management and support of cancer patients, local guidelines for GPs on the early diagnosis and referral of patients with cancer are at present being developed. Guidelines on the referral of patients with suspected breast cancer have already been issued. A directory of cancer specialists, which is designed to facilitate improved communication with the hospital sector, is also being developed.

(d) The full implementation of ‘Investing for the Future’ entails the accommodation of services currently provided at Belvoir Park Hospital in a new oncology centre on the Belfast City Hospital site by 2003. The construction of the new centre is due to begin next year. In line with this, a new day hospital will also be developed on C floor of the City Hospital tower block.

(a) Rinneadh dul chun cinn tábhachtach ar chur i bhfeidhm Thuairisc Mhic Cathmhaoil, ‘Ag Infheistiú don Todhchaí,’ a mhol atheagrú agus feabhsú i seirbhísí ailse le cóireáil agus cúram othar níos éifeachtaí a chinntiú. Mar chuid de sin, tugadh isteach cur chuige ildisciplíneach, ilghairmiúil do chóireáil ailsí, le níos mó speisialtóireachta i mbainistíocht ailse. Soláthraítear seirbhísí anois ar bhonn líonra trí ionad ailse i mBéal Feirste agus trí aonaid ailse i ngach ceann de na ceantair bhord sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta.

(b) Soláthraíonn na haonaid ailse, atá lonnaithe in Otharlann Alt na nGealbhan, Aontroma, Chraigavon, Chathair Bhéal Feirste agus Uladh réimse leathan seirbhísí anois d’othair le hailse, lena n-áirítear sainseirbhísí diagnóiseacha, teiripeacha, agus tacaíochta ar nós raideagrafaíochta, ionscópaíochta, ceimteiripe do na hailsí is coitianta agus seirbhísí saotharlainne. Tá an £8 milliún breise a dáileadh i mbliana do sheirbhísí ailse ag cuidiú le hearcú agus le hoiliúnt foirne breise do na haonaid ailse. Socróidh infhaighteacht eochairshainfhoirne a ghaiste is féidir na feabhsuithe i seirbhísí ailse a chur i bhfeidhm áfach.

(c) Le cuidiú le foirne príomhchúraim i bhfáthmheas, i mbainistíocht fhadtéarmach agus i dtacaíocht othar le hailse, tá treoirlínte áitiúla do liachleachtóirí ar fháthmheas agus ar atreorú luath othar le hailse á bhforbairt faoi láthair. Eisíodh treoirlínte ar atreorú othar a mheastar ailse chíche a bheith acu cheana féin. Tá eolaire de speisialtóirí ailse, a dearadh le cumarsáid fheabhsaithe leis an earnáil otharlainne a éascú, á fhorbairt fosta.

(d) Tá socrú seirbhísí, atá á soláthar faoi láthair in Otharlann Pháirc Belvoir, in ionad oinceolaíochta ar shuíomh Otharlann Chathair Bhéal Feirste faoi 2003 mar chuid de chur i bhfeidhm ‘Ag Infheistiú don Todhchaí.’ Tá tógáil an ionaid nua le toiseacht sa bhliain seo chugainn. De réir seo, forbrófar otharlann lae nua ar urlár C d’áraslann Otharlann na Cathrach fosta.

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of trust board directors and other employees eligible for performance-related pay and/or bonuses by health trust board in each of the last six years.

(AQW 978/00)

Ms de Brún: The number of trust board Directors and other employees eligible for performance-related pay and/or bonuses in the last six years is set out in the attached table.

Tá líon na stiúrthóirí bhord iontaobhais agus na bhfostaithe eile atá i dteideal pá i gcoibhneas le feidhmniú agus/nó bónas le sé bliana anuas leagtha amach sa tábla seo thíos.

Mr Poots asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) if there is an all-Ireland clinical waste strategy, (b) where the sites are located and (c) the name of the administering company.

(AQW 996/00)

Ms de Brún: A joint waste management board representing the then Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Health and Children, Dublin, signed a 10-year principal agreement with Sterile Technologies (Ireland) Limited on 4 August 1998 for the disposal of all clinical waste within the island.

The company in the South of Ireland is Sterile Technologies (Ireland) Limited with two sites, one in Dublin and the other in Cork.

The local company is Sterile Technologies Inc (NI) Limited with one site at Antrim Hospital.

Shínigh comhbhord bainistíochta dramhaíola ag déanamh ionadaíochta ar son na Roinne Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta mar a bhí, agus An Roinn Sláinte agus Leanaí, Baile Átha Cliath, príomh-chomhaontú 10 mbliana le Sterile Technologies (Éire) Ltd ar 4 Lúnasa le haghaidh dhiúscairt na dramhaíola cliniciúla uilig ar an oileáin.

Is é Sterile Technologies (Éire) Limited an comhlacht i nDeisceart na hÉireann ag a bhfuil dhá shuíomh, ceann amháin i mBaile Átha Cliath agus an ceann eile i gCorcaigh.

Is é Sterile Technologies Inc (TÉ) Limited an comhlacht áitiúil ag a bhfuil suíomh amháin ag Otharlann Bhaile Aontroma.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if, pursuant to AQW 748/00, she will detail (a) what meetings her officials have had with the Ulster Hospital Trust and with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board about capital investment for the Ulster Hospital site and about redevelopment and (b) who attended those meetings.

(AQW 1011/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department’s officials have taken part in six meetings with senior staff from the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust and the Eastern Health and Social Services Board. The dates of the meetings are as follows:

25 September 2000
3 October 2000
16 October 2000
2 November 2000
6 November 2000
14 December 2000

The meetings were attended by staff at senior level from the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust, the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and my Department. Those attending included the chief executive, the medical director and directors of operations/acute services and corporate services from the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust, the director of planning and contracting at the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, and my director of planning and performance management.

Ghlac feidhmeannaigh mo Roinne páirt i sé chruinniú le foirne sinsearacha ó Iontaobhas Otharlann agus Phobal Uladh agus ó Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir. Is iad seo a leanas dátaí na gcruinnithe:

25 Meán Fómhair 2000
3 Deireadh Fómhair 2000
16 Deireadh Fómhair 2000
2 Samhain 2000
6 Samhain 2000
14 Nollaig 2000

D’fhreastail foirne sinsearacha ó Iontaobhas Otharlann agus Phobal Uladh, ó Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir agus ó mo Roinn na cruinnithe. Orthu sin a d’fhreastail bhí an príomh-fheidhmeannach, an stiúrthóir míochaine agus na stiúrthóirí obráidí/géarsheirbhísí agus seirbhísí corparáideacha ó Iontaobhas Otharlann agus Phobal Uladh, an stiúrthóir pleanála agus déanta conarthaí ag Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir, agus mo stiúrthóir pleanála agus bhainistíocht feidhmithe.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to reduce wastage of prescribed drugs.

(AQW 1034/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department’s policy is to ensure that patients receive appropriate drugs, medicines, aids and appliances on the basis of their clinical need, whilst endeavouring to secure safe, effective and economic prescribing.

Various initiatives to help achieve this are in place, including prescribing incentive schemes to encourage GPs to prescribe more economically. The health and social services boards also have a new initiative, Managing Your Medicines, which has been implemented since October 2000. It is a medication review service provided from designated pharmacies for patients who are vulnerable or at risk and who appear to have difficulty in managing their medicines. Following the review, a report is sent to their GP identifying any problems and suggesting appropriate remedial action. This new service should also assist in achieving safe and cost-effective use of medication.

Is é polasaí mo Roinne a chinntiú go bhfaigheann othair na drugaí, na cógais, na háiseanna agus na fearais chuí ar bhonn a riachtanais chliniciúil, agus ag an am chéanna ag tabhairt iarrachta le hordú slán, éifeachtach agus eacnamúil a chinntiú.

Tá tionscnaimh éagsúla ann le cuidiú leis seo a bhaint amach, lena n-áirítear scéimeanna dreasachta ordaithe le liachleachtóirí a spreagadh le hordú níos eacnamúla a dhéanamh. Tá tionscnamh nua "Ag Bainistíocht do Chógas", a cuireadh i bhfeidhm ó bhí Deireadh Fómhair 2000 ann, ag na boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta fosta. Is seirbhís athbhreithnithe cógas í a sholáthraítear ó chógaslanna údaraithe d’othair atá leochaileach nó i mbaol agus a bhfuil deacrachtaí acu i mbainistíocht a gcógas. I ndiaidh an athbhreithnithe, seoltar tuairisc chuig a liachleachtóir ag aithint fadhbanna ar bith agus ag moladh gníomhú cuí feabhais. D’fhéadfadh an tseirbhís seo cuidiú le húsáid slán chostas-éifeachtach chógais a bhaint amach.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline when she intends to publish an alcohol strategy.

(AQW 1035/00)

Ms de Brún: I officially launched the ‘Strategy for Reducing Alcohol Related Harm’ on 5 September last year. The strategy was distributed to a wide range of interested organisations and individuals including MLAs.

Sheol mé an "Straitéis d’Ísliú Dochair a Bhaineas le hAlcól" go hoifigiúil ar an 5ú Meán Fómhair anuraidh. Dáileadh an straitéis ar réimse leathan eagraíochtaí agus daoine aonair leasmhara, lena n-áirítearTTR.

Mr Closeasked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to describe fully what biological effects may be caused by outputs from mobile telephone technology.

(AQO 522/00)

Ms de Brún: This is a new technology, and there has been relatively little research carried out to date. The independent expert group on mobile phones (IEGMP) in its recently published report concluded that there is scientific evidence which suggests that there may be biological effects occurring at exposures to RF radiation below current guidelines. These include thermal (localised heating) effects and non-thermal effects — for example, movement of cells. There is, for example, some evidence that subtle changes including short-term effects on the electrical activity of the brain can occur. Some scientists have suggested that these biological effects may influence behaviour — for example, sleep patterns, reaction times.

The IEGMP report, which includes an explanation of biological effects at chapter 5, is available on the Internet web site, www.iegmp.org.uk. ‘The Lancet’, vol 356, 25 November 2000, also contains articles on this issue.

A new research programme funded jointly by Government and industry was launched on 8 December 2000.

Is teicneolaíocht nua í seo agus ba bheag taighde a rinneadh uirthi go dtí seo. Ina thuairisc a foilsíodh ar na mallaibh, tháinig an grúpa saineolaithe neamhspleácha ar ghutháin phóca (GSNGP) ar an tuairim go bhfuil cruthú eolaíoch ann a mhaíonn gurbh fhéidir go bhfuil éifeachtaí bitheolaíocha ag tarlú mar gheall ar nochtadh le radaíocht MR atá faoi na treoirlínte reatha. Orthu seo tá éifeachtaí teirmeacha (téamh áitiúil) agus éifeachtaí neamhtheirmeacha — mar shampla bogadh ceall. Mar shampla, tá roinnt cruthaithe ann a léiríonn gur féidir le hathruithe caolchúiseacha, lena n-áirítear éifeachtaí gearrthéarmacha ar ghníomhaíocht leictreach na hinchinne, a tharlú. Mhaígh roinnt eolaithe gur féidir leis na héifeachtaí bitheolaíocha seo tionchar bheith acu ar an iompar — mar shampla patrúin chodlata, amanna frithghníomhaíochta.

Tá tuairisc an GSNGP, ina bhfuil míniú ar éifeachtaí bitheolaíocha i gcaibidil 5, ar fáil ar an láithreán Idirlín, www.iegmp.org.uk. Istigh sa Lancet iml. 356 Samhain 25, 2000, tá ailt ar an cheist seo fosta.

Seoladh clár taighde nua comh-mhaoinithe ag an Rialtas agus ag an earnáil thionsclaíoch ar an 8ú Nollaig 2000.

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