Friday 26 January 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her policy for the health boards in relation to the proposed changes in GP fundholding and to state if the board will be responsible for any short falls or changes in funding.

(AQW 1199/00)

Ms de Brún: The ending of GP fundholding is subject to the will of the Assembly. When the GP fundholding scheme is abolished, I intend that each fundholding practice’s liabilities should be met in the first instance from its fundholding budget or accumulated savings. Where the practice’s assets are insufficient to meet all its liabilities, my Department will provide additional funding specifically to meet the costs incurred in closing the practice’s fundholding accounts. Remaining shortfalls will be met by the board. Boards are aware that they will be required to meet fundholders’ net deficits at the end of the scheme and some have set aside contingency funds for this purpose. The arrangements I have outlined will be underpinned by subordinate legislation that will be made by my Department. Guidance, which was issued to the service on 20 December 2000 by my Department, outlined the respective roles and responsibilities of boards and fundholders in bringing about the final close-down of the GP fundholding scheme. The guidance also indicated that the budgets currently held by fundholders to commission services for their patients would be returned to the boards when fundholding ends.

Tá sé faoi réir thoil an Tionóil má tá deireadh le cur le cisteshealbhaíocht liachleachtóirí. Nuair a chuirfear deireadh leis an scéim chisteshealbhaíochta do liachleachtóirí ginearálta, tá sé ar intinn agam go n-íocfar fiachais gach cleachtais chisteshealbhaíochta, ar an chéad dul síos, óna bhuiséad cisteshealbhaíochta féin nó ón choigilt charnach atá aige. I gcás nach leor sócmhainní an chleachtais le híoc as gach fiachas dá chuid, cuirfidh mo Roinnse maoiniú breise ar fáil go sonrach chun na costais a íoc a thabhófar de bharr cuntais chisteshealbhaíochta an chleachtais a dhruidim. Íocfaidh an bord as na caillteanais atá fágtha. Tá a fhios ag na boird go bhfuil ceangal orthu íoc as glanchaillteanais na gcisteshealbhóirí ag deireadh na scéime agus tá cuid díobh i ndiaidh maoiniú teagmhasach a chur i leataobh chun na críche sin. Beidh na socruithe atá luaite agam fréamhaithe i bhfo-reachtaíocht a ullmhóidh mo Roinnse. Sa treoir a d’eisigh mo Roinn chuig an tSeirbhís ar an 20 Nollaig 2000 tá cur síos gairid ar na róil ar leith atá ag na boird agus ag na cisteshealbhóirí agus ar na freagrachtaí atá orthu faoi seach le linn deireadh iomlán a chur leis an scéim chisteshealbhaíochta do liachleachtóirí ginearálta. Míníodh sa treoir fosta go seolfaí na buiséid, atá ag cisteshealbhóirí faoi láthair le haghaidh seirbhísí a choimisiúnú dá n-othair, ar ais chuig na boird nuair a bheas deireadh le cisteshealbhaíocht.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 920/00, to outline her timetable for the current review of the "range of issues" for improving the quality of care and treatment with the health and personal social services and to detail the intended completion and publication date of this review.

(AQW 1208/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to the answer to AQW 1209/00.

Tarraingim aird an Teachta ar an fhreagra ar AQW 1209/00.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 920/00, to detail the "range of issues" currently under review for improving the quality of care and treatment within the health and personal social services.

(AQW 1209/00)

Ms de Brún: I am currently considering a number of proposals which aim to ensure better protection of the public through improved quality in the care and treatment provided by the health and personal social services. I intend to make a statement on these proposals including a timeframe for implementation very shortly.

Tá mé ag déanamh machnaimh faoi láthair ar mholtaí a bhfuil sé d’aidhm acu cosaint níos fearr a chinntiú don phobal trí cháilíocht fheabhsaithe sa chúram agus sa chóireáil a chuireann an SSSP ar fáil. Tá rún agam ráiteas a dhéanamh ar na moltaí seo, lena n-áirítear fráma ama lena gcur i gcrích, gan mhoill.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to ensure that all food products retailed in Northern Ireland show the country of origin and clearly specify the ingredients.

(AQW 1210/00)

Ms de Brún: The Food Standards Agency has responsibility for food safety issues and is committed to providing consumers with clear and concise information about the country of origin and ingredients of products sold here and in GB. Food labelling rules are harmonised at European level and implemented here by the Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, which impose certain requirements in respect of both place of origin and ingredient listing. The regulations require the place of origin of a food to be given if omitting it would mislead a consumer about its true place of origin, and generally speaking the regulations require food to be labelled with a list of ingredients.

In relation to origin labelling new guidance notes issued last February to industry and district councils calling for tighter enforcement of existing legal provisions seek to ensure that origin labels on food are less ambiguous.

A "Better Labelling Initiative" was launched last January with the aim of establishing consumers’ opinions of food labels and what improvements they would like to see. The agency has set up a food labelling forum to identify and take account of consumers’ attitudes and preferences and to draw up an action plan that seeks to improve food labelling across a range of areas. The agency is currently pressing for clear EU rules on the use of terms like "produce of", and for a requirement for origin labelling on a wider range of foods including all meat and processed meat products. In addition the agency is also pressing at EU level for more comprehensive ingredient listing. Sir John Krebs, the chairman of the agency, has already written to David Byrne, the EU Commissioner with responsibility for food matters about these issues.

Tá an Ghníomhaireacht Chaighdeán Bia freagrach as ceisteanna a bhaineann le sábháilteacht bhia agus tá rún daingean aici eolas soiléir achomair a sholáthar do thomhaltóirí faoi tháirgí a dhíoltar anseo agus sa Bhreatain. Is é sin na comhábhair atá iontu agus an tír arb as dóibh. Is ag leibhéal na hEorpa a chomhchuibhítear rialacha maidir le lipéadú agus cuirtear i bhfeidhm anseo iad faoi na Food Labelling Regulations (NI) 1996 a leagann síos ceanglais áirithe maidir le liostú comhábhar táirgí agus na dtíortha arb as dóibh. Éilítear sna rialacháin go dtugtar ionad tionscnaimh an bhia. Dá bhfágfaí sin amach chuirfeadh sé tomhaltóir ar strae maidir le fíorionad tionscnaimh an bhia agus éilítear go ginearálta go gcuirtear lipéad ar bhia a bhfuil liosta na gcomhábhar air.

Maidir le lipéadú de réir ionaid tionscnaimh, eisíodh nótaí treorach nua chuig an earnáil tionsclaíochta agus chuig na comhairlí ceantair mí Feabhra seo caite inar éilíodh go gcuirfí na forálacha dlí atá anois ann i bhfeidhm níos treise chun a chinntiú nach mbeidh lipéid de réir ionaid tionscnaimh chomh débhríoch.

Seoladh "Tionscnamh Feabhas ar Lipéadú" mí Eanáir seo caite chun tuairimí tomhaltóirí a aimsiú i leith lipéid bhia agus i leith dóigheanna ar mhaith leo feabhas a fheiceáil á chur orthu. Tá an Ghníomhaireacht i ndiaidh Fóram um Lipéadú Bia a bhunú chun dearcadh agus roghanna daoine a aimsiú agus a chur san áireamh agus chun Plean Gníomhaíochta a ullmhú le feabhas a chur ar lipéadú bia thar roinnt réimsí. Faoi láthair tá an Ghníomhaireacht ag iarraidh go leagfaidh an AE rialacha soiléire síos maidir le húsáid téarmaí mar "de dhéantús" agus gur gá go mbeidh lipéadú de réir ionaid tionscnaimh i bhfeidhm ar réimse níos leithne bia, agus feoil agus feoil phróiseáilte san áireamh. Lena chois sin tá an Ghníomhaireacht ag iarraidh fosta ag leibhéal an AE go mbeidh liostú níos cuimsithí comhábhar ann. Tá Sir John Krebs, Cathaoirleach na Gníomhaireachta, i ndiaidh scríobh chuig David Byrne, Coimisinéir an AE a bhfuil cúram cúrsaí bia air, faoi na ceisteanna seo.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline any recent discussions she has had with the Chief Constable in relation to greater protection for elderly people from attacks and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 1211/00)

Ms de Brún: The protection of the general public, including the elderly, from attacks is not a matter specific to my Department. I have not had any discussions with the chief constable on the matter.

Ní bhaineann ceist chosaint an phobail i gcoitinne, lena n-áirítear seandaoine, ar ionsaithe leis mo Roinn amháin. Ní raibh cainteanna ar bith agam ar an ábhar leis an Ardchonstábla.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the recourse available to the public if a health trust fails to abide by its "code of conduct".

(AQW 1223/00)

Ms de Brún: The code of conduct and the code of accountability for corporate governance in the HPSS was issued to the boards of HPSS bodies in November 1994 and it is expected that all members of the boards of these bodies will adhere to the principles of these codes. A member of the public who is concerned about a possible breach of the codes may raise it with the body itself, with the health and social services council for the area in which the body falls or with my Department.

Members of the public, who are dissatisfied with services, treatment or care provided to them by a trust or the manner in which such services are delivered, have recourse under the HPSS complaints procedure.

A person can complain directly to the commissioner for complaints (the Northern Ireland ombudsman) if they think they have suffered personally as a result of maladministration by a body which comes within the commissioner’s jurisdiction.

I mí na Samhna 1994 eisíodh cód iompair agus cód cuntasachta maidir le rialú corparáideach sna SSSSP chuig boird na gcomhlachtaí SSSP, agus táthar ag súil go gcloífidh gach ball de bhoird na gcomhlachtaí seo le prionsabail na gcód sin. Féadfaidh duine ar bith den phobal atá buartha faoi chás ina bhféadfadh na cóid a bheith saraithe an t-ábhar a chur faoi bhráid an chomhlachta féin, faoi bhráid na Comhairle Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta sa cheantar ina bhfuil an comhlacht nó faoi bhráid mo Roinne.

Féadfaidh daoine den phobal atá míshásta le seirbhísí, le cóireáil nó le cúram a fuair siad ó iontaobhas SSS, nó atá míshásta leis an dóigh a gcuirtear na seirbhísí sin ar fáil, leigheas a lorg faoi mhodh déanta gearán na SSSSP.

Thig le duine gearán a dhéanamh go díreach le Coimisinéir na nGearán (Ombudsman Thuaisceart Éireann), má tá sé/sí den bharúil gur fhulaing sé/sí go pearsanta de bharr drochriaracháin ar thaobh comhlachta a thagann faoi dhlínse an Choimisinéara.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the interdepartmental groups with which her Department is involved detailing in each case; (a) the groups remit; (b) its current agenda; (c) its membership; (d) the list of those members who represent the voluntary sector and; (e) the process by which the members were selected.

(AQW 1227/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department is involved in 23 Interdepartmental groups. I have arranged for the specific details requested in respect of each group to be placed in the Library.

Tá baint ag mo Roinn le 23 Ghrúpa idir-Roinne. Shocraigh mé go gcuirfí na sonraí áirithe a iarradh maidir le gach grúpa sa Leabharlann.

Mr Poots asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to designate an intensive care bed at the Royal Victoria Hospital for thoracic surgery given the significant rise in thoracic cancer.

(AQW 1233/00)

Ms de Brún: Intensive care beds are a valuable resource which must be used to maximum effect for the benefit of all patients who require them, including patients recovering from thoracic surgery. It would not be appropriate nor a cost-effective use of this resource to allocate one of these beds for thoracic cancer patients.

Is acmhainn luachmhar iad leapacha dianchúraim a ba chóir a uas-úsáid do thairbhe na n-othar uilig a bhfuil siad de dhíth orthu, lena n-áirítear othair ag fáil bisigh ó mháinliacht thóracsach. Níorbh úsáid cheart ná chostas-éifeachtach na hacmhainne seo í ceann de na leapacha a leithroinnt d’othair le hailse thóracsach.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm; (a) that she signed The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No. 3) Order 2000; (b) that this Order applies to the morning-after pill; (c) that this Order applies to Northern Ireland and (d) this is compatible with Assembly Resolution against extending abortion law to Northern Ireland.

(AQW 1253/00)

Ms de Brún: I can confirm that I signed The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No. 3) Order 2000 legislation on 8th December 2000 and that the Order applies to the morning-after pill. I can also confirm that prior to my signing, notification was sent to the HSSPS Committee. Committee members noted the position. The Order applies here and since the morning-after pill is a contraceptive, it is compatible with the Assembly Resolution against extending abortion law to here.

Tig liom a dhearbhú gur shínigh mé an reachtaíocht The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No.3) ar an 8 Nollaig 2000 agus go mbaineann an tOrdú leis an phiolla don mhaidin dar gcionn. Tig liom a dhearbhú fosta roimh domhsa síniú gur cuireadh dearbhú chuig an Choiste SSSSP. Tá áirithe ag baill an Choiste ar an staid. Tá an tOrdú i bhfeidhm anseo mar gur frithghiniúnach é an piolla don mhaidin dar gcionn, agus tá sé de réir Rún an Tionóil in éadan an dlí ginmhillte a fhairsingiú anseo.

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to list the administrative data sets held by the Department and its agencies and detail whether these data sets provide qualitative data at enumeration district, electoral ward level, by district council area or by parliamentary constituency.

(AQW 1260/00)

Ms de Brún: Information and analysis unit of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety currently holds four administrative data sets containing quantitative data capable of being analysed in terms of electoral ward, district council area, parliamentary constituency and, in principle, enumeration district. These data sets are as follows: the hospital inpatients system, the mental health inpatients system, the central health index and the dental payments system.

All local Civil Service departments maintain a range of records on their staff for the purposes of carrying out their functions as employers. Many of the records for individual members of staff are held on computerised systems, which are managed by the Department of Finance and Personnel on behalf of Departments and their respective agencies. These records include personnel, payroll and training records, applicant records for recruitment competitions and superannuation records for retired civil servants. Such records are not managed in a way that routinely provides data sets by enumeration district, electoral ward, district council or parliamentary constituency.

Faoi láthair tá 4 thacar sonraí riaracháin ag Aonad Eolais agus Anailíse (AEA) na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí agus istigh iontu tá sonraí cainníochtúla a dtiocfadh anailís a dhéanamh orthu i dtéarmaí barda thoghchánaigh, limistéir Comhairle Ceantair, Toghlaigh Parlaiminte agus (i bprionsabal) ceantair áirimh. Is mar a leanas atá na tacair shonraí: Córas Othar Cónaitheach na nOspidéal, Córas na nOthar Cónaitheach Meabhair-Shláinte, an Lárinnéacs Sláinte agus an Córas Íocaíochta Fiaclóireachta.

Coinníonn gach Roinn áitiúil den Státseirbhís réimse taifead ar an fhoireann atá acu chun a gcuid feidhmeanna mar fhostóirí a chur i gcrích. Coinnítear cuid mhór de na taifid ar bhaill aonair foirne ar chórais ríomhairithe a bhainistíonn an Roinn Airgeadais agus Pearsanra ar son na Ranna agus a nGníomhaireachtaí faoi seach. Is é atá iontu taifid ar phearsanra, ar phárolla agus ar oiliúint, taifid ar iarratais ar chomórtais earcaíochta agus taifid ar aoisliúntais do státseirbhísigh ar scor. Ní bhíonn taifid den chineál seo á mbainistiú ar dhóigh a chuireann tacair shonraí ar fáil de ghnáth de réir ceantair áirimh, barda thoghchánaigh, Comhairle Ceantair, nó Toghlaigh Parlaiminte.

Mr Wells asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she has investigated the reasons why legal action was taken against the Southern Health and Social Services Council in August 1998.

(AQW 1264/00)

Ms de Brún: Legal action taken against the Southern Health and Social Services Council related to a claim by two medical practitioners that they had been libelled in a letter written over four years ago, by the chief officer of the council. An out of court settlement in favour of the plaintiffs was finalised in October 1998. I do not consider it appropriate that any further investigation is necessary.

Bhain an chaingean dlí a cuireadh ar Chomhairle Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Deiscirt le héileamh beirt liachleachtóirí gur leabhlaíodh iad i litir a scríobh príomh-oifigeach na Comhairle níos mó ná ceithre bliana ó shin. Tháinigtheas ar réiteach as cúirt i bhfách leis na gearánaithe i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 1998. Ní shílim go bhfuil fiosrú breise de dhíth nó cuí.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her policy on making artificial limbs with lifelike silicone coatings available to patients in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 1267/00)

Ms de Brún: Silicone cosmeses are not currently provided by health and social services here. Green Park Healthcare Trust, which provides the regional prosthetics service, is developing criteria for provision, which will be submitted to the four health and social services boards for consideration. Provision will ultimately depend on available resources and other healthcare priorities.

Ní chuireann na seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta anseo coisméisí sileacain ar fáil faoi láthair. Tá Iontaobhas Cúraim Sláinte na Páirce Glaise, a sholáthraíonn an tseirbhís phróistéiteach réigiúnach, ag ceapadh critéar don soláthar agus cuirfear iad faoi bhráid na gceithre bhord sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta lena mbreithniú. Beidh an soláthar ag brath sa deireadh ar acmhainní a bheith ar fáil agus ar thosaíochtaí eile cúraim sláinte.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many additional doctors will be employed in Northern Ireland under; (a) the budget allocations and; (b) the national plan.

(AQW 1268/00)

Ms de Brún: It is a matter for health and social services boards, in conjunction with trusts and others to determine how best to meet local needs out of their available resources. This includes decisions on the numbers of doctors to be employed to serve those needs.

The national plan applies only in England.

Is gnó é do na Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta i gcomhar leis na hIontaobhais agus le daoine eile cinneadh a dhéanamh ar an dóigh is fearr le freastal a dhéanamh ar riachtanais áitiúla taobh istigh de na hacmhainní atá ar fáil acu. Tá cinntí maidir le líon na ndochtúirí atá le fostú le freastal a dhéanamh ar na riachtanais sin san áireamh.

Baineann an Plean Náisiúnta le Sasana amháin.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the current state of hospital bed provision in North Antrim and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 1269/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on average available and occupied beds for the Northern Board trust hospitals for the financial year 1999/2000 is detailed in the table below.

<< Prev / Next >>