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| Friday 23 February 2001 Autism Mr Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail for each Health and Social Services Trust (a) the number of children diagnosed with autism in each of the last ten years for which figures are available (b) the number of adults diagnosed with autism in each of the last ten years for which figures are available (c) the resources allocated for the care of children with autism and (d) the resources allocated for the care of adults with autism. (AQW 1670/00) Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available. Níl an t-eolas a iarradh ar fáil. Asbestosis Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of people diagnosed as having asbestosis in each of the past ten years for which figures are available (b) the source of their disease and (c) the number who have died as a result of that disease. (AQW 1674/00) Ms de Brún: (a) This information is not collected centrally. (b) This information is not collected centrally. (c) Figures for recorded deaths in each of the last ten years for which figures are available, where the main cause of death or associated condition was asbestosis, are given in the table below.
(a) Ní bhailítear an t-eolas seo go lárnach.(b) Ní bhailítear an t-eolas seo go lárnach. (c) Léirítear sa tábla thíos na figiúirí do bhásanna taifeadta i ngach bliain de na deich mbliana is déanaí dá bhfuil figiúirí ar fáil i gcás arbh í an aispeastóis an phríomhchúis báis nó ina raibh sí ina riocht gaolmhar.
Speech Therapy Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of speech therapists required in each Health Board area and outline the steps she is taking to address any shortfall. (AQW 1686/00) Ms de Brún: The number of speech and language therapists required in each Health and Social Services Board area is a matter for each Board to determine in order to meet the assessed needs of their population. No particular problems of shortfall have been brought to the attention of my Department. Faoi gach bord é féin a fhágtar an cinneadh ar líon na dteiripithe labhartha agus teanga atá de dhíth i gceantar gach bord sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta le freastal ar riachtanais mheasúnaithe a ndaonra. Níor cuireadh fadbanna easnaimh ar leith in iúl do mo Roinn.
Mental Illness Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail, by each Trust Board area, the number of people who are currently meeting with a Community Mental Health Team and the number on waiting lists. (AQW 1705/00) Ms de Brún: Information is not readily available in the form requested. Information on numbers of mentally ill persons or their carers who had contact with Trusts in each financial year is available and is detailed in Table 1 below. Table 1. Mentally ill persons or their carers who had contact with Trusts during the year ending 31 March 2000
Information on persons waiting for their first appointment for a consultant outpatient clinic in the quarter ending 30 September 2000 (the latest date for which information is available) for the specialties of Mental Illness, Psychotherapy, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Old Age Psychiatry is detailed in Table 2 below. Table 2. Persons waiting for first outpatient appointment in the mental illness specialties, quarter ending 30 September 2000 (1)
(1) Includes patients who cancelled or did not attend Níl eolas ar fáil go réidh san fhoirm a iarradh. Mionléirítear agus cuirtear ar fáil eolas ar líon na ndaoine a bhfuil tinneas meabhrach orthu agus ar líon a gcúramóirí a rinne teagmháil le hiontaobhais in achan bhliain airgeadais i dTábla 1 thíos. Tábla 1. Daoine a bhfuil tinneas meabhrach orthu nó a gcúramóirí a rinne teagmháil le hiontaobhais le linn na bliana ag críochnú an 31ú Márta 2000
Mionléirítear eolas ar dhaoine atá ag fanacht lena gcéad choinne i gclinic comhairleach d’othair sheachtracha sa ráithe ag críochnú ar an 30 Meán Fómhair 2000 (an dáta is déanaí dá bhfuil eolas ar fáil) do speisialtachtaí tinnis meabhrach, síciteiripe, síciatrachta páistí agus ógánach agus síciatrachta seandaoine i dTábla 2 thíos. Tábla 2. Daoine atá ag fanacht lena gcéad choinne othair sheachtraigh sna speisialtachtaí tinnis meabhrach ag an ráithe ag críochnú ar an 30 Meán Fómhair 2000.(1)
(1) Cuirtear othair a chuir ar ceal í nó nár fhreastail uirthi san áireamh Delays in Discharge from Hospital Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the representations she has received about bed blocking in hospitals and to make a statement. (AQW 1713/00) Ms de Brún: Since April 2000 there have been representations from 4 Members of the Assembly; 3 members of the public about close relatives; one organisation providing a community care legal advice service; and one private sector nursing home representative organisation. These representations range from concern about the impact of delayed discharge from hospital on the health and social care services generally to difficulties arising in individual cases. Delays in discharge from hospital are a matter of concern for my Department and I have asked Boards to take appropriate action as part of both their Winter Pressures and Waiting List initiatives. On 31 January I announced a further £5 million for winter pressures and community care next year. This is additional to the £15 million invested in these services over the present winter period. Ó Aibreán 2000 tháinig uiríll ó cheathrar Teachta Tionóil; ó thrí dhuine faoi dhlúthghaolta; ó eagraíocht amháin atá ag soláthar seirbhís phobail comhairle dlí; agus ó eagraíocht ionadaíoch amháin tí altranais de chuid na hearnála príobháidí. Tá scóip ag na huiríll seo ó bhuaireamh faoi éifeacht scaoilte moillthe ó otharlann ar sheirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta i gcoitinne go deacrachtaí a thagann aníos i gcásanna aonair. Ábhar cúraim iad moilleana i scaoilte ó otharlanna do mo Roinn agus d’iarr mé ar bhoird beart cuí a dhéanamh mar chuid dá dtionscnaimh do bhrúnna geimhridh agus do liostaí feithimh. Ar an 31 Eanáir d’fhógair mé £5 mhilliún breise do bhrúnna geimhridh agus do chúram pobail don bhliain seo chugainn. Cuirtear seo leis an £15 mhilliún a infheistíodh sna seirbhísí seo thar tréimhse an gheimhridh seo.
Promoting Healthy Eating Amongst Children Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the progress made in promoting healthy eating amongst children of poor families in Northern Ireland. (AQW 1714/00) Ms de Brún: The Health Promotion Agency has developed a community based nutrition education programme targeted at low income families. The Agency is currently preparing nutritional guidelines for the under fives in child care, which will be published in March. It is also collating information on the range of interventions to encourage healthy eating in primary and post-primary schools. The report, which will also be published and disseminated in March, identifies examples of good practice that can be replicated, particularly in schools in disadvantaged areas. D’fhorbair an Ghníomhaireacht um Chur Chun Cinn Sláinte clár pobalbhunaithe oideachais ar chothú dírithe ar theaghlaigh ar ioncam íseal. Faoi láthair, tá an ghníomhaireacht ag ullmhú treoirlínte cothaithe do pháistí faoi bhun cúig bliana sa chúram páistí, a fhoilseofar i Mí an Mhárta. Tá sí ag bailiú eolais ar an réimse idirghabhálacha le bia folláin a chur chun cinn i mbunscoileanna agus in iarbhunscoileanna. Aithníonn an tuairisc, a fhoilseofar agus a scaipfear i Mí an Mhárta fosta, eiseamláirí de dhea-chleachtas is féidir a athdhéanamh, go háirithe i scoileanna i gceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste. Emergency Contraception Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her policy on the provision of emergency contraception and to make a statement. (AQW 1715/00) Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQO 756/00. Tarraingim aird an Teachta ar mo fhreagra ar AQO 756/00. Kidney Transplants Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of patients awaiting kidney transplants in each of the Health Board areas. (AQW 1732/00) Ms de Brún: There are currently 167 persons waiting for kidney transplants at local hospitals. A breakdown of this figure by Board is not available. Faoi láthair tá 167 duine ag fanacht le trasphlandáil duáin ag otharlanna áitiúla. Níl mionléiriú ar an fhigiúr seo de réir boird ar fáil. Donor Kidneys Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people who have received donor kidneys in each of the Board areas in each of the last five years for which figures are available. (AQW 1733/00) Ms de Brún: Information on persons who have received kidney transplants at local hospitals for the calendar years 1995 to 2000 is detailed in the table below. Persons who have received kidney transplants at local hospitals by Board of residence, 1995 – 2000
Mionléirítear eolas ar líon na ndaoine a fuair trasphlandáil duáin ag otharlanna áitiúla do na blianta 1995 go 2000 sa tábla thíos. Daoine a fuair trasphlandáil duáin ag otharlanna áitiúla de réir boird chónaithe, 1995 - 2000
Review of Community Care Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail when she expects to report on the Review of Community Care. (AQW 1735/00) Ms de Brún: I expect to receive the report of the review group at the end of September 2001 and will arrange for publication and relevant consultation as soon as possible thereafter. Tá mé ag dúil le tuairisc an ghrúpa athbhreithnithe a fháil ag deireadh Mheán Fómhair 2001 agus déanfaidh mé socruithe lena fhoilsiú agus le comhairliúchán ábhartha a dhéanamh chomh luath agus is féidir ina dhiaidh sin. Care in the Community Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people currently waiting for ‘care in the community’ in each Trust Board area. (AQW 1737/00) Ms de Brún: Information is not currently collected in the form requested. However, plans are in place to begin collecting this information on a quarterly basis from 1 April 2001. Ní bhailítear eolas faoi láthair san fhoirm a iarradh. Bíodh sin mar atá, tá pleananna ann leis an eolas seo a bhailiú ar bhonn ráithiúil ón 1 Aibreán 2001. Nurse Recruitment Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her policy for nurse recruitment in the Health Service in Northern Ireland. (AQW 1738/00) Ms de Brún: Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient nurses to provide the level of service to meet the assessed needs of their population. My Department has arrangements in place to monitor the level of the nursing workforce and takes advice from a Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Advisory Group, whose membership includes representatives of both HPSS and Independent Sector employers, on workforce matters. Departmental initiatives designed to enhance the supply of qualified nursing staff include the commissioning of an additional 300 training places over a 3 year period and provision of free training for nurses and midwives wishing to return to practice. A significant number of nurses and midwives have expressed an interest in returning to practice and all of these are followed up. Tá Boird agus Iontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta freagrach as cinntiú go bhfuil go leor altraí ar fáil leis an leibhéal seirbhíse a sholáthar le freastal ar riachtanais mheasúnaithe a bpobail. Tá socruithe i bhfeidhm ag mo Roinn monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar leibhéal na foirne altranais agus glacann sí comhairle ar chúrsaí pearsanra ó ghrúpa comhairleach foirne altranais agus cnáimhseachais a bhfuil ionadaithe ó fhostoirí SSSP agus na hearnála neamhspleáiche air. Ar thionscnaimh na Roinne a ceapadh le soláthar foirne cáilithe altranais a fheabhsú tá coimisiúnú 300 áit oiliúna thar thréimhse trí bliana agus soláthar oiliúna saor in aisce d’altraí agus do chnáimhseacha atá ag iarraidh filleadh ar chleachtas. Léirigh cuid mhór altraí agus cnáimhseach suim i bhfilleadh chun cleachtais agus leantar orthu siúd uilig. Needs of Schoolchildren Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail if the joint Education and Library Board/Health and Social Services Board Review Group has reported on the Health and Social Services needs of schoolchildren. (AQW 1746/00) Ms de Brún: The Joint Review Group has produced two reports ‘Review of the Provision of Nursing Services to Children in Special Schools’ and ‘Report of the Survey Findings of Therapy Input to Children with Special Educational Needs in NI’. Copies were distributed by the Review Group to the Education and Library Boards, and Health and Social Service Boards. Officials from my Department are due to meet officials in the Department of Education to consider the content of the reports. Chuir an comhghrúpa athbhreithnithe dhá thuairisc amach dar teideal ‘Athbhreithniú ar Sholáthar Seirbhísí Altranais do Pháistí i Scoileanna Speisialt’ agus ‘Tuairisc Ar Thorthaí Suirbhé ar Inchur Teiripe do Pháistí le Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais i dTuaisceart na hÉireann.’ Dháil an grúpa athbhreithnithe cóipeanna ar na boird oideachais agus leabharlainne agus boird sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta. Tá feidhmeannaigh ó mo Roinn le bualadh le feidhmeannaigh sa Roinn Oideachais le hábhar na dtuairiscí a phlé. Northern Ireland Beef Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the level of information that her Department has volunteered to the Health Departments of other European Countries confirming the positive assurances associated with Northern Ireland Beef. (AQW 1748/00) Ms de Brún: No such information has been requested or sent. Níor iarradh agus níor seoladh aon eolas den chineál. Independent Residential and Nursing Homes Sector Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she proposes to (a) agree the fees paid to the independent residential and nursing homes sector for 2001/02 in accordance with the minimum care specification and (b) issue guidance to the commissioners regarding future fee levels. (AQW 1770/00) Ms de Brún: The level of fees paid to the independent residential and nursing homes sector is primarily a matter for discussion between the sector and the relevant Health and Social Services Boards. Contract prices are reviewed annually in the light of prevailing circumstances and priorities. My Department has been considering with Boards the approach to be adopted for this year and has recently issued guidance to Boards. That guidance indicates that, in general, price reviews should be considered in line with the price inflation uplift. Boards have been informed that no additional resources will be made available above the price inflation uplift. Is cúrsaí pléite idir an earnáil agus na Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta chuí amháin é leibhéal na dtáillí a íoctar d’earnáil na dtithe cónaithe agus banaltrachta neamhspleácha. Déantar athbhreithniú ar phraghasanna conartha gach bliain de réir cúrsaí agus tosaíochtaí reatha. Bhí an Roinn s’agam i gcomhar leis na Boird ag déanamh machnaimh ar an chur chuige atá le cinneadh don bhliain seo agus thug sí treoir do Bhoird ar na mallaibh. Léiríonn an treoir sin i gcoitinne gur chóir athbhreithnithe ar phraghasanna a dhéanamh de réir an ardú boilscithe ar phraghasanna. Cuireadh in iúl do Bhoird nach gcuirfí acmhainní breise ar fáil thar an ardú boilscithe ar phraghasanna. Carers’ National Mr Clyde asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the funding that will be made available to the Northern Ireland Carers Association to fund the Carers Strategy Consultation Process. (AQW 1836/00) Ms de Brún: No decisions have been taken about the level of funding for the consultation exercise. My Department has undertaken to make funding available to Carers’ National but they have not as yet submitted an estimate of the costs for consideration. Ní dhearnadh aon socruithe faoi leibhéal an mhaoinithe don bheart comhairliúcháin. Thug mo Roinn as láimh maoiniú a chur ar fáil do Chúramóirí Náisiúnta ach go dtí seo níor chuir siad meastúchán costas isteach le breathnú. Carers’ National Mr Clyde asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to (a) outline the consultation process for the Northern Ireland Carers Strategy Document (b) detail what bodies will be consulted and (c) specify the timescale within which the consultation process will be completed. (AQW 1837/00) Ms de Brún: The first stage in the consultation process will be a reference group to be convened by Carers’ National. Carers’ National are currently drawing up a list of organisations that will be invited to nominate people to attend the group. It is expected that the group will consist of a wide range of organisations representing carers’ interests and that a substantial number will be carers. This process will be completed by early June. The proposals which result from the work of this group will form the basis of a consultation document which will then be the subject of consultation with all interested parties in the Autumn. I expect the strategy to be finalised by December of this year. Is é an chéad chéim sa phróiseas comhairliúcháin ná grúpa tagartha atá le tionól ag Cúramóirí Náisiúnta. Tá Cúramóirí Náisiúnta ag déanamh amach liosta faoi láthair de na heagraíochtaí a n-iarrfar orthu daoine a ainmniú le freastal ar an ghrúpa. Meastar gurb é a bhéas sa ghrúpa ná réimse leathan eagraíochtaí a ionadaíonn leasanna cúramóirí agus gur cúramóirí a bheidh i gcuid mhór acu. Críochnófar an próiseas go luath i Mí an Mheithimh. Bunófar doiciméad comhairliúcháin ar na moltaí a thiocfas amach as obair an ghrúpa seo, doiciméad a chuirfear faoi chomhairliúchán na bpáirtithe leasmhara uilig san fhómhar. Tá coinne agam go gcuirfear bailchríoch ar an straitéis roimh Nollaig na bliana seo. |