Mrs Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the capital requirements of the Ulster Hospital (b) when a decision will be made on meeting those requirements and (c) what funding will be allocated to those capital requirements.

(AQW 1679/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): [holding answer 20 February 2001]: The Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust has recently provided my Department with its strategic development plan, which sets out proposals for capital investment at the Ulster Hospital. My officials are urgently assessing the detail of the plan, which proposes a major upgrade of the hospital costing around £98 million phased over a seven-year period. When that has been completed, I will consider the options available and announce my decision on the proposals as soon as possible.

The first stage of the plan was the urgent replacement of critical items of medical equipment. My Department has accepted the trust’s assessment of its immediate requirements and has provided an additional £1·48 million capital for this.

As with any major scheme, the trust will be asked to make a detailed financial appraisal of its proposals in a business case. When that has been done, I will be able to consider the timetable and funding for the redevelopment programme.

Tá a phlean forbartha straitéiseach curtha ar fáil ag Iontaobhas SSS Ospidéil agus Phobal Uladh do mo Roinn ar na mallaibh, plean a leagann amach a mholtaí ar infheistíocht chaipitil ag Ospidéal Uladh. Tá mo chuid feidhmeannach ag déanamh measúnú práinneach ar shonraí an phlean, a mholann uasghrádú don ospidéal a chosnódh thart faoi £98 milliún agus a chéimneofaí thar thréimhse seacht mbliana. Nuair a bheidh seo críochnaithe déanfaidh mé machnamh ar na roghanna a bhéas ar fáil agus fógróidh mé mo chinneadh ar na moltaí chomh luath agus is féidir.

Ba é an chéad chéim den phlean ná go ndéanfaí athsholáthar práinneach ar fhearas ríthábhachtach míochaine. Ghlac mo Roinn le measúnú an iontaobhais ar na riachtanais atá de dhíth air láithreach agus chuir sí £1.48 milliún sa bhreis de chaipiteal chuige seo.

Mar is gnáth le haon mhórscéim, iarrfar ar an iontaobhas luacháil mhionchruinn airgeadais a dhéanamh i gcás gnó. Nuair a dhéanfar seo, beidh mé ábalta machnamh a dhéanamh ar an chlár ama agus an mhaoiniú don chlár athfhorbartha.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the total funding allocated to mental health, the amounts allocated to each Trust Board area and what programmes are funded by each Trust Board in respect of mental health care.

(AQW 1704/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: The table below gives details of expenditure on mental health in overall terms and as provided by trusts for 1999/00. Information on the programmes funded by each trust in respect of mental health could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Léiríonn an tábla thíos sonraí an chaiteachais fhoriomláin ar shláinte meabhrach a chuir iontaobhais ar fáil do 1999/00. Ní féidir eolas ar na cláracha maoinithe ag gach iontaobhas maidir le sláinte mheabhrach a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

Mr Poots asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail, by hospital, (a) the contractor appointed to dispose of clinical waste (b) the method of disposal and (c) the cost of disposal.

(AQW 1727/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: Following the signing on 4 August 1998 of a ten-year principal agreement with Sterile Technologies Ireland Limited for the disposal of all clinical waste within the island, Sterile Technologies Inc. (NI) Limited became responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of clinical waste arising at each health and social services (HSS) trust and agency.

The contractor collects the clinical waste and transports approximately 95% of it to the treatment facility at Antrim Hospital, where it is shredded and thermally disinfected to render it unrecognisable and safe before going to licensed landfill.

Although the treated waste is currently being landfilled, there is provision in the contract for recycling which the contractor is currently pursuing. The remainder of the clinical waste is incinerated in Great Britain.

The projected annual disposal costs to each HSS trust and agency are presented in the table below. As the contract is managed on an individual Trust/Agency basis a breakdown by hospital is not available.

I ndiaidh príomhaontú deich mbliana a shíniú ar an 4ú Lúnasa 1998 le Teicneolaíochtaí Steiriúla Éireann Teoranta do dhiúscairt dramhaíola cliniciúla uile ar an oileán seo, tháinig freagracht as cruinniú, cóireáil agus as diúscairt dramhaíola cliniciúla ó gach gníomhaireacht agus iontaobhas sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta (SSS) ar Theicneolaíochtaí Steiriúla Corp.(TÉ) Teoranta.

Cruinníonn an conraitheoir an dramhaíl chliniciúil agus iompraíonn sé thart fá 95% di go dtí an áis chóireála ag Otharlann Aontroma áit a stialltar agus a ndíghalraítear go teirmeach í chun í a dhéanamh do-aitheanta agus slán sula dtugtar go láithreán líonta talún ceadúnaithe í.

Cé go bhfuil an dramhaíl chóireáilte á cur isteach i láithreán líonta talún faoi láthair, tá foráil sa chonradh dá hathchúrsáil agus tá an conraitheoir a leanúint seo faoi láthair. Dóitear an chuid eile den dramhaíl chliniciúil sa Bhreatain Mhór.

Léirítear na costais dhramhaíola bhliantúla réamh-mheasta do gach iontaobhas agus gníomhaireacht SSS sa tábla thíos. Ós rud é go stiúrtar an conradh ar bhonn iontaobhais/gníomhaireachta SSS aonair níl miondealú de réir otharlainne ar fáil.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people currently receiving ‘care in the community’ in each Trust Board area.

(AQW 1736/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: Information is not collected in the form requested.

Information on the numbers of persons receiving care packages in the mental health programme of care for the quarter ending 30 September 2000 is available and is detailed in the table below.

Ní chruinnítear eolas san fhoirm a iarradh.

Tá eolas ar líon na ndaoine atá ag fáil pacáistí cúraim sa chlár sláinte meabhrach cúraim don ráithe ag críochnú an 30ú Meán Fómhair 2000, ar fáil agus mionléirítear sa tábla thíos é.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to increase financial resources in the podiatry services within the Causeway Health and Social Services Trust.

(AQW 1741/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: I am aware that the Northern Health and Social Services Board recognises that there is a need for resource investment for podiatry services to implement the CREST Guidelines. This is a potential area for future investment detailed within the Northern Board’s Services and Financial Framework Document 2002-2005 and will be assessed by the board against other service pressures and priorities in the allocation of the resources available to the board.

Is feasach domh go n-aithníonn Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Tuaiscirt go bhfuil gá le hinfheistíocht in acmhainní do sheirbhísí cosliachta le treoirlínte CREST a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá ionchais na hinfheistíochta ag an réimse seo sa todhchaí mar a léirítear i gCreatcháipéis Seirbhísí agus Airgeadais 2002-2005 de chuid Bhord an Tuaiscirt. Measúnóidh an Bord iad in éadan brúnna agus tosaíochtaí seirbhíse eile i ndáileadh na n-acmhainní atá ar fáil don bhord.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of podiatry service delivery within the Causeway Health and Social Services Trust.

(AQW 1742/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: The podiatry service within Causeway Health and Social Services Trust is currently provided across all programmes of care and in a variety of settings such as health centres, community clinics, GP practices, hospitals, residential nursing homes, day centres and in the patient’s own home.

The service has been subject to increasing demand over the past number of years, partly due to demographic factors such as an ageing population plus an increase in the number of patients with more complex needs being referred to the service. The amount of podiatry activity delivered within the trust has increased by 12% since 1997/98.

Soláthraítear an tseirbhís chosliachta in Iontaobhas Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta An Chlocháin faoi láthair in iomlán na gcláracha cúraim agus i láithreáin éagsúla ar nós ionad sláinte, clinicí pobail agus cleachtas gnáthdhochtúirí, otharlann, tithe cónaithe altranais, ionad lae agus i dteach an othair é/í féin.

Tá éileamh ar an tseirbhís seo ag méadú le roinnt blianta anuas ar bhealach mar gheall ar fhachtóirí déimeagrafacha ar nós daonra níos sine, agus méadú i líon na n-othar le riachtanais níos coimpléascaí a atreoraítear go dtí an tseirbhís. Mhéadaigh méid na gníomhaíochta cosliachta a sholáthraítear san iontaobhas faoi 12% ó 1997/98.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the average waiting times for initial referrals and follow-up appointments for podiatry services within Causeway Health and Social Services Trust in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(AQW 1743/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: The information requested is not available.

The length of waiting time from referral to initial assessment is as follows:

The most recent figures available for the period 1/04/00 to 30/9/00 indicated that 731 people had been referred to the podiatry services in Causeway Trust and were still awaiting initial assessment.

Níl an t-eolas a iarradh ar fáil.

Seo a leanas fad an ama feithimh ó atreorú go céadmheasúnú:

Léirigh na figiúirí is déanaí atá ar fáil don tréimhse 1/04/00 go dtí an 30/0/00 gur atreoraíodh 731 dhuine go dtí an tseirbhís chosliachta in Iontaobhas An Chlocháin agus go raibh siad ag fanacht ar a gcéadmheasúnú go fóill.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm (a) that the current provision of professions allied to medicine (PAMs) services for children with special needs, including those for speech and language therapy, is adequate and (b) if she has any plans to increase student places in this area.

(AQW 1744/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: Although there has not been a formal assessment, my Department is aware that there are indications of pressures on the current level of provision of therapy services to children with special needs. In addition, my Department has recently been advised that there is a high level of vacancy within the speech and language therapy profession in the north of Ireland and elsewhere.

Departmental officials are due to meet in early March 2001 with representatives of the education provider. At this meeting it is planned to discuss an increase in student intake levels for these professions.

Cé nach ndearnadh measúnú foirmiúil, tá a fhios ag an Roinn s’agam go bhfuil comharthaí brúnna ann ar leibhéal reatha soláthar seirbhísí teiripe do pháistí le riachtanais speisialta. Ina theannta sin, tugadh faisnéis don Roinn s’agam le déanaí go bhfuil ardleibhéal folúntas sa ghairm Teiripe Labhartha agus Teanga i dtuaisceart na hÉireann agus in áiteanna eile.

Tá oifigigh Ranna le bualadh go luath i Mí an Mhárta 2001 le hionadaithe an tSoláthraí Oideachais. Ag an chruinniú seo tá sé beartaithe méadú i leibhéil ghlacadh isteach mac léinn sna gairmeacha seo a phlé.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the steps she is taking to reduce the hours worked by junior doctors.

(AQW 1769/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: The new contract and pay system introduced in December recognises the long hours of work still undertaken by many doctors in training. The new pay arrangements will provide fresh impetus to trusts to work with their junior medical staff to reduce the hours worked. In addition, my Department is in the process of recruiting staff to assist trusts in this task.

Aithníonn an córas nua conartha agus pá a tugadh isteach i Mí na Nollag na huaireanta fada oibre a dhéantar go fóill ag cuid mhór dochtúirí agus iad faoi oiliúint. Tabharfaidh na socruithe pá nua spreagadh úr do na hiontaobhais bheith ag obair lena bhfoirne míochaine sóisearacha leis na huaireanta a oibríonn siad a laghdú. Lena chois sin, tá mo Roinn ag earcú baill fhoirne faoi láthair le cuidiú leis na hiontaobhais san obair seo.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm (a) that the Eastern Health and Social Services Board was paying for invitro fertilisation treatment prior to 23 October 2000 and (b) that this facility terminated on 23 October 2000 without prior notice being given to patients.

(AQW 1782/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: The Eastern Health and Social Services Board has not to date commissioned in-vitro fertilisation treatment. I am aware, however, that some GPs in the Eastern Board area who previously prescribed medications for patients undergoing IVF treatment at the regional fertility centre at the Royal Group of Hospitals ceased to prescribe those medications recently. The provision of sub-fertility services, including in-vitro fertilisation treatment, is at present being considered by a group established by the Regional Medical Services Consortium, which commissions regional services on behalf of the four health and social services boards. I shall be considering all the issues involved in sub-fertility, including the provision of sub-fertility treatment and the prescribing of medication, when I receive the group’s report.

Go dtí seo níl cóireáil thoirchiú in vitro coimisiúnaithe ag Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir. Tuigim, áfach, go bhfuil roinnt gnáthdhochtúirí ann i limistéar Bhord an Oirthir a d’ordaíodh cógais d’othair a bhí ag dul faoi chóireáil thoirchiú in vitro ag an lárionad toirchis áitiúil ag an Ghrúpa Ríoga Ospidéal agus gur éirigh siad as na cógais sin a ordú ar na mallaibh. Tá soláthar sheirbhísí fothoirchis, lena n-áirítear toirchiú in vitro, á mhachnamh faoi láthair ag grúpa a bunaíodh ag an Chuibhreannas Réigiúnach do Sheirbhísí Míochaine, a choimisiúnaíonn seirbhísí réigiúnacha ar son na gceithre bhord sláinte agus seirbhísí sóisialta. Beidh mé ag machnamh na gceisteanna uilig a bhaineann leis an fhothoircheas, lena n-áirítear soláthar seirbhísí fothoirchis agus ordú cógas, nuair a gheobhaidh mé tuairisc an ghrúpa.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of children admitted to adult wards by each health trust area within the last twelve months.

(AQW 1789/00)

Ms de Brún: [holding answer 20 February 2001]: This information is detailed in the table below.

Tá an t-eolas ar fáil sa tábla thíos.

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