Friday 2 March 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to (a) detail by health board area, the number of patients who are prescribed the drugs Enbrel and/or Remicade for arthritis and (b) state the annual cost of prescribing each of those drugs.

(AQW 1841/00)

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of persons who died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Northern Ireland in the last twelve months for which figures are available and (b) the comparable figures for (i) 1995 (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1985.

(AQW 1849/00)

Ms de Brún: The numbers of persons who have died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) here for the calendar years 1985, 1990 and 1995 are detailed in the table below.

There have been no reports to date of deaths from AIDS in the last 12 months for which figures are available – 1 January to 31 December 2000.

Mionléirítear líonta na ndaoine a fuair bás de Shiondróm Easpa Imdhíonachta Faighte (SEIF) anseo sna blianta 1985, 1990 agus 1995 sa tábla thíos.

Ní raibh tuairisc ar bith go dtí seo ar bhásanna ó SEIF sna 12 mhí deireanacha atá figiúirí ar fáil – 1 Eanáir go dtí 31 Nollaig 2000.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of people in Northern Ireland diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases other than Human Immune Virus/Acute Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the last twelve month period for which figures are available and (b) the comparable figures for (i) 1995 (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1985.

(AQW 1850/00)

Ms de Brún: Information is not available in the form requested.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh ar iarradh é.

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to (a) give her assessment of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report ‘A Review of Pathology Laboratories in Northern Ireland (NIA 31/00)’ (b) outline her policy to increase the number of consultant pathologists and (c) detail the steps she is taking to bring overall costs into line with those in England.

(AQW 1852/00)

Ms de Brún: I welcome the Audit Office report as a useful contribution to the debate on pathology services. My Department is currently considering its full implications.

The need for additional consultant pathologists is accepted. The numbers in the relevant specialist training programmes have been increased in the past year, with further increases planned for 2001/02. While plans are in line for a significant increase in the consultant workforce, recruitment difficulties to the specialist training grades in recent years will preclude significant increases in the short term.

Cost comparisons require careful consideration, as the data must be on a like-for-like basis before meaningful conclusions can be made. As the report makes clear, the Department had reservations about the appropriateness of some of the key comparisons with England. Nevertheless, I wish to see those matters thoroughly examined to determine whether any useful lessons can be learned.

Fáiltím roimh thuairisc na hOifige Iniúchta mar chúnamh úsáideach don díospóireacht ar sheirbhísí paiteolaíochta. Tá an Roinn s’agam a dhéanamh machnaimh ar a h-impleachtaí iomlána faoi láthair.

Glactar go bhfuil gá le paiteolaithe liachta breise. Méadaíodh na líonta sna cláir oiliúna speisialtóireachta cuí le bliain anuas, le tuilleadh méaduithe pleanáilte do 2001/02. Cé go bhfuil méadú tábhachtach sa mheitheal oibre liachta ar na bacáin, cuirfidh deacrachtaí in earcaíocht sna gráid oiliúna speisialtóireachta sna blianta deireanacha bac ar mhéaduithe tábhachtacha sa ghearrthéarma.

Tá machnamh cúramach ar chomparáidí costas de dhíth mar go gcaithfidh na sonraí bheith ar bhonn cothroime sular féidir bearta tábhachtacha a dhéanamh. Mar a shoiléiríonn an tuairisc, bhí an Roinn in amhras ar fhóirsteanacht roinnt eochairchomparáidí le Sasana. Mar sin féin, is mian liom go scrúdaítear na cúrsaí seo go mion, lena fháil amach ar féidir ceachtanna úsáideacha ar bith a fhoghlaim nó nach féidir.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to increase the number of operations carried out by the Health Service.

(AQW 1853/00)

Ms de Brún: I have allocated significant additional resources in the current year, totalling £68.1 million, to improve the capacity of health and personal social services to produce more care and treatment for people here. A total of £32.1 million of that sum has been earmarked for hospital services, winter and community care pressures; for the implementation of more effective service planning arrangements, particularly in relation to waiting lists; and for greater co-ordination of services across health and personal social services, all of which are designed to enable more people to receive the hospital treatment they need.

Leithroinn mé acmhainní suntasacha breise i mbliana, £68.1 milliún san iomlán, le cumas na SSSP a fheabhsú le níos mó cúraim agus cóireála a sholáthar do dhaoine anseo. Tá £32.1 milliún de seo curtha ar leataobh faoi choinne seirbhísí ospidéil, brúnna geimhridh agus cúram pobail; faoi choinne socruithe pleanáil seirbhíse níos éifeachtaí a chur i bhfeidhm, maidir le liostaí feithimh ach go háirithe; agus faoi choinne méadú ar chomhordú seirbhísí fud fad na SSSP, iad uile deartha le cur ar chumas níos mó daoine an chóireál ospidéil atá de dhíth orthu.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will make it her policy to require trust hospitals to report, as standard procedure, rates of hospital acquired infections.

(AQW 1854/00)

Ms de Brún: As part of my Department’s priorities for 2001/02, trusts will be required to report the rates of Bacteraemia (including Methicillin-Resistent Staphylococcus aureus - MRSA) in their hospitals, at the year-end. Hospital acquired infection is a very complex issue and this new requirement is another useful step in the process of controlling it.

Mar chuid de thosaíochtaí mo Roinne do 2001/02 beidh ar Iontaobhais rátaí Bacteraemia a thuairisciú (Staphylococas aureus atá frithsheasmhach in aghaidh Methicillin MRSA) ina gcuid ospidéal, ag deireadh na bliana. Is ceist an-chasta ionfhabhtú tógtha san ospidéal agus is céim úsáideach an t-éileamh nua seo sa phróiseas le smacht a chur air.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of occasions she has changed the methodology for compiling hospital waiting lists in the last twelve months and to make a statement.

(AQW 1855/00)

Ms de Brún: None.

The only changes affecting either inpatient or outpatient waiting list statistics during my period as Minister have been as a result of continuing work by individual trusts to validate the data. Details of the changes resulting from these validation exercises have been included in the relevant waiting list publication released in September 2000.

Athrú ar bith.

Ní raibh na hathruithe a chuaigh i bhfeidhm ar staitisticí liostaí feithimh othar conaitheach nó seachtrach le linn mo thréimhse mar Aire ach mar thoradh ar obair leanúnach Iontaobhas aonair leis na sonraí a dhaingniú. Cuireadh sonraí na n-athruithe a bhí mar thoradh ar na cleachtaí daingnithe san fhoilseachán cuí ar liostaí feithimh a foilsíodh i Mí Mheán Fómhair 2000.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the representations she has received on the prescribing of Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer and to make a statement.

(AQW 1856/00)

Ms de Brún: I have not received any representations on the prescribing of Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer. Herceptin may be made available to any breast cancer patient who is judged by their oncologist to have a clinical need for the drug.

Ní bhfuair mé ráitis ar bith ar ordú Herceptin do chóireáil ailse chíche. D’fhéadfadh Herceptin bheith ar fáil d’othar ar bith le hailse chíche ar mheas a n-oinceolaí go raibh riachtanas cliniciúil orthu leis an druga.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to improve services to patients suffering from cancer.

(AQW 1857/00)

Ms de Brún: The provision of cancer services is being improved in line with the 1996 report ‘Cancer Services: Investing for the Future.’ It recommended that cancer care should be delivered by multidisciplinary, multiprofessional teams and that the provision of cancer services should be reorganised, with cancer units established in each Board area, linked to a cancer centre in Belfast.

In line with this, oncology clinics are now provided at cancer units at Antrim, Altnagelvin, Craigavon and the Ulster Hospitals. Over 50% of day-patient chemotherapy is now provided outside the cancer centre. Specialisation in site-specific cancers has also commenced, with the identification of lead clinicians in a range of conditions, such as breast, lung and colorectal cancers. Multidisciplinary teams have also been established. A 2-week outpatient appointment target for women with suspected breast cancer was introduced on 1 August last year, with targets to be implemented for other cancers by 2002. An additional £8m was made available for cancer services this year, with a further £6m identified for next year.

Tá soláthar seirbhísí ailse á fheabhsú faoi réir na, tuairisce 1996 ‘Cancer Services: Investing for the Future.’ Mhol sí gur chóir go mbeadh cúram ailse á sholáthar ag foirne ildisciplíneacha ilghairmiúla; agus gur chóir soláthar seirbhísí ailse a atheagrú, ag bunú ionad ailse i ngach ceantar boird a bheadh ceangailte le lárionad ailse i mBéal Feirste.

Faoi réir seo, cuirtear clinicí oinceolaíochta ar fáil anois ag aonaid ailse ag Otharlanna Aontroma, Alt na nGealbhan, Craigavon agus Uladh. Cuirtear 50% de cheimiteiripe othair lae ar fáil taobh amuigh den ionad ailse anois. Thosaigh speisialtacht in ailsí áit ar leith le haithint príomhchliniceoirí i réimse riochtaí ar nós ailse chíche, scamhóige agus colaidhriseacháin. Bunaíodh foirne ildisciplíneacha fosta. Tugadh isteach sprioc dhá sheachtaine do choinne othair sheachtraigh do mhná le hailse chíche mheasta ar an 1ú Lúnasa anuraidh, agus cuirfear na spriocanna d’ailsí eile i bhfeidhm faoin bhliain 2002. Cuireadh £8 milliún breise ar fáil do sheirbhísí ailse i mbliana agus cuirfear £6 mhilliún breise ar fáil don bhliain seo chugainn.

Dr Birnie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the rate of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination by age two years in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(AQW 1859/00)

Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.

Tá an t-eolas breactha síos sa tábla thíos.

Dr Birnie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of general practitioners per thousand of the population in Northern Ireland and (b) how this compares with England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(AQW 1860/00)

Ms de Brún: Details of the number of general practitioners per thousand of the population, with comparable figures for England and Wales, are shown in the table below. The information shows the whole time equivalent number of general practitioners providing general medical services and relates to the position at 1 October in each of the years 1995 to 2000. The figures for Wales at 1 October 2000 are not yet available.

Léirítear sonraí líon na nGnáthdhochtúirí i ngach míle duine den daonra, le figiúirí comparáideacha do Shasana agus don Bhreatain Bheag, sa tábla thíos. Léiríonn an t-eolas líon na nGnáthdhochtúirí coibhéise ama iomláin ag soláthar seirbhísí ginearálta míochaine agus baineann sé leis an staid ag an 1ú Deireadh Fómhair i ngach bliain ó 1995 go 2000. Níl figiúirí don Bhreatain Bheag ag an 1ú Deireadh Fómhair 2000 ar fáil go fóill.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people from north and west Belfast who are employed in the Royal Group of Hospitals.

(AQW 1863/00)

Ms de Brún: There are currently 2,044 people living in north and west Belfast employed in the Royal Group of Hospitals.

Faoi láthair tá 2,044 duine ina gcónaí i mBéal Feirste Thuaidh agus Thiar atá fostaithe i nGrúpa Ríoga Ospidéal.

Ms Sue Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of children who have been transferred to the Royal Maternity Hospital, Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from other hospitals in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

(AQW 1864/00)

Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.

Mionléirítear an t-eolas seo sa tábla thíos.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of premature babies born, by trust board area, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(AQW 1866/00)

Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.

Tá an t-eolas ar fáil sa tábla thíos.

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of low birth weight babies born, by trust board area, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(AQW 1867/00)

Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.

Tá an t-eolas ar fáil sa tábla thíos.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of names which are on the Pre-Employment Consultancy Service (PECS) register.

(AQW 1884/00)

Ms de Brún: There are currently 16 names on the Pre-Employment Consultancy Service Register.

Faoi láthair tá 16 ainm ar Chlár na Seirbhíse Comhairlí Réamhfhostaíochta

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) what representations she has received about the abolition of mixed-sex specialist wards in Northern Ireland hospitals and (b) what steps she is taking to address this issue.

(AQW 1885/00)

Ms de Brún: I have not received any representations about the abolition of mixed-sex specialist wards.

A charter standard on mixed sex wards was introduced here from 1 April 1997, which gives people the right to be told before they go into hospital, except in emergencies, whether it is planned to care for them in a ward for men and women. In all cases, they can expect single-sex washing and toilet facilities. If a patient prefers to be cared for in single-sex accommodation, their wishes will be respected wherever possible. Boards are required to have local monitoring arrangements in place to ensure compliance with the standard.

Ní bhfuair mé aon ionadaíocht faoi chealú sainbhardaí gnéis mheasctha.

Tugadh isteach caighdeán cairte ar bhardaí gnéis mheasctha anseo ón 1 Aibreán 1997. Tugann sé an ceart do dhaoine bheith curtha ar an eolas roimh ré sula dtéann siad isteach san ospidéal, ach amháin i gcásanna éigeandála, má tá sé beartaithe cúram a thabhairt dóibh i mbarda fear agus ban. I ngach cás, is féidir leo bheith ag dúil le háiseanna níocháin agus leithris aon ghnéis. Más fearr le hothar cúram a fháil in áit aon ghnéis, freastlófar ar a mianta áit ar bith is féidir. Tá riachtanas ar Bhoird socruithe monatóireachta áitiúla bheith curtha i bhfeidhm le cloí leis an chaighdeán.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) what guidance she issues on best practice to encourage patients to keep their appointments with hospital consultants and (b) what steps she and the various trusts are taking to ensure that patients attend such appointments.

(AQW 1887/00)

Ms de Brún: Under the ‘Framework for Action on Waiting Lists’, which I issued on 11 September 2000, Trusts are required to monitor closely patients who did not attend (DNA) and cancellation rates, and to establish protocols to assist those patients who cancel their appointments repeatedly. This may include, where appropriate, patients being returned to the care of their GP for alternative care or treatment to be considered.

Trusts are employing a range of measures to ensure that patients keep their hospital appointments, or give notice that they are unable to attend so that other patients can avail of their slots. These include the issue of explanatory leaflets with appointment cards which stress the importance of attending or notifying, in good time, inability to attend; appointment cards that require the patient, by telephone or in writing, to confirm their intention to attend; advisory posters in GP practices and hospital waiting areas; and confirmatory telephone checks with patients two to three days before the date of their appointment.

Faoin Chreat ‘Gníomhaíocht ar Liostaí Feithimhah’ a d’eisigh mé ar 11 Meán Fómhair 2000, tá dualgas ar Iontaobhais monatóireacht a dhéanamh go cruinn ar rátaí othar NF (Nár Fhreastal) agus rátaí cealaithe, le nósanna imeachta a bhunú le cuidiú leis na hothair úd a chuireann a gcoinne ar ceal arís agus arís eile. San áireamh leis seo, áit ar bith is cuí, is féidir iad a chur ar ais faoi chúram a ngnáthdhochtúra le haghaidh cúraim mhalartaigh nó le cóireál a mheabhrú.

Tá Iontaobhais ag úsáid réimse beart le cinntiú go cloíann othair lena gcoinne ospidéil, nó go dtugann siad fógra nach fhéidir leo freastal sa dóigh go dtig le hothair eile úsáid a bhaint as an seal s’acu. I measc na mbeart tá eisiú bileog mínithe le cártaí coinne a chuireann béim ar thábhacht freastail nó ar fhógra a thabhairt ar an ghuthán nó i scríbhinn le cinntiú go bhfuil sé de rún acu freastal; postaeir chomhairleacha i gcleachtaidh ghnáthdhochtúirí agus i gceantair fheithimh ospidéil; agus cinntithe ar an ghuthán le hothair 2 nó 3 de laethanta roimh dháta a gcoinne.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give her assessment of the disruption to health services as a result of patients failing to keep appointments and what is the estimated cost to the Health Service of such missed appointments.

(AQW 1888/00)

Ms de Brún: Although the full cost to the health and social services for patients who do not attend planned appointments is not known, the effects in financial and service terms are considered to be significant. Patients who fail to keep appointments entail extra administration costs. There are also costs involving staff time. On top of this, other persons who are waiting for treatment are forced to wait longer.

Cé nach fios cá mhéad go hiomlán a chosnaíonn sé do na seirbhísí sláinte agus do na seirbhísí sóisialta nuair nach fhreastalaíonn othair ar choinní pleanáilte, meastar gur mór an tionchar a bhíonn aige ar chúrsaí airgeadais agus seirbhísí.

Bíonn costas breise riaracháin ann nuair nach bhfhreastalaíonn othair ar choinní. Bíonn costais ann a bhaineann le ham foirne. Ar a bharr sin tá ar dhaoine eile a bhíonn ag feitheamh le haghaidh cóireála feitheamh níos faide.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the percentage of patients who kept appointments with hospital consultants in each of Northern Ireland’s hospitals in each of the last three years.

(AQW 1889/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the percentage of patients who attended their inpatient appointment in each trust is only available centrally for the financial years 1998/99 and 1999/00 and is detailed in Table 1 below.

Information on the percentage of patients who attended their first outpatient appointment in each trust for the financial years 1997/98 to 1999/00 is detailed in Table 2 below.

Attendance rates are affected by the range of services provided by the trust. For example, mental illness clinics experience a higher than average number of people who do not attend appointments, while ante-natal clinics have a lower than average rate. In some cases the actual number of people involved is very small.

Níl an t-eolas ar chéatadán othar a fhreastalaíonn ar a gcoinne othair chónaithigh i ngach Iontaobhas ar fáil ach ar bhonn lárnach do na blianta airgeadais 1998/99 agus 1999/00 agus i dtábla 1 thíos tá sé léirithe.

Tá an t-eolas ar chéatadán othar a d’fhreastail ar a gcéad choinne othair sheachtaraigh i ngach Iontaobhas do na blianta airgeadais 1997/98 go 1999/00 léirithe i dtábla 2 thíos.

Téann réimse seirbhísí a chuireann an tIontaobhas ar fáil i bhfeidhm ar rátaí tinrimh. Bíonn rátaí thar an mheán de dhaoine nach bhfreastalaíonn ar a gcoinní i gclinicí galar meabhrach agus ráta níos ísle ná an meán ag clinicí réamhbhreithe. I roinnt cásanna is fíorbheagán líon na ndaoine atá i gceist.

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