Friday 25 May 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline what consultation has taken place with the statutory, community and voluntary sectors regarding the publication of volume 7 of the Children Order Regulations and Guidance - Schools Accommodating Children and to detail the steps taken to equality proof the regulations under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(AQW 2846/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Volume 7 of the Children Order Regulations and Guidance deals with the commencement of Article 176 of the Children (NI) Order 1995. The regulations and guidance were the subject of extensive consultation between my Department, the Department of Education and those schools providing boarding accommodation for pupils. The draft guidance was also sent to health and social services boards and trusts and to education and library boards for comment. No equality assessment was carried out as the policy was already contained in primary legislation but I can confirm that this policy area will be evaluated in the programme for equality impact assessments on individual policies.

Déileálann Imleabhar 7 de Rialacháin agus Threoir an Oird Pháistí le tosú Alt 176 d’Ord Páistí (TÉ) 1995. Cuireadh na Rialacháin agus an Treoir faoi réir comhairlithe leathain idir an Roinn s’agamsa, an Roinn Oideachais agus na scoileanna sin ag cur cóiríochta cónaithe ar fáil dá gcuid daltaí. Cuireadh an dréacht-threoir chuig Boird agus Iontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus chuig Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne fosta dá léirmheas orthu. Ní dhearnadh measúnú comhionannais mar go raibh an polasaí sa bhunreachtaíocht cheana féin ach tig liom a dhearbhú go measúnfar an réimse polasaí seo sa chlár do mheasúnuithe ar éifeacht an chomhionannais ar pholasaithe indibhidiúla.

Mr Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether cryptosporidiosis is a notifiable disease in Northern Ireland and is this comparable with the situation throughout the rest of the United Kingdom.

(AQW 2855/00)

Ms de Brún: Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite which causes cryptosporidiosis when transmitted to humans.

Cryptosporidiosis is not currently a notifiable disease here.

Laboratories voluntary report confirmed cases of cryptosporidium to the consultant in communicable disease control in each of the relevant health and social services board areas. There are similar arrangements in Great Britain.

Is seadán micreascópach é Crioptaspóraidiam is cúis le crioptaspóireois nuair a tharchuirtear ar dhaoine é.

Faoi láthair, ní galar atá le cur in iúl anseo é Crioptaspóraidiam.

Cuireann saotharlanna cásanna dearbhaithe crioptaspóraidiaim in iúl go deonach don Lia Comhairleach san Ionad Smachtaithe Galar Tógálach i ngach ceann de na ceantair Bhoird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta. Tá siad seo cosúil leis na socruithe sa Bhreatain Mhór.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the criteria required to receive fertility treatment on the Health Service.

(AQW 2856/00)

Ms de Brún: A wide range of fertility services is provided on the basis that patients are eligible for health and personal social services treatment. The precise treatment provided will depend on individual need and the clinical intervention that is considered to be appropriate.

Soláthraítear réimse leathan seirbhísí toirchithe ar an bhonn go bhfuil othair i dteideal cóireála seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta pearsanta a fháil. Braithfidh an sórt cóireála a sholáthrófar ar riachtanas an duine aonair agus ar an idirghabháil chliniciúil a shílfear cuí.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the benefits offered by homeopathic treatment and (b) whether such treatment is a cost effective use of healthcare resources.

(AQW 2857/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2858/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2858/00.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans and offer patients homeopathic treatment by professional practitioners.

(AQW 2858/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department is currently considering a detailed report on complementary and alternative medicine produced recently by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. The report examines issues such as the regulation and training of practitioners, the evidence of efficacy, the development of a research base, the provision of information to the public and healthcare clinicians and the delivery of services. I shall want to study my officials’ analysis of these issues and the likely implications for the health and social services before determining the way ahead for homeopathy and other complementary or alternative medicines.

Tá an Roinn s’agamsa ag déanamh machnaimh faoi láthair ar mhionthuairisc ar Leigheas Comhlántach agus Malartach foilsithe le déanaí ag Roghchoiste Theach na dTiarnaí ar Eolaíocht agus Theicneolaíocht. Breathnaíonn an tuairisc ar cheisteanna amhail rialú agus oiliúint gnáthdhochtúirí, cruthú na héifeachtachta, forbairt ionaid taighde agus cur ar fáil eolais don phobal agus do dhochtúirí cúraim sláinte agus soláthar seirbhísí. Is mian liom scrúdú a dhéanamh ar anailís mo chuid oifigeach ar na ceisteanna seo agus ar na himpleachtaí dóchúla do na seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta sula ndéanfaidh mé cinneadh ar an bhealach chun tosaigh do homéapaite agus do leighis chomhlántacha agus mhalartacha eile.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to ensure that healthcare professionals within the Health Service are made aware of the benefits of homeopathy treatment, particularly as it is an approved treatment funded by the Health Service.

(AQW 2859/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2858/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2858/00.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make provision for the training of local healthcare professionals in the use of homeopathy as an effective treatment within the healthcare system and to meet future demands as public awareness increases.

(AQW 2860/00)

Ms de Brún: Provision of training for health professionals in the use of homeopathy is currently a responsibility of the professional bodies. There is an increasing interest in the development of homeopathy as a complementary approach to the care of service users. All the professional bodies are adopting an evidence- based approach to training and development and complementary therapies will of course need to be subject to the same rigour as the more traditional therapies.

Na forais ghairmiúla atá freagrach faoi láthair as soláthar oiliúna do ghairmithe sláinte in úsáid hoiméapaite. Tá suim i bhforbairt hoiméapaite mar chur chuige comhlántach do chúram úsáideoirí seirbhísí ag dul i méid. Tá na forais ghairmiúla uile ag glacadh le cur chuige d’oiliúint agus d’fhorbairt bunaithe ar chruthú, agus go deimhin, beidh ar theiripí comhlántacha bheith faoi réir na rialachán dian céanna is atá na gnáth-theiripí traidisiúnta.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of hospital appointments (a) brought forward and (b) postponed in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(AQW 2871/00)

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

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people who have had operations cancelled (a) before admission to hospital and (b) after admission to hospital in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(AQW 2872/00)

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

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide general practitioners and hospital doctors with referral and funding guidelines to facilitate contracting professional homeopaths and that copies of these guidelines should be made available to patients.

(AQW 2882/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2858/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2858/00.

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to commission a study to evaluate the potential role of homeopathy in public healthcare in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 2883/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2858/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2858/00.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2288/00, to detail her plans to enhance security arrangements for Ambulance Service personnel.

(AQW 2889/00)

Ms de Brún: The Ambulance Service Health and Safety Committee has taken a number of initiatives to improve staff security. These include a review of training arrangements which resulted in the inclusion of ‘Dealing with Conflict’ as part of the Ambulance Technician Award and the use of the media to highlight the problem and enlist community support in preventing further attacks on staff. The Ambulance Service management is continuing to work with staff side organisations to identify ways in which the safety of staff can be enhanced.

Thosaigh Coiste Sláinte agus Sábháilteachta na Seirbhíse Otharcharr roinnt tionscnamh le slándáil na foirne a fheabhsú. Ina measc tá athbhreithniú socruithe oiliúna arbh iad cur san áireamh "Ag Déileáil Le Coimhlint" mar chuid den Duais Teicneora Otharcharr, agus úsáid na meán cumarsáide leis an fhadhb a thabhairt chun suntais agus le tacaíocht an phobail a fháil chun tuilleadh ionsaithe ar an fhoireann a chosc, a tháinig astu. Tá an Bhainistíocht Seirbhíse Otharcharr ag obair ar aghaidh le heagraíochtaí foirne chun a aithint dóigheanna le sábháilteacht na foirne a mhéadú.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to cut waiting times for adults awaiting speech and language therapy.

(AQW 2892/00)

Ms de Brún: I am aware of the pressure on therapy services and of the need for additional therapists. My Department has been engaged in a workforce survey, the results of which are expected in the next few months. This survey will help inform decisions on the student intake level for the 2001/02 academic year. There are currently a total of 83 students taking a four year undergraduate speech and language therapy course at the University of Ulster, and additional trained staff will help to address the needs.

Meanwhile, provision of therapeutic services is the responsibility of health and social services boards and trusts, having regard to available resources and the priority of individual cases determined by clinical assessment.

Tá an brú ar sheirbhísí teiripeacha agus an gá le teiripithe breise ar eolas agam. Bhí an Roinn s’agamsa i mbun suirbhé meithle oibre a bhfuiltear ag súil lena thorthaí i gceann cupla mí. Cuideoidh an suirbhé seo le socruithe a dhéanamh ar leibhéal an ghlacadh isteach mac léinn don bhliain acadúil 2001/02. Faoi láthair, tá 83 mac léinn ag déanamh cúrsa céime Teiripe Labhartha agus Teanga ceithre bliana in Ollscoil Uladh agus cuideoidh an fhoireann oilte bhreise le riar ar na riachtanais.

Idir an dá linn, is iad Boird agus Iontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta atá freagrach as cur ar fáil seirbhísí teiripeacha, na hacmhainní atá ar fáil agus tosaíocht chásanna aonair cinnte de réir measúnaithe chliniciúil.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to reduce the number of children awaiting speech and language therapy.

(AQW 2893/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department has established a joint working group with officials from the Department of Education to consider the therapy support required by children with special educational needs and how this can best be provided. The work of the group will help to quantify unmet need and inform service targeting, planning and development of therapy services to children with special educational needs.

Bhunaigh an Roinn s’agamsa comhghrúpa oibre le hoifigigh ón Roinn Oideachais le machnamh a dhéanamh ar an tacaíocht theiripeach atá de dhíth ar pháistí le riachtanais speisialta oideachais agus ar an dóigh is fearr léi seo a sholáthar. Cuideoidh obair an ghrúpa le riachtanas neamhriartha, spriocadh seirbhísí déanta, chomh maith le pleanáil agus forbairt seirbhísí teiripeacha do pháistí le riachtanais speisialta oideachais a chainníochtú.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQO 1261/00, to detail the number of questions for written answer she has failed to answer within the specified time.

(AQW 2896/00)

Ms de Brún: Since 13 December 1999 I have provided answers to 1,063 written questions with 30 failing to meet the specified deadline.

Ó 13 Nollaig 1999 thug mé freagra ar 1063 ceist scríofa nár theip ach 30 díobh an spriocam ar leith a bhaint amach.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to consider reducing the cost of IVF treatment thereby ensuring that many more couples would benefit.

(AQW 2905/00)

Ms de Brún: I announced on 24 April that sub- fertility services, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, would be the subject of a public consultation exercise later this year. The consultation will address issues such as the cost of IVF and the eligibility for access to treatment.

D’fhógair mé ar an 24 Aibreán go mbeadh seirbhísí fothoirchithe, cóireáil toirchiú in-vítrea (TIV) san áireamh, ina n-ábhar cleachtaidh chomhairlithe phoiblí níos moille i mbliana. Rachaidh an comhairliú i gceann ceisteanna amhail costas TIV agus an chóireáil atá daoine i dteideal a fháil.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her plans to ensure that women who already have a child through IVF treatment will be given assistance and access to the new free fertility treatment.

(AQW 2907/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2905/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2905/00.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the steps she is taking to ensure that older couples have access to IVF treatment.

(AQW 2908/00)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2905/00.

Luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2905/00.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail, by health board area, the number of women applying for IVF treatment through their GPs in the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(AQW 2909/00)

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

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) what actions she has put in place to assist groups in completing the necessary application forms for gap funding (b) how many applications have been made and (c) what is the turn around timescale.

(AQW 2913/00)

Ms de Brún: Applicants seeking support through DHSSPS under the interim funding arrangements announced by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Assembly on 12 February, received an information pack from the European Union Special Programmes Body along with an application form. In addition, departmental staff and staff attached to the NI Pre-school Playgroups Association were available to handle telephone requests for further information from prospective applicants.

In total, my Department received 225 applications for assistance under the interim funding arrangements. It is anticipated that the groups that applied to DHSSPS will be notified of decisions on their applications in the early part of June.

Fuair iarratasóirí ag iarraidh tacaíochta tríd an RSSSSP de réir na socruithe eatramhacha maoinithe fógartha ag an Aire Airgeadais agus Pearsanra don Tionól ar an 12 Feabhra, paca eolais chomh maith le foirm iarratais ó Fhoras an Aontais Eorpaigh um Chláir Speisialta. Ina theannta sin, bhí foireann na Roinne agus foireann ó Chumann Naíolann Réamhscolaíochta TÉ ar fáil le hiarratais theileafóin ar thuilleadh eolais ó iarratasóirí ionchasacha a láimhseáil.

Fuair an Roinn s’agamsa 225 iarratas san iomlán do chúnamh airgid de réir na socruithe eatramhacha maoinithe. Táthar ag súil go gcuirfear socruithe déanta ar a n-iarratais in iúl go luath i Mí Mheithimh do na grúpaí a chuir iarratais isteach chuig an RSSSSP.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the costs of publishing the document ‘Best Practice - Best Care a framework for setting standards, delivering services and improving monitoring and regulations in the HPSS’ and what were the costs of the sections printed in the Irish language.

(AQW 2914/00)

Ms de Brún: The cost of designing and printing ‘Best Practice - Best Care’ was £19,026.57. There was no significant additional cost of printing the foreword in Irish; there was however a charge of £48.15 for the translation of the foreword into Irish.

To underline my commitment to making key documents available in other formats and languages, this document is available in Irish, Chinese, Braille and audiocassette. The estimated cost of these is £8,890.05.

£19,026.57 ba ea costas dearadh agus cur i gcló "Sárchleachtadh - Sárchúram" Ní raibh costas tábhachtach breise as clóbhualadh an bhrollaigh i nGaeilge ach gearradh £48.15 ar aistriú an bhrollaigh go Gaeilge áfach.

Le béim a chur ar mo ghealltanas eochaircháipéisí a chur ar fáil i leaganacha agus i dteangacha eile, tá an cháipéis seo ar fáil i nGaeilge, Sínis, i mBraille agus ar téip. Meastar gurb é £8,890.05 an costas air seo.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2537/00, to detail the number of (a) people diagnosed with non-A and non-B hepatitis prior to 1994 and (b) haemophiliacs diagnosed with non-A and non-B hepatitis prior to 1994.

(AQW 2915/00)

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

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of haemophiliacs with (a) hepatitis C since 1994 and (b) treated with blood clotting products before 1985.

(AQW 2916/00)

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

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the outbreaks of cryptosporidium within the last two years and (b) what steps have been taken by her to reduce further outbreaks.

(AQW 2920/00)

Ms de Brún: There were three outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis here during the last two years. The first in May 2000 primarily related to North Down and South Belfast and was associated with 129 laboratory confirmed cases. The cause was strongly suspected to be waterborne. The second was in August/September 2000 and mainly involved the Lisburn/Poleglass area of Belfast and was associated with 117 laboratory confirmed cases. Again it was considered waterborne. There has been a third outbreak recently, affecting people living in the Eastern and Northern Health Board areas. The source of the outbreak is most likely the Donore treatment works. It is too early to give final numbers of those affected.

The prevention of the entry of cryptosporidium into the treated water supply is the responsibility of the Water Service of the Department of Regional Development. I understand it is implementing a range of measures to minimise the risk of cryptosporidium entering the public water supply. These include risk assessment of all water sources, upgrading of water treatment works to provide effective barriers against cryptosporidium, the replacement of conduits susceptible to ingress and a programme of sampling and testing of the water supply.

Bhí 3 ráig de chrioptaspóraideois inseo le linn an dá bhliain deireanacha. Bhain an chéad cheann i mBealtaine 2000 go príomha leis an Dún Thuaidh agus Béal Feirste Theas agus bhí baint aici le 129 cás dearbhaithe ag saotharlanna. Meastar go láidir gurbh uisce a ba chuis léi. Tharla an dara ráig i Lúnasa/Méan Fómhair 2000 i gceantar Lios na gCearrbhach/an Phoill Ghlais i mBéal Feirste agus bhí baint aici le 117 cás dearbhaithe ag saotharlanna. Arís, measadh gur tháing sí ó uisce. Tharla an tríú ráig ar na mallaibh, a bhí ar dhaoine ina gcónaí i gceantair Bhoird Sláinte an Oirthir agus an Tuaiscirt. Is dócha gurb iad oibreacha cóireála Donore foinse na ráige iad. Tá sé róluath go fóill líon deiridh na ndaoine sin ar a raibh sí a thabhairt.

An tSeirbhís Uisce ón Roinn Forbartha Réigiúnaí atá freagrach as cosc a chur ar chrioptaspóraidiam ag dul isteach sa soláthar uisce cóireáilte. Tuigim go bhfuil sí ag cur réimse beart i bhfeidhm leis an bhaol ó chrioptaspóraidiam ag dul isteach sa soláthar uisce poiblí a íoslaghdú. Ina measc tá measúnú ar bhaol gach foinse uisce, athchóiriú oibreacha cóireála uisce le bac níos éifeachtaí a chur ar chrioptaspóraidiam, malartú seolphíopaí tugtha dá ligean isteach agus clár samplála agus trialach an tsoláthair uisce.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the report name and issue date of the following four reviews (a) care in the community (b) intensive care services (c) acute services and (d) cardiac surgery.

(AQW 2921/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is set out in the table below.

Tá an t-eolas a iarradh leagtha amach sa tábla thíos.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) which of the 26 recommendations of the intensive care review have been implemented and (b) which have not.

(AQW 2922/00)

Ms de Brún: Of the 26 recommendations in the intensive care review nine have been fully implemented and plans are in place to complete the implementation of the remainder over the next three years. Details on each recommendation are listed in the table below.

De na 26 moladh san Athbhreithniú ar Dhianchúram, cuireadh naoi gcinn i bhfeidhm go iomlán agus tá sé i gceist cur i bhfeidhm na coda eile a chríochnú le linn na dtrí bliana seo chugainn. Liostáiltear sonraí gach moladh sa tábla thíos.

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