Friday 15 June 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail when Peace II Funding will become available.

(AQW 3217/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): Following the formal signing of the PEACE II Operational Programme by Commissioner Barnier on 22 March 2001, work has proceeded in drawing up the programme complement, which sets out the detail of the programme at measure level, for agreement by the Monitoring Committee. The programme complement must be agreed within three months of the signing of the operational programme, (ie by 21 June 2001) and the latest draft has been tabled for consideration by the Monitoring Committee at its meeting on 15 June 2001. The implementing bodies involved in the delivery of the programme will be able to issue calls for projects after the programme complement has been agreed and it is anticipated that funding will begin to become available to groups on the ground from September onwards. This is to allow time for evaluation and selection procedures to take place.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to give an assessment of gap funding.

(AQW 3218/00)

Mr Durkan: There has been considerable interest in the gap funding advertisement, which was placed in the local press on behalf of Departments and the Special EU Programmes Body on 16 March 2001, with approximately 1000 applications received in response. The great majority of applications received were from community and voluntary sector organisations previously funded under PEACE I. Departments and the Special EU Programmes Body are currently processing these applications and have started to issue letters of offer, or rejection, to project sponsors. This process is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. Only after decisions have been taken on each individual project application received will it be possible to provide an overall assessment of gap funding. This information will therefore be made available once Departments and the Special EU Programmes Body have completed their selection procedures.

Mr Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail what progress is being made with improving the response times by occupational therapy departments to referrals by the Housing Executive grants department.

(AQW 3168/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Implementation of the recommendations in the preliminary report of the joint Housing Executive/Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety review of the housing adaptations service commenced in March. The health and social services boards intend to deploy the additional 20 occupational therapists which are being funded by my Department this year, on housing adaptation assessments. These measures should make a significant contribution to my priorities for action target of a 20% reduction in the numbers waiting for occupational therapy housing adaptation assessments.

Thosaigh cur i bhfeidhm na moltaí i Réamhthuairisc Chomhathbhreithniú an Fheidhmeannais Tithíochta/na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí ar an tseirbhís oiriúnú tithíochta i Márta. Tá sé ar intinn ag Boird Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta 20 teiripí saothair breise, atá á maoiniú ag an Roinn s’agamsa i mbliana, a chur i mbun oibre ar mheasúnuithe oiriúnú tithíochta. Ba chóir do na bearta seo cuidiú go mór le sprioc mo Thosaíochtaí do Bhearta le líon na ndaoine ag fanacht le measúnuithe oiriúnú tithíochta teiripe saothair a laghdú faoi 20% a bhaint amach.

Mr Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail what progress is being made to increase the number of occupational therapists employed by the Newry and Mourne Trust.

(AQW 3169/00)

Ms de Brún: Health and social services boards and Trusts are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient occupational therapists to provide the level of service to meet the assessed needs of their population.

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust will shortly be recruiting additional occupational therapy staff in line with the trust’s share of the resources made available this year. The posts will be advertised within the next few weeks.

Boird agus Iontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta atá freagrach as cinntiú go bhfuil go leor teiripithe saothair ann leis an leibhéal seirbhíse atá riachtanach a sholáthar le riar ar riachtanais mheasúnaithe a ndaonraí.

Beidh Iontaobhas SSS an Iúir agus Mhúrn ag earcú foirne breise teiripe saothair ar ball de réir sciar an Iontaobhais de na hacmhainní curtha ar fáil i mbliana. Fógrófar na poist laistigh den chúpla seachtaine seo chugainn.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2872/00, to detail what information is available on this matter.

(AQW 3174/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department collects information on numbers of elective admissions to the surgical specialties that were readmitted within one month if they have had a previous operation cancelled on the day that they were due to be admitted. This information is collected quarterly for each local trust and for ordinary admissions and day cases separately. My Department also collects annual information on "did not attend" (DNA) rates for inpatient admissions and outpatient appointments. This information has been published in the annual performance tables publication, which is available in the Assembly Library and on my Department’s website.

Cruinníonn an Roinn s’agamsa eolas ar lion na ndaoine glactha isteach sna speisialtachtaí máinliachta agus a athghlacadh isteach laistigh de mhí amháin má bhí obráid acu roimh ré curtha ar ceal ar an lá a glacadh isteach iad. Cruinnítear an t-eolas seo go ráithiúil do gach Iontaobhas áitiúil, do dhaoine glactha isteach sa ghnáthdhóigh agus do chásanna lae ina gceann agus ina gceann. Cruinníonn an Roinn s’agamsa eolas bliantúil fosta ar rátaí dofhreastalta do ghlacadh isteach othar cónaitheach agus do choinní éisothar. Foilsíodh an t-eolas seo i bhfoilseachán bliantúil Tháblaí Feidhmithe, atá ar fáil i Leabharlann an Tionóil agus ar líonláithreán mo Roinne.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2871/00, to detail what information is available on this matter.

(AQW 3175/00)

Ms de Brún: The main data collected by my Department which are relevant to this question are numbers of outpatient clinics cancelled by hospitals. This information is published in the annual hospital statistics publication, which is available in the Assembly Library and on my Department’s website. My Department also collects information on ‘did not attend’ (DNA) rates for inpatient admissions and outpatient appointments. These figures are published in the performance tables, which are also available in the Assembly Library and on my Department’s website.

Líon na gclinicí éisothar cealaithe ag otharlanna is ea na príomhshonraí cruinnithe ag an Roinn s’agamsa atá bainteach leis an cheist seo. Foilsítear an t-eolas seo san fhoilseachán bliantúil Staidreamh Otharlann, atá ar fáil i Leabharlann an Tionóil agus ar líonláithreán mo Roinne. Cruinníonn an Roinn s’agamsa eolas bliantúil fosta ar rátaí dofhreastalta do ghlacadh isteach othar cónaitheach agus do choinní éisothar. Foilsítear na figiúirí seo sna Táblaí Feidhmithe, atá ar fáil i Leabharlann an Tionóil agus ar líonláithreán mo Roinne fosta.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2893/00, to detail when the report of the joint working group will be made available.

(AQW 3176/00)

Ms de Brún: The joint working group has identified a number of key issues and is currently determining the work needed to take these forward. It is not therefore yet in a position to set a timetable for completion of its task.

D’aithin an comhghrúpa oibre roinnt eochaircheisteanna agus tá sé ag cinneadh ar an obair atá de dhíth le dul i gceann na gceisteanna seo faoi láthair. Mar sin de, níl sé réidh go fóill le clár ama a shocrú do chríochnú a thaisc.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the criteria health trusts follow in their approach to funding alternative day care centres.

(AQW 3178/00)

Ms de Brún: The provision of day care is a matter for health and social services trusts, who will take account of issues such as the clinical assessment of the needs of the potential users of the services and the availability of resources.

Is ceist d’Iontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta é soláthar cúraim lae, a ghlacfaidh san áireamh ceisteanna amhail measúnú cliniciúil riachtanais úsáideoirí ionchasacha na seirbhísí agus infhaighteacht acmhainní.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of chiropodists employed in the Ards Community Trust area in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(AQW 3189/00)

Ms de Brún: In both 1999-2000 and 2000-01, there were 6.2 whole-time equivalent chiropodists employed by the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust.

Sa bhliain 1990-2000 agus 2000-01 araon, bhí 6.2 coslia coibhéis ama iomláin fostaithe ag Iontaobhas SSS Phobal & Otharlann Uladh.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of patients cared for by the mobile chiropody service in the Greyabbey area in the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(AQW 3190/00)

Ms de Brún: The mobile chiropody service in the Greyabbey area cared for 43 patients in 1999-2000 and 48 patients in 2000-01.

Thug seirbhís chosliach shoghluaiste Na Mainistreach Léithe cúram do 43 othar sa bhliain 1999-2000 agus do 48 othar sa bhliain 2000-01.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to explain why the mobile chiropody service, provided through the Ards Community Trust, was withdrawn from the Greyabbey Area.

(AQW 3191/00)

Ms de Brún: The mobile chiropody service provided by the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust was withdrawn from the Greyabbey area because of mechanical breakdown. Service users from Greyabbey were offered chiropody clinic appointments in Newtownards, which would require them to travel by public transport. This alternative arrangement is proving unacceptable to service users who are elderly/or vulnerable and unable to travel by public transport. The Eastern Health and Social Services Board is working with the trust to find a resolution to this matter.

Tarraingíodh seirbhísí gluaisteacha cosliachta soláthraithe ag Iontaobhas SSS Otharlanna agus Phobal Uladh siar i gceantar na Mainistreach Léithe mar gheall ar chliseadh mheicniúil. Tairgeadh coinní a dhéanamh d’úsáideoirí seirbhísí ón Mhainistir Liath le clinicí cosliachta i mBaile Nua na hArda, a mbeadh orthu taisteal chucu ar iompar poiblí. Is léir go bhfuil na socruithe eile doghlactha d’úsáideoirí seirbhísí atá cnagaosta/nó leochaileach agus nach bhfuil ábalta taisteal ar iompar poiblí. Tá Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir ag comhoibriú leis an Iontaobhas le teacht ar réiteach na ceiste seo.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 1841/00, to detail (a) the funding arrangements for the drugs Enbrel and Remicade (b) why these drugs are not being made widely available (c) why only 42 patients have received these drugs and (d) what steps she is taking to increase provision.

(AQW 3199/00)

(a) Approximately £500,000 is currently being allocated in this financial year (2001-2002) for these two new drugs (Enbrel and Remicade). Each HSS Board has taken account of these new developments and there has been a gradual introduction of these drugs in each Board area.

(b) I am currently awaiting further expert advice on the effectiveness of these medicines and as with any new and complex drug therapy, patient safety is of the utmost importance; there remain some concerns about the potential for serious side effects. These include serious blood disorders, nervous system problems and increased susceptibility to tuberculosis and other infections. In the meantime my Department will continue to work with HSS boards, clinicians and service users to promote a gradual introduction of these drugs, taking account of guidelines from the Society of Rheumatology, emerging evidence of effectiveness and the availability of resources.

(c) At the time of this response, details available from health boards indicate that 66 service users are currently receiving these drugs. Boards have agreed to take a cautious approach to a gradual introduction of these drugs taking account of increasing evidence of effectiveness and available resources. It is crucial that those patients who do receive these drugs remain under specialist supervision and have their treatment carefully monitored and evaluated.

(d) If a decision is made to move beyond their gradual introduction and further resources are necessary, I will not hesitate to seek the support of the Executive to ensure that they are made available to meet these emerging requirements.

(a) Tá thart fá £500,000 á dháileadh faoi láthair sa bhliain airgeadais seo (2001-2002) don dá dhruga nua (Embrel agus Remicade). Chuir gach Bord SSS na forbairtí seo san áireamh agus tugadh na drugaí seo isteach de réir a chéile i ngach ceantar Boird.

(b) Faoi láthair tá mé ag fanacht le comhairle breise ó shaineolaithe ar éifeacht na gcógas seo agus de réir mar a tharlaíonn de ghnáth le tabhairt isteach teiripe nua agus choimpléascaigh drugaí ar bith, tá tábhacht as cuimse ag baint le sábháilteacht othar, ach tá roinnt buarthaí ann go fóill faoi na seachthorthaí tromchúiseacha féideartha. Ina measc tá easláintí fola, fadhbanna néarchórais agus méadú i dtógálacht d’eitinn agus do ghalruithe eile. Idir an dá linn, leanfaidh an Roinn s’agamsa ar aghaidh comhoibriú a dhéanamh le Boird SSS, dochtúirí agus le húsáideoirí seirbhísí le tabhairt isteach de réir a chéile na ndrugaí seo a chur chun cinn, ag cur treoirlínte ó Chumann na Réamaiteolaithe, fianaise shoiléir éifeachta agus infhaighteacht acmhainní san áireamh.

(c) Ag uair an fhreagra seo, léiríonn sonraí ar fáil ó Bhoird Shláinte go bhfuil 66 úsáideoir seirbhísí ag fáil na ndrugaí seo faoi láthair. Chomhaontaigh Boird cur chuige airdeallach a ghlacadh do thabhairt isteach de réir a chéile na ndrugaí seo, ag cur níos mó fianaise éifeachta agus infhaighteachta acmhainní san áireamh. Tá sé barrthábhachtach go gcoinneofar na hothair sin a fhaigheann na drugaí seo faoi mhaoirseacht shainiúil agus go ndéanfar monatóireacht agus measúnú cúramach ar a gcóireáil.

(d) Má dhéanfar cinneadh le dul thar a dtabhairt isteach de réir a chéile, agus acmhainní riachtanacha breise de dhíth, ní bheidh aon leisce orm iarracht a dhéanamh tacaíocht an Fheidhmeannais a fháil le cinntiú go gcuirfear ar fáil le riar ar na riachtanais shoiléire seo iad.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of patients on waiting lists at the Ulster Hospital in comparison to each hospital in Northern Ireland (b) whether waiting lists at the Ulster Hospital are increasing or decreasing and (c) what steps are being taken to alleviate the waiting lists at the Ulster Hospital.

(AQW 3200/00)

(a) Information on persons waiting for inpatient treatment is collected on the basis of trust rather than hospital. Details of persons waiting for inpatient treatment in each local trust for the quarter ending March 2001 (the latest date for which information is available) are given in the table below.

(b) Between 30 March 2000 and 31 March 2001, the number of persons waiting for inpatient treatment in the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust increased by 10%, from 5,092 to 5,620.

(c) In line with the Framework for Action on Waiting Lists, which I issued last September, the Ulster Hospital has developed a waiting list action plan proposing a range of measures to deliver waiting list targets. This is currently under discussion with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board.

(a) Cruinnítear eolas ar dhaoine ag fanacht le cóireáil othair chónaithigh de réir Iontaobhais seachas otharlainne. Tugtar sonraí daoine ag fanacht le cóireáil othair chónaithigh i ngach Iontaobhas áitiúil don ráithe ag críochnú Márta 2001 (an dáta is déanaí atá eolas ar fáil) sa tábla thíos.

(b) Idir an 31 Márta 2000 agus an 31 Márta 2001, mhéadaigh líon na ndaoine ag fanacht le cóireáil othair chónaithigh in Iontaobhas Phobal Uladh agus Otharlann faoi 10%, ó 5,092 go 5,620.

(c) De réir an Creatlach le hAghaidh Gnímh ar Liostaí Feithimh, a chuir mé amach i Mí Mheán Fómhair anuraidh, d’fhorbair Otharlann Uladh Gníomhphlean ar Liostaí Feithimh ag moladh réimse beart le spriocanna liostaí feithimh a bhaint amach. Tá sé seo faoi chaibidil i láthair na huaire le Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the bed occupancy rate for each hospital and (b) what steps she has taken to ensure that hospitals can reduce or increase bed occupancy.

(AQW 3201/00)

(a) This information is detailed in the table below. This information is also published in the annual hospital statistics publication, which is available in the Assembly Library and on my Department’s website.

(b) I have taken a number of steps to improve the capacity of hospitals to deal with demand. These include the allocation of significant additional resources for improved hospital and community care, planning for winter or other pressures, as well as enhanced provision of intensive care and high dependency beds.

(a) Mionléirítear an t-eolas seo sa tábla thíos. Tá an t-eolas seo foilsithe i bhfoilseachán bliantúil Staidreamh Otharlann fosta, atá ar fáil i Leabharlann an Tionóil agus ar líonláithreán mo Roinne.

(b) Rinne mé roinnt beart le cumas na n-otharlann le déileáil leis an éileamh a fheabhsú. Ina measc bhí dáileadh acmhainní riachtanacha breise do chúram otharlainne agus pobail níos fearr, do phleanáil do bhrúnna geimhridh nó eile, chomh maith le soláthar níos fearr leapacha dianchúraim agus ardspleáchais.

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