| Home | Committees | Membership | Publications | Legislation | Chronology | Commission | Tour | Search |
|
Friday 19 October 2001 HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY A&E Services : Tyrone County Hospital Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to improve Accident and Emergency Services at Tyrone County Hospital. (AQW 249/01) The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): I refer the member to the answer I gave on 11 October to Question Number AQW 243. Tarraingím aird an chomhalta ar an fhreagra a thug mé ar Cheist AQW 243 ar an 11 Deireadh Fómhair. Orthopaedic Patients Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of patients treated by orthopaedic surgery for the years (a) 1997 (b) 1998 (c) 1999 (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 to date. (AQW 261/01) Ms de Brún: Information on numbers of inpatients in the specialty of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery is available and is detailed in the table below.
Tá eolas ar líon na n-othar cónaitheach i speisialtacht Tráma agus na Máinliachta Ortaipéidí ar fáil agus miondealaítear sa tábla thíos é.
Equitable Life AVC Scheme Ms Monica McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what she intends to do by way of compensation for individuals who have sustained financial loss by investing in the NHS promoted Equitable Life AVC. (AQW 262/01) Ms de Brún: Money Purchase Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangements were introduced to Public Sector Pension Schemes in 1991 in order to widen members' options. Equitable Life was appointed as in-house AVC provider for NHS staff from February 1991. Following a further competitive European Commission procurement exercise Equitable was re-appointed for a further 5 years in 1998. I sympathise with the predicament these staff find themselves in, however I cannot offer compensation from the Department. HPSS Superannuation Scheme and Equitable Life literature has always made it clear that returns for these types of investment could not be guaranteed, and members were made aware of the alternatives of buying main scheme added years with guaranteed benefits, or the option of making payments to a free-standing AVC. HPSS Superannuation Scheme management have written to members as the situation has changed to update them on the position and the options available, including stopping their AVC contributions, and have advised those uncertain of what to do to seek financial advice. The Equitable Life has also kept members informed of the situation. Tugadh socruithe Síntiúis Dheonaigh Bhreise Cheannach le hAirgead (SDB) isteach i Scéimeanna Pinsin na hEarnála Poiblí i 1991 le roghanna ball a fhairsingiú. Ceapadh Equitable Life mar sholáthraí inmheánach SDB d'fhoireann na SNS ó Fheabhra 1991. I ndiaidh iarrachta iomaíche rathúla eile le hairgead a fháil ón Choimisiún Eorpach, athcheapadh Equitable do théarma 5 bliain eile i 1998. Tuigim do sháinn na foirne seo, ach ní thig liom cúiteamh airgid ón Roinn a thairiscint dóibh. Chuir leabhráin eolais Scéim Phinsin na SSSP agus Equitable Life in iúl go soiléir i gcónaí nach bhféadfaí sochar do a leithéid d'infheistíocht seo a ráthú, agus cuireadh na roghanna eile le tuilleadh blianta príomhscéime le sochair ráthaithe a cheannach, nó an rogha le híocaíochtaí a dhéanamh le SDBanna neamhspleácha in iúl do bhaill. Scríobh lucht bainistíochta Scéim Phinsin na SSSP chuig baill mar gur tháinig athrú ar an staid agus chun iad a choinneáil ar an eolas fúithi agus faoi na roghanna ar fáil, stad a chur lena síntiúis SDB san áireamh, agus mhol siad dóibh siúd nach raibh cinnte faoin rud atá le déanamh le hiarraidh ar chomhairle airgeadais. Choinnigh Equitable Life na baill ar an eolas faoin staid fosta. Equitable Life AVC Scheme Ms Monica McWilliams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what monitoring of the Equitable Life AVC scheme took place before the collapse for NHS employees who had invested funds as part of their pension provision. (AQW 263/01) Ms de Brún: The Equitable Life AVC Scheme was subject to an annual performance review by the Government Actuary's Department. This was based on an annual AVC survey carried out by Bacon & Woodrow, Pension Consultants and Actuaries. Scheme managers from HPSS Superannuation, the NHS Pensions Agency and the Scottish Public Pensions Agency also held an annual review with representatives of Equitable Life. Since late December 1998, when HPSS Superannuation Branch became aware there was a problem with Guaranteed Annuity Rate With-Profit policies, Scheme managers have sought professional legal and actuarial advice on an ongoing basis. This initially indicated it would not be in members' best interests to part company with the Equitable. After receiving further advice from Bacon & Woodrow in August this year Scheme managers wrote to members advising that any member still contributing to Equitable with profits AVC funds should be recommended to cease payments, unless they had independent advice to the contrary. Bhí Scéim SDB Equitable Life faoi réir athbhreithnithe bhliantúil ar a fheidhmiú ag Roinn Achtúire an Rialtais. Bhí seo bunaithe ar shuirbhé bhliantúil SDB déanta ag Bacon & Woodrow, Comhairleoirí ar Phinsin agus Achtúirí. Bhí athbhreithniú bliantúil ag bainisteoirí scéime ó Phinsin na SSSP, ó Ghníomhaireacht Phinsin na SNS agus ó Ghníomhaireacht Phinsin Phoiblí na hAlban le hionadaithe ó Equitable Life fosta. Ó dheireadh na Nollag 1998, nuair a bhí a fhios ag Brainse Pinsin na SSSP go raibh fadhb le polasaithe Ráta Ráthaithe Bliantachta-le Brabús, d'iarr bainisteoirí scéime ar chomhairle ghairmiúil, dhlíthiúil agus achtúireach ar bhonn rialta. Chuir sí seo in iúl ar dtús nach mbeadh sé ar mhaithe le baill briseadh le Equitable. I ndiaidh tuilleadh comhairle a fháil ó Bacon & Woodrow i mí Lúnasa na bliana seo, scríobh bainisteoirí scéime chuig baill ag moladh do bhall ar bith ag cur airgid i gcistí SDB-le brabúis Equitable go fóill gur chóir dóibh stad a chur le híocaíochtaí munar tugadh comhairle neamhspleách dóibh ar a mhalairt. Endometriosis Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will make it her policy to recognise endometriosis as a long term clinical condition. (AQW 264/01) Ms de Brún: Endometriosis is a disease where normal endometrial tissue exists in abnormal locations. The nature and duration of the disease will vary depending on the extent of disease, severity of symptoms and response to treatment. Typically it resolves after the menopause. Determining whether endometriosis is a long-term condition in any patient will be a clinical, not a policy decision. Is galar í inmheatróis ina bhfuil gnáthfhíochán inmheatróiseach suite in áiteanna mínormálta. Athróidh nádúr agus fad an ghalair de réir mhéad an ghalair, ghéire na n-airíonna agus de réir na freagartha do chóireáil. Maolaíonn sí i ndiaidh an tsosa mhíostraithe de ghnáth. Cinneadh cliniciúil agus ní cinneadh polasaí a bheidh i gcinneadh ar bith a dhéanfar ar cé acu an riocht fadtéarmach í inmheatróis nó nach í. Hip Joint Operations Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to reduce the number on the waiting list for hip joints to 3000. (AQW 265/01) Ms de Brún: Currently, there are 953 people waiting for hip joint operations here and the average waiting time is 12 to 18 months. I am concerned that this is too long. There remains a shortage of orthopaedic surgeons both here and in the NHS. Steps have been taken to increase the number of trainees in this specialty, but this will clearly take time. I have put extra money into the health and social services to tackle waiting lists and a framework for action on waiting lists is currently being implemented. The service needs more investment if it is to meet the demands being placed upon it and I will continue to make the case for additional resources. Faoi láthair, tá 953 duine ag fanacht ar obráidí alt an chromáin anseo agus is é 12 go 18 mí an meánam feithimh é. Tá mé buartha go bhfuil sé seo rófhada. Tá easpa máinlianna ortaipéideacha anseo agus sa SNS go fóill. Rinneadh bearta le líon na bprintíseach sa speisialtacht seo a mhéadú, ach is léir go nglacfaidh seo am. Thug mé airgead breise do na seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta le tabhairt faoi liostaí feithimh agus tá creatlach le haghaidh gnímh ar liostaí feithimh á cur i bhfeidhm i láthair na huaire. Tá níos mó infheistíochta sa tseirbhís de dhíth má tá sí le riar ar na héilimh atá á n-iarraidh uirthi agus leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh le hiarraidh ar acmhainní breise. Ulidia Housing Association Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3224/00, when the Craigavon and Banbridge Community NHS Trust agreed "in principle" a support agreement with Ulidia Housing Association. (AQW 268/01) Ms de Brún: The Craigavon and Banbridge Community NHS Trust agreed "in principle" a support agreement with Ulidia Housing Association on 10 July 2001. D'aontaigh Iontaobhas SNS Phobal Chreag na hAbhann agus Dhroichead na Banna comhaontú tacaíochta 'i bprionsabal' le Cumann Tithíochta Ulidia ar 10 Iúil 2001. Budget Allocations Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) budget allocations for the financial years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 for local trusts and (b) the current population numbers within each trust. (AQW 269/01) Ms de Brún: The Department allocates the bulk of its budget, on an equitable basis, to the four Health and Social Services Boards, which in turn fund the Trusts for the services they provide. My Department does not, therefore, agree detailed budgets for individual Trusts. In 2000-01 the operating expenditure of each Trust was as follows:
As to Trust population numbers, there is no statutorily-recognised basis for such figures. The Department has, however, made an internal estimate of the population served by each community Trust, as shown in the table below:
Acute Trusts provide services to people from different catchment areas, or drawn from the region as a whole. No meaningful attribution of population can be made for those Trusts. Dáileann an Roinn an méid is mó dá buiséad, ar bhonn cothrom, do na ceithre Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta, a thugann, maoiniú dá réir do na hIontaobhais ar mhaithe leis na seirbhísí a sholáthraíonn siad. Ní aontaíonn an Roinn s'agam, mar sin de, buiséid mhionsonraithe d'Iontaobhais aonaracha. Is mar a leanas atá caiteachas feidhmiúcháin gach Iontaobhais i 2000-01:
Maidir le líon daonra, níl bonn a aithnítear go reachtúil a leithéid d'fhigiúirí. Tá meastúchán inmheanach ar líon daonra ar a fhreastlaíonn gach Iontaobhas pobail, ag an Roinn, mar atá léirithe sa tábla thíos:
Soláthraíonn géar-Iontaobhais seirbhísí do dhaoine ó cheantair dhifiriúla, nó ón reigiún iomlán. Ní féidir líon daonra ciallmhar a léiriú dá leithéid d'Iontaobhais. Staffing and Service Provision : HSS Trusts Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she could confirm that staffing levels and service provision will not be affected if a trust is unable to live within its allocated budget. (AQW 271/01) Ms de Brún: All Trusts must achieve financial stability and live within the resources available so that my Department, like others, does not spend more than its Departmental expenditure limit. To achieve this aim, several Trusts have been involved in the preparation of Financial Contingency Plans and the identification of efficiency savings, whilst minimising any impact on care services (including staffing levels and service provision). My Department is currently evaluating these plans and, since they have not yet been approved, it would be inappropriate of me to comment further at this time. Caithfidh gach iontaobhas cobhsaíocht airgeadais a bhaint amach agus gan dul thar na hacmhainní atá ar fáil le nach gcaitheann mo Roinn níos mó ná a teorainn chaiteachais Roinne, cosúil leis na Ranna eile. Leis an chuspóir seo a bhaint amach, tá roinnt Ranna páirteach ag ullmhú pleananna teagmhasacha airgeadais agus ag aithint coigiltí éifeachtachta; ach ag an am chéanna ag laghdú na hiarmhairte ar sheirbhísí cúraim (lena n-áirítear leibhéil foirne agus soláthar seirbhísí). Tá mo Roinn ag measúnú na bpleananna seo faoi láthair, agus ós rud é nár faomhadh go fóill iad bheadh sé mícheart agam tuilleadh tráchta a dhéanamh orthu ag an am seo. Budgetary Pressures Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the conditions under which she will provide "bail out" monies in the event of overspend by local trusts. (AQW 272/01) Ms de Brún: Increases in demand have outstripped the available resources and have played a major part in current financial problems. I am endeavouring to secure additional resources for the HPSS and any such resources would not be used to "bail out" Trusts but to address the specific cost pressures faced by Trusts in coping with the unprecedented demand on our health and social services. Sháraigh na méaduithe sa ráchairt orthu na hacmhainní atá ar fáil agus is mór a chuir siad leis na fadhbanna airgeadais atá ann faoi láthair. Tá mé ag iarraidh acmhainní breise a chinntiú do na SSSP agus ní úsáidfí a leithéid d'acmhainn ar bith le hIontaobhais "a tharrtháil" ach le dul i gceann na mbrúnna áirithe costais atá ag Iontaobhais agus iad ag déileáil leis an ráchairt gan réamhshampla ar ár seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta. Bowens Close Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when the document "Draft Staffing Proposals - Bowens Close Supported Living Scheme" was issued. (AQW 273/01) Ms de Brún: The internal management paper, 'Draft Staffing Proposals - Bowens Close', was shared with the SHSSB Registration & Inspection Unit, SHSSB Programme Commission Group for Learning Disability, relatives of the Bowens Close tenants and staff-side organisations in July 2000. Cuireadh an páipéar inmheánach bainistíochta 'Dréachtmholtaí Foirne - Clós Bowen', amach chuig Ionad Cláraithe agus Cigireachta an BSSSD, chuig Grúpa Choimisiúnú Cláir BSSSD do Mhíchumas Foghlama, chuig gaolta thionóntaí Chlós Bowen agus chuig eagraíochtaí foirne i mí Iúil 2000. Bowens Close Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3224/00, what advice was given by the Craigavon and Banbridge Community NHS Trust to the tenants of Nos 2 and 3 Bowens Close, Banbridge Road, Lurgan in respect of "licences to occupy" given that a review was pending on the properties. (AQW 274/01) Ms de Brún: The Craigavon and Banbridge Community NHS Trust gave no advice in respect of the "licences to occupy", as it is an arrangement between the tenant and the Housing Association. Níor thug Iontaobhas SNS Phobal Chreag na hAbhann agus Dhroichead na Banna comhairle ar bith maidir le "ceadúnais le háitiú" mar gur socrú idir an tionónta agus an Cumann Tithíochta é. MMR Vaccination Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in respect of the MMR vaccination, to detail the number of children in each board area that have developed complications or reacted to the vaccination in each of the last five years. (AQW 288/01) Ms de Brún: Between 3 October 1996 and 3 October 2001, the Medicines Control Agency received a total of 25 reports originating from clinicians here, of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in association with MMR vaccines. The table below lists numbers of ADRs received from each Health and Social Services Board.
Idir 3 Deireadh Fómhair 1996 agus 3 Deireadh Fómhair 2001, fuair an Ghníomhaireacht um Stiúradh Cógas 25 tuairisc san iomlán ó dhochtúirí anseo faoi fhrithghníomhartha dochracha ar dhrugaí (FDDa) bainteach le vacsaíní MMR. Liostálann an tábla thíos líon na FDDa faighte ó gach Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta.
MMR Immunisation Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the cost for MMR immunisation in each Health Board area for each of the last five years. (AQW 289/01) Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.
(1) Relates only to the period April to December 2000. Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sa tábla thíos.
(1) Ní bhaineann sé ach leis an tréimhse ó Aibreán go Nollaig 2000. United Hospitals Group : Delayed Discharge Patients Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number and percentage of beds that are currently blocked at United Hospitals Group HSS Trust. (AQW 294/01) Ms de Brún: At 31 August 2001 (the latest date for which figures are available) the United Hospitals Group HSS Trust had 820 available beds. Provisional figures show that 96 (12%) of these beds were occupied by delayed discharge patients. Ar 31 Lúnasa 2001 (an dáta is déanaí dá bhfuil figiúirí ar fáil), bhí 820 leaba ar fáil ag Iontaobhas SSS Ghrúpa na nOtharlann Aontaithe. Léiríonn figiúirí sealadacha go raibh 96 (12%) de na leapacha seo in úsáid ag othair ar moillíodh a scaoileadh amach. Residential and Nursing Home Care Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of patients in the Homefirst Community Trust area who have been assessed as requiring (a) a nursing care package and (b) a residential care package and are currently awaiting funding. (AQW 295/01) Ms de Brún: Provisional figures provided by Homefirst Trust for the quarter ending June 2001 indicate that there were 22 persons waiting in the community for residential care and 7 persons waiting for nursing home care, for whom no funding was available. Provisional information obtained from Departmental returns indicates that in the Homefirst Trust area at 31 August 2001, there were 23 people waiting in hospital for a nursing home care package because no funding was available, and 8 people waiting for a residential home care package because no funding was available. Léiríonn figiúirí sealadacha soláthraithe ag Iontaobhas Homefirst don ráithe a chríochnaigh Meitheamh 2001 go raibh 22 duine sa phobal ag fanacht ar chúram cónaithe agus 7 duine ag fanacht ar chúram altrachta baile nach raibh maoiniú ar fáil dóibh. Léiríonn eolas sealadach faighte ó thuairisceáin Rannacha go raibh 23 duine i gceantar Iontaobhas Homefirst ag fanacht san otharlann ar phacáiste cúraim altrachta bhaile ar 31 Lúnasa 2001 mar nach raibh maoiniú ar bith ar fáil agus go raibh 8 duine ag fanacht ar phacáiste cúraim chónaithe bhaile mar nach raibh maoiniú ar bith ar fáil. << Prev / Next >> |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||