(AQW 1830/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Níl eolas ar fáil go réidh san fhoirm iarrtha agus ní fhéadfaí é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

(AQW 1831/01)

Ms de Brún: The majority of services that have been developed by GP fundholders will be maintained after 1 April 2002.

Coinneofar tromlach na seirbhísí a fobraíodh ag DG cisteshealbhóireachta i ndiaidh 1 Aibreán 2002.

(AQW 1832/01)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 1831/01.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 1831/01.

(AQW 1833/01)

Ms de Brún: All four health and social services boards will maintain the physiotherapy services provided to GP fundholders by the Trust at 2001/2002 levels for next year.

Coinneoidh na ceithre Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta na seirbhísí fisiteiripe a soláthraíodh do DG cisteshealbhóireachta ag an Iontaobhas ag leibhéil 2001/2002 don bhliain seo chugainn.

(AQW 1834/01)

Ms de Brún: Outpatient dermatology services are provided at the Royal Victoria Hospital on the basis of clinical priority.

However, I am advised that it has not been possible for the Royal Victoria Hospital to treat the recent additional referrals from the Northern Board area because it is already operating at full capacity.

Soláthraítear seirbhísí deirmeolaíochta éisothair in Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria ar bhonn tosaíochta cliniciúla.

Cuireadh in iúl dom áfach, nach raibh Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria in inmhe na daoine breise sin a atreoraíodh ó Bhord an Tuaiscirt a chóireáil mar go raibh sí ag feidhmiú ar a toillte iomláin cheana féin.

(AQW 1836/01)

Ms de Brún: Information on numbers of patients waiting and length of time waiting for first outpatient appointments in the Neurology specialty in each local Trust for the quarter ending 30 September 2001 is detailed in the table below.

Léirítear eolas mion sa tábla thíos ar líon na n-othar a bhí ag fanacht ar a gcéad choinní éisothair agus ar an mhéid ama a d’fhan siad orthu i speisialtacht na Néareolaíochta i ngach Iontaobhas áitiúil don ráithe ag críochnú 30 Meán Fómhair 2001.

(AQW 1837/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is available on numbers of completed waits and length of time waiting for first appointments with a community chiropodist. These figures for the NHSSB for the quarter ending 30 September 2001 are detailed in the table below.

Tá eolas ar fáil ar an fhanacht déanta agus ar an mhéid ama a d’fhan daoine ar a gcéad choinní le coslia pobail. Léirítear go mion na figiúirí seo don BSSST don ráithe ag críochnú 30 Meán Fómhair 2001 sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 1849/01)

Ms de Brún: The Eating Disorders Services report was presented to the Specialty Advisory Committee on Psychiatry in November 2001 and was accepted with no further comments. The Department is now considering the document.

Cuireadh an tuairisc ar Sheirbhísí Neamhord Itheacháin faoi bhráid an Choiste Speisialtachta Chomhairligh ar Shíciatracht i mí na Samhna 2001 agus glacadh léi gan tuilleadh tráchtaí uirthi. Tá an Roinn ag déanamh machnaimh ar an cháipéis anois.

(AQW 1853/01)

Ms de Brún: I have no plans at present to introduce and publish a star rating system for the HPSS.

Níl pleananna agam faoi láthair córas réaltrátála de réir réaltaí a thabhairt isteach agus a fhoilsiú do na SSSP.

(AQW 1854/01)

Ms de Brún: I am informed that most children with suspected cancer are usually seen by a specialist within 24 hours of referral by their GP.

Tugadh le fios dom go bhfeiceann saineolaí mórchuid na bpáistí a bhfuil ailse orthu laistigh de 24 uair dóibh bheith atreoraithe ag an GD.

(AQW 1855/01)

Ms de Brún: Older people are included in general health promotion initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the population here. Specific initiatives aimed at older people include the "Ageing Well" health promotion programme, "Activate" adult health education programme, the "Keep Warm Keep Well" campaign, the promotion of the flu vaccine for older people and the campaign to prevent accidents to older people.

Cuirtear daoine níos sine san áireamh i dtionscnaimh ghinearálta cur chun cinn sláinte a bhfuil sé mar aidhm acu sláinte agus dea-bhail an phobail anseo a fheabhsú. Is iad na tionscnaimh ar leith atá dírithe ar dhaoine níos sine ná an clár cur chun cinn sláinte "Dul Anonn in Aois go Sláintiúil", "Gríosaigh" clár oideachas sláinte aosach, an feachtas "Bí Teolaí, Bí Folláin", agus cur chun cinn an vacsaín fliú do dhaoine níos sine agus an feachtas le bac a chur ar thaismí a bhaineann do dhaoine níos sine.

(AQW 1858/01)

Ms de Brún: The majority of funding for undergraduate students falls to the Department of Employment and Learning.

My Department funds two types of bursary for students on courses leading to a qualification in one of the recognised health professions:

(1) Non-income assessed:

(2) Income assessed:

Available for pre-registration degree courses in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiography, Speech & language Therapy, Podiatry and Dietetics at the University of Ulster. The amount of bursary depends on the student’s income and that of their family. The maximum available is £1,945 for students living away from their parents’ home and £1,590 if living at their parents’ home. (These students are also eligible to apply for a reduced rate non-income assessed loan).

Higher rates of personal allowance are payable to students age 26 or over and additional allowances may be payable for dependants.

Bursary rates are broadly comparable to those payable in England, Scotland and Wales, the main exception is that in England, Scotland and Wales students on Nursing & Midwifery Degree and Dental Auxiliary courses are only eligible for an income assessed bursary.

In addition my Department also provides a discretionary postgraduate bursary scheme for students undertaking the Diploma in Social Work.

Titeann tromlach an mhaoinithe do mhic léinn fochéimithe ar an Roinn Fostaíochta agus Foghlama.

Tugann an Roinn s’agamsa dhá chineál sparántachta do mhic léinn ag déanamh cúrsaí a dtiocfaidh cáilíocht i gceann de na gairmeacha aitheanta sláinte astu: -

(1) Gan ioncam measúnaithe:

(2) Ioncam-mheasúnaithe:

Ar fáil do chéimeanna réamhchláraithe i bhFisiteiripe, i dTeiripe Saothair, i Radagrafaíocht, i dTeiripe Labhartha agus Teanga, i gCosliacht agus i mBia- eolaíocht in Otharlann Uladh. Braitheann méid na sparántachta ar ioncam an mhic léinn agus a dteaghlaigh. Is é £1,945 an t-uasmhéid atá ar fáil do mhic léinn a chónaíonn i lóistín as teach a dtuismitheoirí agus is é £1,590 atá ar fáil dóibh siúd a chónaíonn i dteach a dtuismitheoirí. (Tá na mic léinn seo i dteideal iarratas a dhéanamh ar iasacht gan ioncam measúnaithe atá ar ráta níos ísle).

Tá na rátaí is airde den liúntas pearsanta iníoctha le mic léinn 26 bliain d’aois nó níos sine agus is féidir go mbeidh liúntais bhreise iníoctha ar pháistí.

Tá rátaí na sparántachtaí comparáideach go ginearálta leo siúd iníoctha i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, ach is í an phríomheisceacht nach bhfuil mic léinn ag déanamh céimeanna in Altranas agus i gCnáimhseachas agus cúrsaí Chúntóirí Déadacha i Sasana, in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag ach i dteideal sparántachta ioncam-mheasúnaithe.

Ina theannta sin, reáchtálaíonn an Roinn s’agamsa scéim lánroghnach sparántachta iarchéime fosta do mhic léinn ag déanamh Dioplóma in Obair Shóisialta.

(AQW 1863/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of projected retirements amongst GP principals is anticipated to average 27 per year. The projected number of newly qualified GPs is expected to be 40 per year.

The future need for General Medical Practitioners is one element of a comprehensive review of future medical workforce requirements which has recently commenced. This review is expected to be completed by the summer of 2002 and will include an assessment of the training places required to meet service needs

Táthar ag súil gurb é 27 sa bhliain an mheánuimhir thuartha príomhdhochtúirí ginearálta a rachaidh ar scor. Táthar ag súil gurb é 40 sa bhliain an mheánuimhir thuartha do DGanna nua-cáilithe.

Is eilimint amháin é den athbhreithniú ar riachtanais mheitheal oibre míochaone sa todhchaí a cuireadh ar bonn ar na mallaibh an gá le Dochtúirí Ginearálta Míochaine sa todhchaí. Táthar ar súil go mbeidh an t-athbhreithiú críochnaithe faoi shamhradh 2002 agus istigh ann beidh measúnú ar na háiteanna oiliúna atá de dhíth le freastal ar riachtanais na seirbhíse.

(AQW 1864/01)

Ms de Brún: This year there has been significant investment in primary care, with an additional £2 million invested to support the infrastructure of general practice and £2.3 million secured from Executive Programme Funds to be used for modernising the use of information and communications technology in general practice over the next three years. A further £1·5 million for primary care development was devolved to boards.

The money currently used to run the GP Fundholding Scheme and the Commissioning Pilots will be redeployed to meet the cost of the new local health and social care groups. That will allow up to £2.5 million to be diverted from management costs to front-line primary care services when fundholding ends in April this year.

A new General Medical Services contract is currently being negotiated which will address workload issues. It will provide new flexibilities for GPs with better control of workload and substantial rewards for those who provide service users with high quality care.

Bhí infheistíocht mhór i bpríomhchúram i mbliana, le £2 milliún breise infheistithe le tacú le bonneagar gnáthdhochtúireachta agus fuarthas £2.3 milliún ó Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais le húsáid teicneolaíochta eolais agus meánchumarsáide i ngnáthdhochtúireacht a athchóiriú thar na trí bliana seo chugainn. Tugadh £1.5 milliún breise do Bhoird le haghaidh forbartha príomhchúraim.

Athdháilfear an t-airgead úsáidte i láthair na huaire le Scéim Chiste-sheilbhe Ghnáthdhochtúirí agus leis na Scéimeanna Píolótacha Coimisiúnaithe a reáchtáil chun costas na ngrúpaí nua áitiúla sláinte agus cúraim shóisialta a sheasamh. Lamhálfaidh sé sin dom suas go £2.5 milliún a aistriú ó chostais bhainistíochta go heochairsheirbhísí príomhchúraim nuair a chuirfear deireadh le ciste-sheilbh in Aibreán na bliana seo.

Tá idirbheartaíocht á déanamh faoi láthair ar chonradh nua Seirbhísí Ginearálta Míochaine a thabharfaidh faoi cheisteanna ualaigh oibre. Tabharfaidh sé seo deiseanna nua do Ghnáthdhochtúirí le láimhseáil níos fearr an ualaigh oibre agus le duaiseanna móra dóibh siúd a sholáthraíonn cúram ardcháilíochta d’úsáideoirí seirbhísí.

(AQW 1865/01)

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

Ta a t-eolas a iarradh leagtha amach sa tabla thíos

(AQW 1868/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of General Practitioners here, per head of population, is 0.00058. Comparable figures for England and Scotland are 0.00051 and 0.00069 respectively. The information shows the Whole Time Equivalent number of General Practitioners providing general medical services and relates to the position at 30 September 2001.

Is é 0.00058 líon na nDochtúirí Ginearálta anseo de réir líon na ndaoine. Is é 0.00051 agus 0.00069 faoi seach a mhachasamhail d’fhigiúirí do Shasain agus d’Albain. Léiríonn an t-eolas líon na nDochtúirí Ginearálta Coibhéise Lánaimseartha ag soláthar seirbhísí ginearálta míochaine agus baineann sé leis an riocht mar atá ar 30 Meán Fómhair 2001.

(AQW 1869/01)

Ms de Brún: I correspond and meet with the Secretary of State for Health as business requires. The most recent meeting was held on 28 January 2002.

Déanaim comhfhreagras leis agus buailim leis an Stát-Rúnaí Sláinte de réir mo ghnáthdhualgas. Bhí an cruinniú is déanaí againn ar 28 Eanáir 2002.

(AQW 1892/01)

Ms de Brún: I have secured a total of £1.8 million from Executive Programme Funds to provide replacement MRI equipment for the Royal Victoria Hospital this year, and for a new unit for Belfast City Hospital next year. This is part of a significant expansion in the provision of MRI in the HPSS over the next 15 months, as part of my Imaging Modernisation Programme, and will make MRI available at every major acute hospital.

The plans for the introduction of the magnetic resonance scanning service at the Belfast City Hospital will be taken forward irrespective of the outcome of the ongoing discussions between the trust and the Friends of Montgomery House.

Fuair mé £1.8 milliún san iomlán ó Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais chun trealamh úrnua ÍAM a sholáthar in Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria i mbliana agus chun ionad nua a sholáthar in Otharlann Chathair Bhéal Feirste an bhliain seo chugainn. Tá sé seo mar chuid d’fhairsingiú mór sholáthar ÍAM sna SSSP thar na 15 mí seo chugainn, mar chuid de mo Chlár Athchóiriú Íomhánna, agus cuirfidh sé ÍAM ar fáil i ngach príomhghéarotharlann.

Cuirfear pleananna chun seirbhís scrúdú Athshondais Mhaighnéadaigh a thabhairt isteach in Otharlann Chathair Bhéal Feirste chun cinn beag beann ar thoradh na gcaibidlí atá ag dul ar aghaidh faoi láthair idir an tIontaobhas agus Cairde Theach Montgomery.

(AQW 1893/01)

Ms de Brún: The Friends of Montgomery House proposed to meet the initial costs and supply a building to accommodate the scanner. The building would be subsequently gifted to the Belfast City Hospital Trust, but the scanner would remain the property of the Friends who would pay for maintenance costs.

The Friends’ proposal to sell access to the equipment to the trust on the basis of a fixed monthly charge, with ongoing revenue commitments, would have direct resource implications and would require the support of the health and social services boards as commissioners.

Over the next 15 months, there will be a significant expansion in the provision of MRI in the HPSS with five new scanners and a replacement for the RVH coming on stream as part of my Imaging Modernisation Programme. In the context of this additional provision I am not convinced that additional MRI provision would be a priority. I understand that the trust has been in discussion with the Friends of Montgomery House on the possibility of an alternative proposal.

Bhí sé molta ag cairde Montgomery na costais tosaigh a íoc agus foirgneamh a chur ar fáil don scanóir. Bheadh an foirgneamh bronnta ar Iontaobhas Otharlann Chathair Bhéal Feirste ina dhiaidh, ach ba leis na Cairde an scanóir go fóill a d’íocfadh as costais chothabhála.

Bheadh impleachtaí díreacha acmhainní leis an mholadh de chuid Cairde le rochtain ar an trealamh a dhíol bunaithe ar táille gearrtha ar bhonn míosúíl, mar aon le gealltanais leanúnacha ioncaim, agus bheadh tacaíocht na mBord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí mar choimisinéirí de dhíth.

Le linn na chéad 15 mí eile beidh leathnú suntasach ar sholáthar MRI sna SSSP le Cúig scanóir nua agus athsholáthar ann don ORV ag teacht ar bord mar chuid den Chlár um Iomháú a Nuachóiriú Sa chomhthéacs sin ní chreidim gur tosaíocht é soláthar breise MRI. Tuigim gur phléigh an tIontaobhas féidearthacht moltaí malartacha le Cairde Theach Montgomery.

(AQW 1896/01)

Ms de Brún: I refer the member to my answer to AQW 1627/01.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 1627/01.

(AQW 1898/01)

Ms de Brún: I have made no assessment of the relationship between the extent of private practice and waiting lists.

Ní dhearna mé measúnú ar an ghaol idir a fhairsinge a bhí cleachtadh príobháideach agus liostaí feithimh.

(AQW 1907/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Níl an t-eolas seo ar fáil go toilteanach san fhoirm a iarradh é agus ní féidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

(AQW 1908/01)

Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQO 773/01.

Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQO 773/01.

(AQW 1909/01)

Ms de Brún: LHSCGs will be responsible for exploring ways of improving and expanding local primary care services and for contributing to the planning and commissioning of Health and Social Services currently carried out by the boards. From April 2003, some groups are expected to be in a position to take on the additional responsibility of managing budgets for commissioning some services. Initially the groups will be responsible for managing budgets for prescribing and for the development and delivery of primary care services.

Beidh GCÁSSí freagrach as dóigheanna a scrúdú le seirbhísí áitiúla príomhchúraim a fheabhsú agus a fhairsingiú áfach móide as cur le pleanáil agus as coimisiúnú Seirbhísí Sláinte agus Sóisialta, déanta faoi láthair ag na Boird. Ó Aibreán 2003, táthar ag súil go mbeidh roinnt grúpaí réidh an fhreagracht bhreise a ghlacadh orthu féin as stiúradh buiséad do choimisúnú roinnt seirbhísí. Ar dtús, beidh na Grúpaí freagrach as stiúradh buiséad le haghaidh leagan amach, forbairt agus soláthar seirbhísí príomhchúraim.

(AQW 1926/01)

Ms de Brún: The rates for contracted service provision is a matter for negotiation between Crossroads and relevant Health and Social Services Trusts.

Is ábhar idirbheartaíochta idir Crossroads agus na hIontaobhais chuí Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta iad na rátaí do sholáthar conraithe seirbhísí.

(AQW 1927/01)

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

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

(AQW 1928/01)

Ms de Brún: Redundancy issues are a matter for Crossroads. It will be for the relevant Health and Social Services Trusts within the Southern Board to ensure that the needs of those currently in receipt of Crossroads’ services are met by alternative service provision. The implications of such a move are currently unquantified, but the Trusts hope to reallocate any continuing workload within their existing arrangements.

Is ceist do Crossroads í ceisteanna dífhostaithe. Na hIontaobhais chuí Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta laistigh den Bhord Dheisceartach a chinnteoidh go riarfaidh soláthar eile seirbhísí ar riachtanais iad siúd a úsáideann seirbhísí Crossroads i láthair na huaire. Tá impleachtaí a leithéide de ghníomh seo neamhchainníochtaithe faoi láthair, ach tá súil ag na hIontaobhais ualach leanúnach oibre ar bith a athroinnt faoina socruithe reatha.

(AQW 1965/01)

Ms de Brún: Health and social services facilities are neutral locations. The installation of security equipment at the Everton Centre would have compromised this neutrality in a very direct way and would have put at risk the safety of service users and staff. I conveyed my views that it would be inappropriate to install such equipment there to Jane Kennedy, the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office.

Is suímh neodracha iad áiseanna seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta. Tiocfadh cur isteach trealamh slándála ag Ionad Everton salach ar an neodracht seo ar bhealach díreach agus chuirfeadh sé sábháilteacht úsáideoirí agus foireann seirbhíse i mbaol. Nocht mé mo bharúil do Jane Kennedy, Aire Stáit ag Oifig Thuaisceart Éireann nár chuí é a leithéid de threalamh a chur isteach ansin.

(AQW 2075/01)

Ms de Brún: I understand that the cost of refurbishing the pool has been met by North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, with support from the Sports Council Lottery Funds. The pool is expected to re-open in 2003.

Tuigim gur íoc Iontaobhas Seirbhísí Sóisialta Bhéal Feirste Thuaidh agus Thiar as costais athchóirithe na linne, le tacaíocht ó Chistí Crannchuir na Comhairle Spóirt. Táthar ag súil go n-athosclófar an linn i 2003.