Friday 22 March 2002
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the total budget for each of the last 3 years for pensioners in (i) residential care; and (ii) nursing home care.

(AQW 1975/01)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Gross expenditure in the Elderly Programme of care on residential and nursing home places in the last three years was as follows:

Total contributions in these years of £44.6/48.8/52.8m bring the net expenditure on residential and nursing care to:

Seo a leanas caiteachas comhlán an Chláir Chúraim do Sheandaoine ar áiteanna i dtithe cónaithe agus altrachta sna trí bliana deireanacha:

Seo a leanas an caiteachas iomlán ar chúram cónaithe agus altrachta nuair a chuirtear na síntiúis iomlána de £44.6/48.8/52.8m sna blianta sin thíos leis:

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the cost of operations relating to Scoliosis in each of the past 5 years; (b) the estimated cost per operation; and (c) the funds available for these operations.

(AQW 2090/01)

Ms de Brún: Scoliosis surgery is carried out at Greenpark Health Care Trust and the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust.

(a) Greenpark Health Care Trust introduced costing at procedure level for 2000/01. In that year the total cost attributed to scoliosis surgery was £30,465.

The costs of surgery relating to paediatric scoliosis at the Royal Victoria Hospital are as follows:

The information relating to adult scoliosis procedures was not available from the RVH within the required timescale. I will write to the Member detailing the costs as soon as they are available.

(b) The estimated cost per patient is not a fixed amount as the requirement for post-operative care varies. The average cost per patient for 2000/01 was £6093 at Greenpark and £7600 (paediatric) at the RVH.

(c) No specific funds are set aside for these procedures. They are financed from both Trusts’ general orthopaedic budgets.

Déantar máinliacht Scolóise in Iontaobhas Cúram Sláinte na Páirce Glaise agus in Iontaobhas Otharlanna an Ghrúpa Ríoga.

1. Thionscain Iontaobhas Cúram Sláinte na Páirce Glaise costáil ar leibhéal gnáthaimh don bhliain 2000/01. Sa bhliain sin, ba é £30,465 an costas iomlán a bhí ar mháinliacht scolóise.

Seo a leanas costais na máinliachta a bhaineann le scolóis phéidiatraiceach in Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria:

BLIAIN	COSTAS
96/97	£144,400
97/98	£121,600
98/99	£91,200
99/00	£228,000
00/01	£152,000

Ní raibh an t-eolas a bhaineann le gnáthaimh scolóise ar dhaoine fásta ar fáil ó ORV laistigh den tréimhse ama leagtha síos. Scríobhfaidh mé chuig an Bhall ag tabhairt mionchuntais ar na costais a luaithe agus a bheidh siad ar fáil.

2. Níl méid an chostais mheasta de réir othair socraithe mar go n-athraíonn na coinníollacha le haghaidh cúraim iar-oibrithigh. Ba é £6093 in Iontaobhas na Páirce Glaise agus £7600 (péidiatraiceach) in ORV an meánchostas de réir othair.

(c) Níl airgead ar leith ar bith curtha i leataobh le haghaidh na ngnáthamh seo. Tá siad maoinithe ó ghnáthbhuiséid ortaipéideacha an dá Iontaobhas féin.

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the total amount spent on Ministerial visits outside Northern Ireland in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 2094/01)

Ms de Brún: Since the establishment of the Executive in December 1999 the amount spent on Ministerial visits outside here is as follows:

Ó bunaíodh an Feidhmeannas i Nollaig 1999 seo a leanas an méid a caitheadh ar chuairteanna Aireachta lasmuigh den áit seo:

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what consultation she has had with GP representatives on the British Medical Association during the past year concerning the proposed structures to replace GP Fundholding.

(AQW 2180/01)

Ms de Brún: I met a delegation from the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association on 9 January 2002 to discuss details of the proposed new arrangements for primary care.

Bhuail mé le toscaireacht ón Choiste Dochtúirí Ginearálta de Chumann Míochaine na Breataine ar 9 Eanáir 2002 chun sonraí na socruithe nua molta do phríomhchúram a phlé.

Mr David Ford asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) if her Secondary Care Directorate has been referred to the Equality Commission; and (b) any steps she is taking to address equal access to fertility treatment under the new interim arrangements.

(AQW 2196/01)

(a) I understand that a complaint under my Department's Equality Scheme has been made to the Equality Commission.

(b) The interim arrangements for the provision of sub-fertility services provide a limited service in line with published criteria. These intermediate arrangements will help to determine the potential demand and basis for the longer-term development of these services, which will be the subject of public consultation, including an equality impact assessment, later this year.

(a) Tuigim go ndearnadh gearán leis an Choimisiún Comhionannais faoi Scéim Chomhionannais mo Roinne.

(b) Soláthraíonn na socruithe eatramhacha do sholáthar seirbhísí fothorthúlachta seirbhís theoranta de réir na gcritéar foilsithe. Cuideoidh na socruithe idirthréimhse seo an ráchairt ionchasach chomh maith leis an dúshraith d’fhorbairt fhadtéarmach na seirbhísí seo a bheidh faoi réir comhairlithe phoiblí, mar aon le measúnú tionchair chomhionannais, níos moille i mbliana a shocrú.

Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail what additional practical help is offered to pensioners who are in hospital for more than 6 weeks.

(AQW 2204/01)

Ms de Brún: The implementation of the assessment and care management arrangements requires HSS Trusts, when undertaking needs-based assessments for community care, to ensure that patients leaving hospital are provided with the necessary support. Equally it is the aim that no one remains in hospital longer than necessary after he or she has been assessed as medically fit for discharge.

Where the Trust has assessed the person’s needs they will discuss the options available, which may involve residential or nursing home care, or domiciliary care to enable the individual to remain in their own accommodation or a similar tenure. Trusts may also provide a Home Help service that offers clients practical assistance and care in their own homes. Without the provision of the Home Help service, many more people might have to go into a care home or remain in hospital.

In addition, the health and personal social services have piloted a number of local projects and schemes which will make their community services more responsive to service users. Examples of these are the Rapid Response Nursing, Hospital at Home, Intensive Community Care and Home from Hospital schemes that provide intermediate care in the community and prevent undue delay in hospital and inappropriate admissions to hospital. Such ‘step-up’ and ‘step-down’ initiatives have developed good practice and demonstrated innovation in the way community care can be delivered to older and other vulnerable people. The Community Care Review has identified a number of these projects and it is my intention that information on such good practices is made available throughout the health and personal social services.

Éilíonn an cur i bhfeidhm socruithe measúnaithe agus bainisteoireacht cúraim ar Iontaobhais SSS, agus iad ag tabhairt faoi measúnaithe bunaithe ar riachtanais le haghaidh cúram pobail, chun cinntiú go bhfuil an tacaíocht chuí curtha ar fáil do na hothair ag fágáil na hotharlainne. Ar an dóigh chéanna is é an aidhm atá leis nach bhfanann duine ar bith san otharlann níos faide ná mar is gá i ndiaidh dó nó di bheith measúnaithe agus iad i dteideal, ar bhonn sláinte, scaoileadh amach.

Má dhéanann an tIontaobhas riachtanais an duine a mheasúnú pléifidh siad na roghanna ar fáil, is féidir go mbeidh cúram cónaitheach nó teach altanais i gceist, nó cúram baile chun cur ar chumas an duine fanacht ina áit féin nó a dhalta den tionacht sin. Is féidir go soláthrófar Iontaobhais seirbhís Cuidiú Baile a chuireann ar fáil cúnamh agus cúram praiticiúil ina mbaile féin. Is féidir go mbeidh ar i bhfad níos mó daoine dul isteach chuig teach cúraim nó fanacht san otharlann mura raibh soláthar seirbhís Cuidiú Baile ann.

Ar a bharr, threoirthionscnaigh seirbhísí sláinte sóisialta pearsanta roinnt tionscadal áitiúil agus scéimeanna a dhéanfaidh a gcuid seirbhísí pobail a níos tuisceana maidir le húsáideoirí seirbhísí. Is iad na samplaí dá leithéid ná na scéimeanna a sholáthraíonn cúram idirthréimseach sa phobal agus a choscann moill mhíchuí san otharlann nó iontráil neamhfhóirsteanach otharlainne amhail Altranais Mhearfhreagartha, Otharlann sa Bhaile, Dianchúram Pobail agus Baile ar shiúl ón Otharlann. D’fhorbair a leithéid de thionscnaimh ‘céim suas’ agus ‘céim síos’ dea-chleachtas agus a léirigh nuálaíocht sa dóigh gur féidir cúram pobail a chur ar fáil dó dhaoine níos sine agus daoine soghonta eile. D’aimsigh an tAthbhreithniú ar Chúram Pobail roinnt de na tionscadail seo agus tá sé de rún agam an t-eolas ar a leithéid de dhea-chleachtais a chur ar fáil ar fud na seirbhísí sláinte agus pearsanta sóisialta.

Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what was the total value of prescription drugs and devices to treat asthma in each of the past 5 years.

(AQW 2215/01)

Ms de Brún: The total value of prescription drugs and devices to treat asthma for the five years up to 2000/2001, the most recent year for which complete information is available, is as follows:

The figures above relate to the ingredient cost and cover prescriptions for Bronchodilators, Corticosteriods and Cromoglicate, related therapy and leukotriene receptor antagonists.

Seo a leanas costas iomlán na n-oideas agus na ngléasanna úsáidte le plúchadh a chóireáil do na cúig bliana suas go 2000/01, an bhliain is deireanaí a bhfuil eolas iomlán ar fáil uirthi:

Baineann na figiúirí thuas le costas na gcomhábhar agus le hoidis chumhdaigh do Bronchodilators, Corticosteriods agus do Cromoglicate, le teiripe bainteach leo agus le freasaitheoirí gabhdóra leukotriene.

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the total value of prescriptions for drugs and services to treat asthma in each of the last 5 years; and (b) the income from prescriptions for drugs and services to treat asthma in each of the last 5 years.

(AQW 2230/01)

Ms de Brún: In relation to the total value of prescriptions for asthma drugs and devices, I refer the Member to the reply which I gave to AQW 2215/01.

Information about the value of asthma services can be given only insofar as treatment is provided through GP asthma clinics. The cost of reimbursing doctors for this specific service for the five years up to 2000/2001 is as follows:

Regarding the second part of the question, there is no information available on the income from prescriptions for asthma drugs and services.

Maidir le costas iomlán oideas do dhrugaí agus do ghléasanna plúchta, luaim don Bhall an freagra a thug mé ar AQW 2215/01.

Ní féidir eolas ar chostas sheirbhísí plúchta a thabhairt ach i dtaca le cóireáil soláthraithe i gclinicí plúchta DGí. Seo a leanas costas aisíoc dochtúirí as an tseirbhís ar leith seo a sholáthar do na cúig bliana suas go 2000/01:

Maidir leis an dara cuid den cheist seo, níl eolas ar bith ar fáil ar an ioncam ó oidis do dhrugaí agus do sheirbhísí plúchta.

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the incidence of diabetes in children aged 15 years and under for each of the last 5 years.

(AQW 2231/01)

Ms de Brún: This information is not available.

Níl an t-eolas seo ar fáil.

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if all A&E departments are staffed to the minimum level as recommended by the British Association for A&E Medicine.

(AQW 2281/01)

Ms de Brún: A&E Departments are not necessarily staffed in accordance with recommendations of the British Association for A&E Medicine. Staffing is the responsibility of Health and Social Services Trusts taking into account not only views of relevant professional bodies but also other factors, such as service needs and available resources.

The Consultant medical workforce, across all hospital based specialties, is reviewed by my Department on an annual basis and this informs decisions on the numbers in training. Recommendations of the British Association for A&E Medicine are taken into account when deciding training numbers.

Ní gá go mbíonn déanamh foirne i Rannoga T&É de réir moltaí Cumann Mhíochaine T&É na Breataine. Is iad na hIontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta atá freagrach as déanamh foirne ag cur san áireamh ní amháin dearcadh comhlachtaí gairmiúla ábhartha ach factóirí eile chomh maith, amhail riachtanais sheirbhísí agus acmhainní atá ar fáil.

Déantar athbhreithniú ar fhoireann mhíochaine Chomhairleach, ar fud gach speisialtacht otharlann bhunaithe ar bhonn bliantúil agus téann seo i bhfeidhm ar chinní ar uimhreacha faoi thraenáil. Cuirtear san áireamh moltaí Cumann Míochaine T&É na Breataine nuair atáthar ag déanamh cinní faoi uimhreacha traenála.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 1623/01, to outline the timescale and costs for the review of the NI Ambulance Service.

(AQW 2282/01)

Ms de Brún: The review of the Ambulance Service was commissioned in October 1998 and resulted in the publication of the report "Mapping the Road to Change – A Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service" in February 2000. As I explained in my answer to AQW1623/01 some further work was required to fully cost and provide a more detailed analysis of a number of the key recommendations emanating from this comprehensive review. This work has been completed and the report "Implementing the Strategic Review of the Ambulance Service" sets out fully costed proposals for implementing the changes needed to improve ambulance services.

The costs associated with the programme of work needed to get to this stage have been met largely from within the administrative budgets of the Department and the Ambulance Service and cannot be separately identified.

Coimisiúnaíodh an t-athbhreithniú ar an tSeirbhís Otharcharr i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 1998 agus tháinig foilsiú na tuairisce "Ag Leagan Amach an Bhealaigh Chun Athrú – Athbhreithniú Straitéiseach ar Sheirbhís Otharcharr Thuaisceart Éireann" as i mí Feabhra 2000. Mar a mhínigh mé sa fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW1623/01 bhí tuilleadh oibre de dhíth chun cuid de na heochairmholtaí a tháinig ón athbhreithniú cuimsitheach seo a lánchostáil agus chun anailís níos mine a dhéanamh orthu. Tá an obair seo críochnaithe anois agus leagann an tuairisc "Ag Leagan Amach an Bhealaigh Chun Athrú – Athbhreithniú Straitéiseach ar Sheirbhís Otharcharr Thuaisceart Éireann" amach moltaí lánchostáilte do chur i bhfeidhm na n-athruithe atá riachtanach le seirbhísí otharcharr a fheabhsú.

Seasadh na costais bainteach leis an chlár oibre a bhí de dhíth leis an chéim seo a bhaint amach ó laistigh de bhuiséid riaracháin na Roinne agus na Seirbhíse Otharcharr den chuid is mó agus ní féidir na buiséid seo a mheas ina gceann agus ina gceann.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to re-open accident and emergency units which were closed during the last decade.

(AQW 2321/01)

Ms de Brún: I am considering the report of the Acute Hospitals Review Group as well as news put forward during the initial period of consultation. Following discussions at the Executive, proposals can then be put out for a full public consultation and an Equality Impact Assessment. It is hoped that final decisions on the future configuration of acute hospital services, including emergency provision, can be taken before the end of the year.

Tá mé ag déanamh machnaimh ar thuairisc an Ghrúpa Athbhreithnithe ar Ghéarotharlanna chomh maith le scéala a cuireadh chun tosaigh ag tús na tréimhse comhairlithe. I ndiaidh caibidlí leis an Fheidhmeannas, is féidir ansin na moltaí a chur amach le haghaidh comhairlithe iomláin phoiblí agus Measúnú Tionchair ar Chomhionannas. Táthar ag súil gur féidir an cinneadh deireanach ar shocrú seirbhísí géarotharlainne sa todhchaí, soláthar éigeandála san áireamh, a dhéanamh roimh dheireadh na bliana.

Mr Barry McElduff asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the comparative figures for nursing staff for the high dependency/intensive care units in the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen and the Tyrone County Hospital; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2324/01)

Ms de Brún: The High Dependency Unit/Intensive Care Unit in the Tyrone County Hospital has two beds and is linked with the Recovery and Theatre area. This Unit has a funded establishment of 9.77 whole time equivalent staff.

The High Dependency Unit/Intensive Care Unit in the Erne Hospital is a separate Unit with five beds and has a funded establishment of 18.56 whole time equivalent staff.

The Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust has confirmed that it continues to monitor service provision in conjunction with the Western Health and Social Services Board.

Tá dhá leaba san Ionad Ardspleáchais/Dianchúraim in Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain agus tá sé ceangailte leis an láthair Téarnaimh agus Obrádlainne. Tá 9.77 oibrí coibhéise lánaimseartha á maoiniú san Ionad seo.

Is Ionad ar leith le cúig leaba é an tIonad Ardspleáchais/Dianchúraim in Otharlann na hÉirne agus tá 15.56 oibrí coibhéise lánaimseartha á maoiniú ann.

Dhearbhaigh Iontaobhas Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta Speirín Tír na Lochanna go ndéanann sé monatóireacht go fóill ar sholáthar seirbhísí i gcomhar le Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Iarthair.

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why it has taken over 10 months to develop effective plans for primary care.

(AQW 2338/01)

Ms de Brún: When GP Fundholding was extended last year I agreed to extend the period of consultation on Building the Way Forward in Primary Care until March 2001. It was our intention then to establish the new groups over the period up to September 2001 as resources were freed up from the ending of GP Fundholding. The extension of GP Fundholding meant that people and resources could not be freed up immediately to work on the arrangements for setting up new Groups. Managing and monitoring the scheme in its final difficult year has absorbed much of the resources which would otherwise have been devoted to the development of the new Groups.

Nonetheless, at the same time, guidance was developed on the new arrangements and many complex issues resolved. There was also a need to take soundings from various stakeholders as the guidance was developed. On the basis of guidance issued so far, excellent progress has been made, namely the configurations of the Groups have been determined and Boards are taking action to establish Management Boards.

Nuair a síneadh an scéim Sealbhú Ciste DGanna anuraidh d’aontaigh mé an tréimhse chomhairliúcháin ar Ag Tógáil an Bhealaigh Chun Tosaigh i bPríomhchúram a shíneadh go Márta 2001. Bhí sé ar intinn againn ansin na grúpaí nua a bhunú thar an tréimhse suas go dtí Meán Fómhair 2001 mar gur saoradh acmhainní nuair a cuireadh deireadh leis an scéim Sealbhú Ciste DGanna. Chiallaigh síneadh na scéime Sealbhú Ciste DGanna nár fhéad muid na daoine agus na hacmhainní a shaoradh láithreach le hobair a dhéanamh ar na socruithe le haghaidh chur ar bun na nGrúpaí nua. Caitheadh an chuid is mó de na hacmhainní ar stiúradh agus ar mhonatóireacht a dhéanamh ar an scéim ina bliain dheireanach dheacair, acmhainní a bhféadfaí a chaitheamh ar fhorbairt na nGrúpaí nua.

Dá ainneoin sin, ag an am chéanna, forbraíodh an treoir ar na socruithe nua agus thángthas ar réiteach ar chuid mhór ceisteanna coimpléascacha. Bhí gá ann fosta glacadh le comhairle ó choimhéadaithe éagsúla geallta agus an treoir á forbairt. Bunaithe ar an treoir tugtha go dtí seo, rinneadh dul chun cinn thar barr, is é sin, bhí cinneadh déanta ar chur le chéile na nGrúpaí agus tá Boird ag déanamh gnímh le Boird Stiúrtha a bhunú.

Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any measures she is taking to reduce waiting times for appointments with hospital consultants.

(AQW 2384/01)

Ms de Brún: Boards and Trusts are implementing a range of measures to improve efficiency in relation to diagnosis, admission to hospital, treatment and discharge. These include the validation of waiting lists, the development of GP referral protocols, the provision of additional hospital inpatient procedures and the piloting of community provision as alternatives to hospital admission. For example:

• in the area of heart disease, immediate action is being taken to improve staffing levels and capacity at the Royal Group of Hospitals, thus facilitating increased numbers of procedures in this key specialty. Extra cardiac surgery procedures are also being commissioned from units elsewhere for a number of patients who are able and willing to travel. Additional angiography facilities have been opened recently at Altnagelvin Hospital, which will increase overall capacity for this diagnostic testing and help reduce waiting times;

• in cancer services, a two-week outpatient appointments target was introduced last year for people with suspected breast cancer. In radiotherapy, I have recently approved the acquisition of two additional linear accelerators at Belvoir Park Hospital, which should improve waiting time significantly.

Tá Boird agus Iontaobhais ag cur réimse beart i bhfeidhm chun éifeachtacht a fheabhsú maidir le fáthmheas, glacadh isteach, cóireáil agus le scaoileadh amach daoine. Ina measc tá daingniú liostaí feithimh, forbairt ghnáthaimh atreoraithe DGanna, soláthar ghnáthaimh bhreise otharlainne othair chónaithigh agus píolótú soláthair phobail mar roghanna eile in áit daoine a ghlacadh isteach san otharlann. Mar shampla:

• Maidir le galar croí, tá gníomh láithreach á dhéanamh chun leibhéil na n-oibrithe agus toilleadh a fheabhsú ag Grúpa Ríoga Otharlann, mar sin de, ag éascú méadú i líon na ngnáthamh sa phríomhspeisialtacht seo. Tá gnáthaimh mháinliachta croí bhreise á gcoimisiúnú fosta ó ionaid eile do roinnt othar atá ábalta agus toilteanach le taisteal. Osclaíodh áiseanna breise aingiagrafaíochta in Otharlann Alt na nGealbhan ar na mallaibh, a mheadóidh an toilleadh iomlán don tástáil dhiagnóiseach seo agus a chuideoidh le hamanna feithimh a laghdú;

• I seirbhísí ailse, leagadh síos sprioc dhá seachtaine do choinní éisothair anuraidh do dhaoine measta le hailse chíche bheith orthu. I raiditeiripe, d’fhormheas mé ceannach dhá luasaire líneacha breise d’Otharlann Belvoir ar na mallaibh a d’fhéadfadh amanna feithimh a fheabhsú go mór.

Mr Billy Hutchinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she has any plans to establish a facility for children suffering from eating disorders; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2414/01)

Ms de Brún: My Department is currently considering the Eating Disorders Services report, which was presented to the Specialty Advisory Committee on Psychiatry in November 2001. This report includes proposals for the provision of services for all age groups of people suffering from eating disorders.

Tá an Roinn s’agam ag déanamh machnaimh ar thuairisc Seirbhísí Neamhord Ite, a cuireadh i láthair Choiste Comhairlithe Speisialtacht ar Shíciatracht i Samhain 2001. Sa tuairisc seo tá moltaí dosholáthar seirbhísí do gach aoisghrúpa daoine ag fulaingt ag neamhoird ite.

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2031/01, to detail the number of patients in the (a) 1998/99; (b) 1999/00; and (c) 2000/01 periods who have waited in those particular periods (i) 1 year; (ii) 2 years; (iii) 3 years; (iv) 4 years; (v) 5 years; (vi) 6 years; (vii) 7 years; (viii) 8 years; and (ix) 9 years for orthopaedic surgery.

(AQW 2422/01)

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

⁽¹⁾ Data for 1998/99 is not of sufficient quality to provide

the requested information.

Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sa tábla thíos.

Níl go leor de cháilíocht sna sonraithe do 1998/99 leis an eolas a iarradh a chur ar fáil.

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2031/01, to detail the number of patients in the (a) 1998/99; (b) 1999/00; and (c) 2000/01 periods who have had their operations completed on the day of admission with no waiting.

(AQW 2423/01)

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

Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sa tábla thíos.

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2031/01, to detail (a) the number of patients in the (i) 1998/99; (ii) 1999/00; and (iii) 2000/01 periods who have had their operations deferred for clinical reasons; and (b) what those clinical reasons were.

(AQW 2424/01)

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 héasca sa dóigh ar iarradh é agus ní féidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 1490/01, to detail the number and costs of consultations, reviews and other public discussion documents that have been issued by Boards, Trusts and other agencies under the remit of her Department.

(AQW 2445/01)

Ms de Brún: Some 28 consultations, reviews and other public discussion documents at an estimated cost of £125,472 have been issued by Boards, Trusts and other agencies under the remit of the Department since the establishment of the Executive in December 1999.

D’eisigh Boird, Iontaobhais agus gníomhaireachtaí faoi théarmaí tagartha na Roinne 28 comhairliú, athbhreithniú agus doiciméad diospóireachta poiblí ar chostas measta £125,472 ó bunaíodh Coiste an Fheidhmeannas i Mí Nollag 1999.

Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what procedures are in place to ensure that the fleet of cars operated by the NI Fire Authority are correctly identified and marked for emergency use and that mileage is accurately recorded; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2446/01)

Ms de Brún: Although all Fire Authority cars are fitted with two-tone horns they do not have any permanent fixed overt markings identifying them as Fire Service vehicles. They are however equipped with detachable flashing light systems which officers can use en route to emergency incidents.

Discussions are on going between the Fire Brigades Union and the Fire Authority on the use of permanent livery and fixed light bars on cars, but the Union is concerned that clearly marking them as Fire Service vehicles could result in attacks when attending incidents.

All Fire Authority vehicles, including cars, are provided with vehicle log books which are audited on a monthly basis. New log books are to be introduced from 1st April 2002, which will extend the range of journey information available and also contain details of mileage undertaken by each vehicle.

Cé go bhfuil carranna go léir an Údaráis Dóiteáin feistithe le hadharca dhá thuin níl marcálacha soiléire buana orthu a léiríonn gur feithiclí na Seirbhíse Dóiteáin iad. Tá córais inscartha soilse splancarnacha iontu inar féidir le hoifigigh a úsáid agus iad ar a mbealach go teagmhais éigeandála.

Tá caibidlí ar siúl idir Cumann na mBriogáidí Dóiteáin agus an tÚdarás Dóiteáin ar úsáid fheistis bhuain agus bharranna feistithe soilse ar charranna, ach tá an Cumann buartha dá gcuirfí marcálacha soiléire na Seirbhíse Dóiteáin ar na fheithiclí, d’ionsófaí iad agus iad ag dul chuig teagmhais.

I bhfeithiclí go léir an Údaráis Dóiteáin, carranna san áireamh, tá leabhair chláraithe a ndéantar iniúchadh orthu go míosúil. Tá leabhair nua chláraithe le tabhairt isteach ó 1 Aibreán 2002, a chuirfidh leis an réimse eolais ar thurais ar fáil agus iontu beidh sonraí ar líon na mílte tiomanta ag gach feithicil.

Mr Pat Doherty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why Sperrin Lakeland Trust has employed a full-time locum as a fourth consultant surgeon on the Erne site, and what additional activity has so far been generated by this appointment.

(AQW 2460/01)

Ms de Brún: The Trust has three permanent posts each at the Tyrone County and Erne Hospitals. A consultant post at the Erne Hospital had been vacant for a number of years despite the Trust’s efforts to recruit a permanent post holder. To date, this post has been covered by a series of locums, with some leaving at short notice. The most recent locum was offered an eighteen month contract for 2 reasons:

• there was no certainty that the Trust would be able to secure a permanent appointment;
• even if a permanent postholder was appointed, there was a need to provide cover for the release of a Surgeon into the Breast Care Network.

The third permanent post was filled substantively within the last year. Since this appointment, the locum has been undertaking clinical sessions at both hospitals.

From, July 2001 until 28 February 2002 this individual has provided the following volume of service:

• Outpatient Appointments – 894
• Inpatient Episodes – 664
• Day Cover – 178

Tá trí phost bhuana ag Otharlann Chontae Thír Eoghain agus na hÉirne araon. Tá post comhairleach folamh ag Otharlann na hÉirne le roinnt blianta in ainneoin iarrachtaí déanta le duine buan a earcú. Go dtí seo, rinne roinnt ionadaithe an post seo a chomhlíonadh, agus d’imigh cuid acu ar fhógra gairid. Tairgeadh don ionadaí is déanaí conradh ocht mí dhéag ar 2 réasún:

• Ní raibh cinnteacht ar bith ann go dtiocfadh leis an Iontaobhas ceapachán buan a chinntiú;
• Fiú dá gceapfaí duine, bhí gá le tréimshí a chlúdach chun Máinlia a scaoileadh amach chuig Greasán Cúram Cíche.

Líonadh an tríú post buan go substaintiúil laistigh den bhliain dheireanach. Ón cheapachán seo thug an t-ionadaí faoi sheisiúin chliniciúla ag an dá otharlann.

Ó Mí Iúil 2001 go dtí Mí Feabhra 2002 sholáthair an duine seo méid seirbhíse a leanas:

• Coinní Othar Seachtrach – 894
• Tréimshí Othar Cónaitheach – 664
• Clúdach Lae - 178

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