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| Friday 12 April 2002 Waiting Times : A&E Departments Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any measures she is taking to reduce waiting times at accident and emergency departments. (AQW 2385/01) Ms de Brún: In order to relieve pressure on hospital services, particularly accident and emergency departments, Boards and Trusts are providing a range of additional services, including extra community care provision and minor injuries units, which help to reduce demand on hospital services. Additional support is also available in the primary care sector, where a successful flu vaccination programme has been in place for people over the age of 65 and those at risk. At the Ulster Hospital, I recently endorsed a major re-development programme, which includes a proposal to extend the accident and emergency department to provide additional capacity and upgrade to meet statutory standards. In addition, a ten-bedded accident and emergency observation unit, including nursing and support staff, has been opened at Antrim Area Hospital. Leis na brúnna ar sheirbhísí otharlainne a mhaolú, sna ranna timpistí agus éigeandálaí ach go háirithe, tá Boird agus Iontaobhais ag soláthar réimse seirbhísí breise, mar aon le soláthar breise cúraim phobail agus le hionaid mhionghortuithe a chuideoidh leis an ráchairt ar sheirbhísí otharlainne a laghdú. Tá tacaíocht bhreise ar fáil fosta san earnáil phríomhchúraim, áit a bhfuil clár rathúil vacsaíniú fliú i bhfeidhm do dhaoine thar 65 bliain d’aois agus dóibh siúd atá i mbaol. In Otharlann Uladh, d’fhormheas mé mórchlár athchóirithe, ina bhfuil moladh leis an roinn timpistí agus éigeandálaí a leathnú chun níos mó toillte a sholáthar agus chun í a athchóiriú le caighdeáin reachtúla a chomhlíonadh. Ina theannta sin, osclaíodh ionad grinnithe timpistí agus éigeadálaí le deich leaba agus le foireann altrachta agus thacaíochta in Otharlann Cheantar Aontroma. Autism Spectrum Disorder Mr Gerry Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Health and Community Trust Board area. (AQW 2386/01) Ms de Brún: No information is held centrally on numbers of children with autistic spectrum disorder. Some limited information is available from the Child Health System (CHS). This is detailed in the table below:
(1) As at February 2001. Current figures are not available for NHSSB. Ní choinnítear eolas ar bith go lárnach ar líon na bpáistí a bhfuil neamhord speictream uathach orthu. Tá eolas teoranta ar fáil ó Chóras Sláinte Páistí (CSP). Tá seo léirithe sa tábla thíos:
(1) Mar a bhí ag Mí Feabhra 2002. Níl figiúirí láithreacha ar fáil don BSSST. Acute Hospitals Review Mr Eamonn ONeill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) any legislation she plans to put in place as a result of the Hayes Review; and (b) when the recommendations will be implemented. (AQW 2505/01) Ms de Brún: The need for legislation will not be known until final decisions on the way forward on the Acute Hospitals Review have been taken. Following consideration of the outcome of the initial consultation and after discussion at the Executive, proposals on the way forward can be put out for full public consultation. It is hoped that final decisions can be taken in the course of 2002. Ní bheidh a fhios faoin ghá le reachtaíocht go dtí go mbíonn cinní deireanacha ar an bhealach chun tosaigh ar an Athbhreithniú ar Ghéarotharlanna déanta. I ndiaidh machnamh a dhéanamh ar thorthaí an chomhairlithe tosaigh agus i ndiaidh caibidle a dhéanamh ag Coiste an Fheidhmeannais, is féidir moltaí ar an bhealach chun tosaigh a chur amach faoi choinne comhairlithe iomláin phoiblí. Táthar ag súil gur féidir cinní deireanacha a dhéanamh le linn 2002. Resignation of the Chair of Causeway HSS Trust Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make a statement on the resignation of Mrs Margaret Craig, Chairman of the Causeway Health Trust. (AQW 2507/01) Ms de Brún: It is a matter of some regret that I had to seek the resignation of the Chair of Causeway HSS Trust. Mrs Craig has given many years of distinguished public service but regrettably the Trust disregarded a letter from the Department asking them not to make any performance pay assessments until Departmental guidance was issued and they did not follow my requirement for moderation in the award of performance pay due in the 2001/02 pay year. Is cúis bhróin domsa í gur iarr mé ar Chathaoirleach Iontaobhas SSS an Chlocháin éirí as a post. Tá cuid mhór blianta d’fhónamh poiblí oirirc déanta ag Bean Craig ach ar an drochuair, rinne an tIontaobhas neamhshuim de litir ón Roinn ag iarraidh orthu gan measúnuithe pá i gcoibhneas le feidhmiú a dhéanamh go raibh treoir na Roinne eisithe agus níor cloígh siad le mo choinníollacha le haghaidh féinstiúradh in íoc pá i gcoibhneas le feidhmiú a bhí le híoc sa phá-bhliain 2001/02. Pay Awards : Senior Executives Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the Health Trusts that issued pay awards to senior executives; and (b) the amounts paid. (AQW 2508/01) Ms de Brún: Twelve Trusts made awards to their senior executives in the 2001/02 pay year for performance carried out in the 2000/01 year. Details of the amounts paid to individuals are not available but information on the percentages awarded is set out in the table below. Performance Pay Awards for 2000/01 Pay Period (payable in 2001/02 pay period)
Bhronn dhá Iontaobhas déag duaiseanna ar a gcuid feidhmeannach sinsearach sa bhliain pá 2001/02 le haghaidh feidhmithe a rinneadh sa bhliain 2000/01. Níl mionsonraí ar shuimeanna a íocadh do dhaoine aonair ach tá eolas ar na céatadáin a bronnadh leagtha amach sa tábla thíos. Duaiseanna Pá i gCoibhneas le Feidhmiú do 2000/01 – Tréimhse Pá (iníoctha sa tréimhse pá 2002/02)
Performance Related Pay for Senior Executives Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the guidance she issued in respect of performance related pay for senior executives. (AQW 2509/01) Ms de Brún: In an effort to constrain the award of performance pay to more reasonable amounts my Department wrote to all HPSS Chairs in March 2001 asking them not to make assessments for performance payments due in the 2001/02 pay year until further guidance was issued. The subsequent guidance issued in October 2001 asked Chairs to ensure that restraint was shown and that they kept awards to the minimum necessary to observe contractual commitments. Chun iarracht a dhéanamh srian a chur ar phá feidhmiúcháin go dtí méid níos reasúnta scríobh an Roinn s’agam chuig gach Cathaoirleach SSPS i Mí Mhárta 2001 ag iarraidh orthu gan mheasúnaithe d’iocaíocht feidhmiúcháin a dhéanamh a bhí le teacht sa bhliain pá 2001/02 go dtí go dtabharfar tuilleadh treoruithe. D’iarr an treorú a eisíodh i Mí Mhéan an Fhómhair ar Chathaoirligh le cinntiú gur taispeánadh srian agus go gcoinníonn siad duaiseanna ar an íosmhéid chuí chun gealltanais chonarthacha a choimhéad. Primary Care Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in relation to new arrangements for resourcing primary care, what action is she taking to fulfil assurances that she would be sympathetic when dealing with fundholding staff. (AQW 2521/01) Ms de Brún: I have committed £1.8m of new money in 2002/03 towards primary care development. The prime purpose of this funding will be to maintain services put in place by fundholders and to help ensure that the population served by each Local Health and Social Care Group benefits from these on an equitable basis. The professionals currently providing these services will, consequently, continue to be employed. Also, a Staff Redeployment Unit which has been in operation for some time within the HPSS, but to which GP-employed staff did not previously have access, has now been made available to fund management staff employed by GPs, and by the Eastern Multifund, whose jobs may be at risk when fundholding ends. The Unit will seek to match registered staff with notified vacancies arising in the wider HPSS and will inform the employer of those who have been identified as potentially suitable. The employer will then draw up a shortlist, hold interviews and hopefully make an appointment. Use of the Unit will, I hope, ensure that the skills and experience of such staff will not be lost to the service. Fund management staff cannot, however, be guaranteed employment on the same terms and conditions as before, since many have been paid at much higher salaries than is the norm for comparable jobs in the HPSS. I expect few, if any, redundancies when fundholding ends. Staff will either be retained by their practices in other posts, will be found employment in the wider HPSS through the Redeployment Unit, or will fill posts in the new Local Health and Social Care Groups. Gheall mé £1.8m d’airgead nua i 2002/03 d’fhorbairt príomhchúraim. Is é príomhaidhm an mhaoinithe seo ná seirbhísí a cuireadh in áit ag cisteshealbhóirí a chothabháil agus iarracht a dhéanamh le cinntiú go mbaineann an pobal, ar a bhfreastlaíonn an Grúpa Cúram Sóisialta agus Sláinte Áitiúil, tairbhe ar bhonn cothroim. Fanfaidh na gairmithe atá ag soláthar na seirbhísí faoi láthair, mar thoradh air, i bhfostaíocht. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireadh Aonad Athfhostaithe Foirne ar fáil atá ag feidhmiú le tamall maith anuas laistigh de na SSSP, ach nach raibh rochtain ag foirne fostaithe ag DGanna air, chun foirne bainistíochta fostaithe ag DGanna agus ag Ilchiste an Oirthir a dtiocfadh lena bpoist bheith i mbaol, a mhaoiniú. Déanfaidh an tAonad iarracht foirne cláraithe a mheaitseáil le folúntais fhógraithe ag teacht aníos sna SSSP go forleathan agus cuirfidh siad in iúl don fhostóir fúthu siúd a aimsíodh is féidir bheith inchuí. Socróidh an fostóir gearrliosta, cuirfidh sé agallaimh agus táthar ag súil go ndéanfar ceapachán. Cinntóidh úsáid an Aonaid, tá súil agam, nach gcaillfidh an tseirbhís scileanna agus taithí na foirne. Leis sin féin, ní féidir fostaíocht foirne bainistíochta maoinithe a chinntiú ar na téarmaí agus coinníollacha céanna mar a bhí roimhe, mar fuair roinnt mhaith acu tuarastal i bhfad níos airde na an gnáthphá dá macasamhail de phoist sna SSPS. Ní bheinn ag dúil le mórán laghduithe post, má tharlaíonn sé ar chor ar bith, nuair atá deireadh le cistesheilbh. Coinneoidh an cleachtadh sin foireann ag obair i bpoist eile, socróidh an tAonad Athfhostaithe poist sa SSSP go forleathan, nó líonfaidh siad poist sna Grúpaí Cúraim Shóisialta agus Sláinte Áitiúla. Number of Ambulances in Each Health Trust Area Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of ambulances in each Health Trust area. (AQW 2537/01) Ms de Brún: This information is not available in the form requested. Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é. Paramedics : North Down Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the recommended number of paramedics to service the North Down constituency. (AQW 2538/01) Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available, as Ambulance Station operational areas do not align with parliamentary constituency boundaries. Níl an t-eolas a iarradh ar fáil, mar ní ailíníonn ceantair oibríochtúla Staisiún Otharchairr le teorainneacha dáilcheantar parlaiminteach. Number of Paramedics in Each Health Trust Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of paramedics working in each Health Trust. (AQW 2539/01) Ms de Brún: This information is not available in the form requested. Níl an t-eolas ar fáil san fhoirm a iarradh é. Paramedics : North Down Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many paramedics are currently working in the North Down constituency. (AQW 2540/01) Ms de Brún: I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2538/01. Treoraím an Ball do mo fhreagra a thug mé ar AQW 2538/01. Fracture Services Mr Paul Berry asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans are in place to improve fracture services. (AQW 2542/01) Ms de Brún: A number of steps are being taken to improve fracture services here, including increasing the number of trainees in orthopaedics, provision of additional fracture theatre sessions, and arrangements to ensure, so far as possible, the transfer of all those requiring fracture surgery to a Main Fracture Centre within 48 hours. Furthermore, a new regional spinal surgery service will be established at the Royal Victoria Hospital in September this of year.
Tá roinnt beart á ndéanamh le seirbhísí briste anseo a fheabhsú, chomh maith le méadú i líon na bprintíseach in ortaipéide, soláthar seisiún breise in obrádlanna briste, agus le socruithe le cinntiú, a mhéad agus is féidir, go n-aistrítear na daoine sin go léir a bhfuil máinliacht bhriste de dhíth orthu go Príomhionad Briste laistigh de 48 uair. Chomh maith leis sin, cuirfear tús le seirbhís nua réigiúnach máinliachta dromlaigh in Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria i Méan Fómhair na bliana seo.
Acute Services Mr Paul Berry asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what short-term plan is in place to continue acute services until the implementation of the recommendations of the Hayes Report. (AQW 2543/01) Ms de Brún: Until longer-term decisions have been made on the way forward on the Acute Hospitals Review, I will expect Boards and Trusts to make every effort to maintain existing services. My officials are working closely with Boards and Trusts to assist them in sustaining services and the position in individual hospitals is being closely monitored. Go dtí go ndéantar cinní fadtéarmacha faoin bhealach chun tosaigh ar an Athbhreithniú ar Ghéarotharlanna, beidh mé ag dúil go ndéanfaidh Boird agus Iontaobhais gach iarracht na seirbhísí faoi láthair a choinneáil. Tá m’oifigigh ag obair go dlúth le Boird agus le hIontaobhais le cuidiú leo seirbhísí a choinneáil agus tá an riocht i ngach otharlann aonair faoi ghéarmhonatóireacht. Population Covered in Each Health Trust Area Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the population covered in each Health Trust area. (AQW 2551/01) Ms de Brún: Not all Trusts have boundaries which are contiguous with District Council or Ward boundaries. The estimates of population for those which have contiguous boundaries have been constructed from the 1999 mid-year estimates of population at local government District and Ward level and are shown below.
Ní ionann teorainneacha gach Iontaobhais agus teorainneacha Toghbharda nó Comhairle Ceantair. Rinneadh meastacháin dhaonra dóibh súid a bhfuil teorainneacha cóngaracha acu ó mheastacháin dhaonra lárbhliana 1999 ag leibhéal rialtais áitiúil, Ceantair agus Toghbharda agus léitá siad léirithe thíos.
Private Beds : Nursing/Residential Homes Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the total number of private beds in (a) nursing homes; and (b) residential homes for each Health Board in each of the last 5 years. (AQW 2555/01) Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the tables below.
Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sna táblaí thíos.
Waiting List for Operations Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people are on the waiting list for operations for (a) head injuries; (b) tumours; and (c) brain haemorrhages, at the Royal Victoria Hospital. (AQW 2571/01) Ms de Brún: Information on people waiting for inpatient treatment is collected on the basis of specialty rather than the type of operation that they are waiting for. Bailítear eolas ar dhaoine atá ag fanacht ar chóireál othar cónaitheach de réir speisialtachta seachas an cineál obráide lena bhfuil siad ag fanacht. Child Protection Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what measures are being taken to protect those children who have been identified as being 'at risk'. (AQW 2572/01) Ms de Brún: All children who have been identified as being at risk are managed in accordance with the Child Protection Policy and Procedures which are produced by each of the four Board Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs). An ACPC is a multi-agency, interdisciplinary committee which has responsibility for the protection of children who may be at risk of abuse, and for the promotion and safeguarding of their welfare. Where a child or young person is identified as being at risk the course of action taken will depend on individual circumstances. Where the risk is significant, immediate emergency action will be taken and the child’s name will be placed on the Child Protection Register. Where this occurs, a multidisciplinary plan will be agreed and regularly reviewed and appropriate services will also be offered to family members. In some cases, the child or young person may be monitored through case planning. A multi-disciplinary plan is agreed and the relevant agencies meet regularly to ensure that the plan is in operation. The level of risk to the child is continuously monitored. In other cases, there may be a need to place the child with other family members or relatives. Foster placements may be sought or a residential placement made. Déileáiltear le páistí aitheanta go raibh siad i mbaol de réir Pholasaithe agus Ghnáthaimh Chosaint Páistí a chuirtear amach ag gach ceann de na ceithre Choiste Cheantar Boird ar Chosaint an Pháiste (CCBCPí). Is coiste ilghníomhaireachta, ildhisciplíneach é an CCBCP atá freagrach as cosaint páistí is féidir go mbeidh siad i mbaol ó dhrochíde, agus as cur chun cinn agus as cosaint a leasa. Nuair a aithnítear go bhfuil páiste nó ógánach i mbaol braithfidh an gníomh a dhéanfar ar thosca an duine aonair. Nuair atá an baol mór, déanfar gníomh láithreach éigeandála agus cuirfear ainm an pháiste ar Chlár Chosaint an Pháiste. Nuair a tharlaíonn sé seo, comhaontófar plean ildhisciplíneach, déanfar athbhreithniú rialta air agus thairgeofar seirbhísí cearta do bhaill teaghlaigh. I roinnt cásana, is féidir go ndéanfar monatóireacht ar dhuine óg trí phleanáil cháis. Comhaontaítear plean ildhisciplíneach agus buaileann na gníomhaireachtaí cuí le chéile go rialta le cinntiú go bhfuil an plean i bhfeidhm. Déantar monatóireacht leanúnach ar leibhéal an bhaoil don pháiste. I roinnt cásanna eile, is féidir go mbeidh gá ann an páiste a chur faoi chúram bhall teaghlaigh eile nó gaolta. Is féidir go gcuirfear an páiste faoi chúram altrama no i dteach cónaithe. MMR Vaccine Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether the single measles vaccine is as effective as the measles component of the MMR vaccine. (AQW 2573/01) Ms de Brún: The MMR vaccine has shown itself to be highly effective in preventing measles, since it was first introduced here in 1988. On the other hand, the single measles component vaccines currently being used by a few doctors and clinics are unlicensed products and there is no sound information available on batch testing results for either purity or potency. Without being subject to the rigorous trials and controls that MMR has, there are concerns that they may be less effective or less safe than MMR. Léirigh an vacsaín MMR go mbíonn sí an-éifeachtach i gcosc bruitíní, ó túgadh isteach anseo i dtús baire i 1988 í. Ar an taobh eile de, is earraí gan cheadúnas iad na vacsaíní le haghaidh bruitíneach amháin atá in úsáid ag roinnt dóchtúirí agus clinicí faoi láthair agus níl eolas slán ar fáil ar thorthaí baisctheisteála ar íonacht nó ar láidreacht. Gan bheith ina ábhar scrúduithe faoi na trialacha agus rialacha dian atá ar MMR, tá imní ann go mbeadh níos lú éifeacht nó níos lú sábháilte ag baint leo na mar atá leis an MMR. Clinical Psychological Support : Diabetes Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) if the consultant in the Altnagelvin Area Hospital responsible for the treatment of diabetes has the same psychological support as his colleagues in other Health Board areas; and (b) any steps she will be taking, if necessary, to address this situation. (AQW 2578/01) Ms de Brún: I am assured that clinical psychological support is readily accessible to people with diabetes, in all Health and Social Services Board areas. Deimhnítear dom go bhfuil rochtain éasca ag daoine le diaibéiteas ar thacaíocht shíceolaíoch chliniciúil i ngach limistéar de chuid an Bhoird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta. External Link Disclaimer: The Northern Ireland Assembly does not exercise any editorial control over the websites listed above and therefore cannot be held responsible for the information, products or services contained therein. |
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