| Home | Committees | Membership | Publications | Legislation | Chronology | Commission | Tour | Search |
| Friday 12 April 2002 Administrative and Management Costs : Southern Health Board Area Mr Séamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the administrative; and (ii) management costs for each Trust in the Southern Health Board area in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 2579/01) Ms de Brún: The information requested is disclosed in the attached tables. Management costs represent the salaries and wages costs of staff performing management duties. This includes apportionments for those staff whose post involves a degree of management although their post may be of a nursing, clinical or social work nature. It will also include the costs of management staff in the administrative and clerical grades whose costs are also included in Table 1. Table 1
Source: FR 25 return Table 2
Source: Annual Accounts
Tá an t-eolas iarrtha léirithe san táblaí faoi iamh. Baineann costais bhainisteoireacht le tuarastail agus pánna na foirne a dhéanann dualgais bhainisteoireachta. Cuirtear san áireamh leis seo suimeanna don fhoireann úd a mbaineann an post s’acu le cineál bainisteoireachta cé gur féidir go mbaineann a bpost le post altranais, cliniciúil nó oibre sóisialta. Cuirfear san áireamh costais na foirne bainisteoireachta sna gráid cléireacha agus riaracháin a bhfuil na costais curtha san áireamh i dTábla1. Tábla 1
Foinse: FR 25 return Tábla 2
Foinse: Cuntais Bhliantúla Insurance : Southern Health Board Mr Séamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the costs of insurance premiums; and (b) any claims made for each Trust in the Southern Health Board area in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 2580/01) Ms de Brún: HSS bodies carry third party insurance for vehicles, arranged centrally through the Government Purchasing Agency whereby they are insured along with the NI Civil Service fleet of vehicles and a charge is apportioned to them. Some other special areas may carry insurance, for example Community Appliances or fostering. The cost of insurance premiums borne by Trusts in the Southern Board area is shown in the following table: Table 1 Insurance Premiums Paid by Southern Board Area Health and Social Services Trusts
*CAH uses vehicles owned by Craigavon/Banbridge Community HSS Trust, for which the Trust pays a recharge at the year end. The information on claims in respect of vehicle insurance in each Trust in the Southern Health Board area is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Health and Social Services Trusts do not generally purchase commercial insurance as the cost of premiums is likely to outweigh the compensation paid out and therefore it represents better value to self-insure. This applies to public liability and employer’s liability insurance. Clinical negligence is funded through direct funding by the Department to a central fund administered by the Central Services Agency. Losses which would normally be covered by insurance policies are usually written off by the Department and details of such losses are disclosed in the notes to the final accounts of HSS Trusts. The amounts written off under "Losses and Special Payments" are detailed in Table 2 below. These include losses such as cash losses, stores and inventory losses, compensation payments and bad debts written off. Table 2 Losses and Special Payments for Southern Board Area Health and Social Services Trusts
Source: Losses and Special Payments note from the annual accounts. CTá árachas tríú páirtí agcomhlachtaí SSS le haghaidh feithiclí, socraithe go lárnach trí Ghníomhaireacht Ceannaigh Rialtais a chinntíonn go bhfuil siad árachaithe mar aon le cabhlach feithiclí Státseirbhís TÉ agus gearrtar táille orthu. Is féidir go bhfuil árachas curtha ar achair speisialta eile, mar shampla, ar Fhearais Phobail nó ar altramas. Tá costas préimheanna árachais íoctha ag Iontaobhais i mBordcheantar an Deiscirt léirithe sa tábla thíos: Tábla 1 Préimheanna Árachais Íoctha ag Iontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta Bhordcheantar an Deiscirt
*Úsáideann OCCA feithiclí ar le hIontaobhas Pobail Craigavon/Dhroichead na Banna iad, a n-athíocann an tIontaobhas táille dóibh ag deireadh na bliana. Níl an t-eolas ar éilimh maidir le hárachas feithicle aggach Iontaobhas i mBordcheantar Sláinte an Deiscirt ar fáil go éasca agus ní féidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach. Ní cheannaíonn Iontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta árachas tráchtála de ghnáth mar gur dócha go bhfuil an cúiteamh íoctha níos mó ná costas na bpréimheanna agus mar sin de, luach níos fearr airgid a bheadh ann féinárachú a dhéanamh. Baineann sé seo le hárachas dliteanais phoiblí agus árachais dliteanais fhostóra chomh maith. Maoiníonn an Roinn faillí chliniciúil agus cuirtear an maoiniú díreach i gciste lárnach riartha ag an Lár-Ghníomhaireacht Seirbhísí. Tá caillteanais a chlúdódh polasaithe árachais de ghnáth díscríofa ag an Roinn de ghnáth agus tá sonraí ar a leithéid de chaillteanais léirithe sna nótaí i gcuntais dheireannacha na nIontaobhas SSS. Miondealaítear na suimeanna díscríofa de réir "Caillteanais agus Íocaíochtaí Speisialta" i dTábla 2 thíos. San áireamh tá caillteanais amhail caillteanais airgid, caillteanais stóras agus fhardail, íocaíochtaí cúitimh agus drochfhiacha díscríofa. Tábla 2 Caillteanais agus Íocaíochtaí Speisialta d’Iontaobhais Shláinte agus Sheirbhísí Sóisialta Bhordcheantar an Deiscirt
Foinse: Nóta Caillteanas agus Íocaíochtaí Speisialta ó na cuntais bhliantúla. Care Assistants : Pay and Conditions Mr Séamus Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the hourly rates of pay; (b) holiday entitlement; (c) any mileage allowance paid; and (d) percentage pay increase to be paid in the next financial year for care assistants in each Trust in the Southern Health Board area. (AQW 2581/01) Ms de Brún: All Trusts in the Southern Board area apply the same hourly rate of pay, holiday entitlement and mileage rates for care assistants. These rates are shown below: (a) Hourly Rates Of Pay The current hourly rate of pay is £5.03. (b) Holiday Entitlement A care assistant, irrespective of length of service, is entitled to a holiday with a normal days pay on each of the 10 public holidays and in addition, 2 extra statutory days which is determined by the employer after consultation with employees. The basic annual leave entitlement is 4 weeks, and 5 weeks after 5 years continuous service. (c) Mileage Rates The Regular User Allowances are:
Employees who are not classified as "Regular Car Users" but use their car in the course of their employment are entitled to the following Standard Mileage Rates:-
The public transport rate is 23p per mile. (d) Pay Increase 2002/03 This information is not available as agreement has not yet been reached for 2002/03. Úsáideann gach Iontaobhas i gceantar Bhord an Deiscirt na rátaí pá céanna san uair, rátaí teidlíocht saoire agus rátaí míleáiste do chúntóirí cúraim. Tá na rátaí seo léirithe thíos: (a) Ráta Pá san Uair Is é £5.03 an ráta pá san uair. (b) Teidlíocht Saoire Tá cúntóir cúraim i dteideal, beag beann ar fhad seirbhíse, saoire le ráta normálta pá lae ar gach ceann de na 10 lá saoire poiblí agus ina theannta sin, 2 lá breise reachtúil a shocraíonn an fostóir i ndiaidh dul i gcomhairle lena fhostaithe. Is é 4 seachtain teidlíocht na saoire bhunúsaí, agus 5 seachtain i ndiaidh 5 bliain de sheirbhís leanúnach. (c) Rátaí Míleáiste Is iad na Liúntais Úsáideora Rialta:
Tá fostaithe nach bhfuil aicmithe mar "Úsáideoir Rialta Cairr" ach a úsáideann a gcarranna i gcúrsa a bhfostaíochta i dteideal na Rátaí Caighdeánacha Míleáiste a leanas:-
Is é ráta iompair phoiblí 23p an míle. (d) Ardú Pá 2002/03 Níl an t-eolas seo ar fáil go fóill mar níor thángthas ar chomhaontú do 2002/03 go fóill. Brain Haemorrhages, Head Injuries and Tumour Operations : RVH Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many brain haemorrhages, head injuries and tumour operations are carried out each year at the Royal Victoria Hospital. (AQW 2586/01) Ms de Brún: Information on numbers of operations carried out for these diagnoses for the year 2000/01 is detailed in the table below.
Tá eolas ar líon obráidí déanta mar thoradh ar na diagnóisithe don bhliain 2000/01 léirithe sa tábla thíos.
Waiting List for Operations Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps is she taking to reduce the waiting list for operations in relation to (a) brain haemorrhages; (b) head injuries; and (c) tumours. (AQW 2587/01) Ms de Brún: A number of measures are being taken to improve the provision of neurosurgical capacity at the Royal Group of Hospitals. These include staff recruitment drives, the provision of extra theatre sessions, increased community care provision and improved support services to enhance patient flow. Tá roinnt beart á ndéanamh le soláthar cumais néarmháinliachta in Otharlanna an Ghrúpa Ríoga a fheabhsú. Ina measc tá feachtais earcaíochta oibrithe, soláthar seisiún breise obrádlainne, méadú i soláthar cúraim phobail agus seirbhísí tacaíochta níos fearr chun teacht isteach othar a mhéadú. Midwives Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of midwives, part-time and full-time, employed by the Jubilee Maternity Unit prior to its closure; (b) the number of midwives, part-time and full-time, employed by the Royal Victoria Hospital prior to the transfer of midwives from the Jubilee Maternity Unit; (c) the number of midwives who did not transfer to the Royal Victoria Hospital; and (d) the number of midwives who have subsequently left since their transfer to the Royal Victoria Hospital. (AQW 2588/01) Ms de Brún: (a) At September 1999 there were 85 part-time and 79 full-time qualified midwives employed by the Jubilee Maternity Unit; (b) At September 1999 there 77 part-time and 96 full-time qualified midwives working in the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH); (c) At September 2000, 35 of the 164 qualified midwives previously employed by the Jubilee Maternity Unit were not working in the RVH; (d) A further 14 of the former Jubilee Maternity Unit midwives have subsequently left the RVH. Note: Figures relate to qualified midwives only and exclude student midwives and bank staff that cover for staffing shortfalls and fluctuating workloads. a) I nDeireadh Fómhair 1999 bhí 85 bean ghlúine cáilithe go páirtaimseartha agus 79 go lánaimseartha ag Aonad Máithreachais na hIubháile; b) I nDeireadh Fómhair 1999 bhí 77 bean ghlúine cáilithe go páirtaimseartha agus 96 go lánaimseartha ag obair in Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria (RVH); c) I nDeireadh Fómhair 2000, bhí 35 de na 164 mná glúine fostaithe cheana ag Aonad Máithreachais na hIubháile nach raibh ag obair san RVH; d) Bhí 14 breise de na hiarmhná glúine de chuid Aonad Máithreachais na hIubháile a d’fhág an RVH ina dhiaidh. Nóta: Baineann na figiúirí le mná glúine cáilithe amháin agus ní bhaineann siad le mic léinn ina mná glúine agus foireann ar liosta a chlúdaíonn nuair atá líon na foirne thíos agus nuair a athraíonn ualach na hoibre. Waiting List for Admission : Ulster Hospital, Dundonald Mr Tom Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the extent of waiting lists for admission to the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald at the end of (a) February 2001; and (b) February 2002. (AQW 2589/01) Ms de Brún: Information on persons waiting for inpatient treatment is collected quarterly on the basis of Trust rather than hospital. Details of persons waiting for inpatient admission to the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust for the quarters ending December 2000 and December 2001 (the latest date for which information is available) are given in the table below.
Bailítear eolas ar dhaoine ag fanacht ar chóireál othar cónaitheach go ráithiúil ar bhonn Iontaobhais in áit otharlainne. Tugtar sonraí ar dhaoine ag fanacht le iontráil othar cónaitheach chuig Iontaobhas Otharlann & Pobail Uladh do na cheathrúna ag críochnú Mí na Nollag 2000 agus Mí na Nollag 2001 (an dáta is déanaí ar a bhfuil eoas ar fáil) sa tábla thíos.
Cost of In-House Service for Personal Care : SHSST Mr Tom Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what formula does the Southern Health and Social Services Trust use to calculate the cost of their 'in house' service for personal care. (AQW 2590/01) Ms de Brún: The Southern Health and Social Services Board advise me that the total cost of the "in house" service is made up of the total gross payroll cost of Home Helps/Domiciliary Care Workers plus the total associated costs including training, travel, management and administration. The payroll cost includes basic pay, national insurance, superannuation and holiday and sickness pay. The total cost per hour is the total cost divided by the number of hours worked. Chomhairligh Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Deiscirt gurb é atá sa chostas iomlán seirbhíse inmheánaí ná costas iomlán oll-phárolla Cuiditheoirí Baile/Oibrithe Cúram Baile móide costais bhainteacha san iomlán traenáil, taisteal, foireann bhainisteoireachta agus riarachán. San áireamh leis an chostas párolla tá bunphá, árachas náisiúnta, aoisliúntas agus pá saoire agus tinnis. Is é an costas iomlán san uair an costas iomlán roinnte ar líon na n-uaireanta a oibríodh. Miscarriages : Counselling and Post-Operative Support Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail her policy for counselling and post-operative support for both partners after a miscarriage. (AQW 2601/01) Ms de Brún: Care for women and their partners experiencing miscarriage is delivered by the obstetric and gynaecology teams within acute hospital settings and by community midwives, GP's or health visitors in the community/primary sector. Linkages are in place with genetic counselling services, clinical psychology services, social services and with voluntary support groups. Women and their partners can access any of these by choice or by the identification of a clinical need for such support by professionals involved in their care. Tugann foirne cnáimhseachais agus gínéiceolaíochta laistigh den suíomh géarotharlainne, mná cabhrach pobail agus gnáthdochtúirí nó cuairteoirí sláinte san earnáil phobail/phríomhchúraim cúram do mhná agus dá gcéilí i ndiaidh breithe anabaí. Tá na naisc ann le seirbhísí géiniteacha comhairle, le seirbhísí síceolaíochta cliniciúla, leis na seirbhísí sóisialta agus le grúpaí tacaíochta deonacha. Is féidir le mná agus lena gcéilí teacht orthu seo de réir a rogha féin nó trí aithint riachtanais chliniciúil do a leithéid de thacaíocht ó ghairmithe a bhfuil baint acu lena gcúram. Number of Miscarriages Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of miscarriages, by each Health Board area, in each year from 1998. (AQW 2602/01) Ms de Brún: This information is not available. Níl an t-eolas seo ar fáil. Effects of Smoking on Unborn Children Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what information her Department has on the medical effects of smoking on the health of an unborn child; and to make a statement. (AQW 2603/01) Ms de Brún: Smoking is a critical women’s health issue for both mother and child. Smoking in pregnancy is associated with many problems both for the foetus and newly born baby including miscarriage, placenta damage, pre-term delivery, low birthweight, perinatal death and sudden infant death syndrome. In March last year I established an inter-sectoral Working Group on Tobacco to develop and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive action plan to tackle smoking. The plan, which will identify pregnant women who smoke as a key target group, will be issued for consultation in June. Is ceist bharrthábhachtach i sláinte na mban í caitheamh tobac don mháthair agus don pháiste araon. Tá baint ag caitheamh tobac le linn toirchis le cuid mhór fadhbanna don fhéatas agus don leanbh nuabheirthe araon amhail breith anabaí, damáiste don phlacaint, breith roimh an téarma, meáchan íseal an linbh, bás imbhreithe agus siondróm báis thobainn naíonáin. I mí an Mhárta an bhliain seo a chuaigh thart chuir mé Grúpa idir-rannógach Oibre ar Thobac ar bun le cur i bhfeidhm plean chuimsithigh gnímh le tabhairt faoi chaitheamh tobac a fhorbairt agus a stiúradh. Eiseofar an plean, a aithneoidh agus a aimseoidh ar mhná ag iompar clainne a chaitheann tobac mar eochairdhream, eiseofar le haghaidh comhairlithe i Meitheamh é. Pregnant Women : Listeria Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) steps being taken to ensure that the greatest number of pregnant women know of the dangers of listeria to the foetus; (b) what steps were taken to inform pregnant women of the dangers of listeria to the foetus at the first available opportunity. (AQW 2604/01) Ms de Brún: At their first antenatal appointment mothers-to-be are booked – in by a midwife, who provides a wide range of information, including advice about the danger of listeria arising from certain foods. At this appointment all the expectant mothers should be given a copy of a Departmental publication called "When you are Pregnant", which provides detailed information on a range of food-related illnesses including listeria. In addition first-time mothers receive the "Pregnancy Book – a complete guide to a healthy pregnancy". This includes reference to foods which should be avoided in the early stages of pregnancy. Mothers expecting their second or subsequent child are given a copy of "Your Pregnancy" (published by Bounty), which again makes reference to listeria and related foods. In the later stages of pregnancy the issue of listeria is discussed at Parentcraft classes. Ag an chéad choinne réamhbhreithe beidh na mná ag dúil le duine clainne le bheith curtha in áirithe ag an bhean ghlúine a chuireann ar fáil réimse leathan eolais, ina measc tá comhairle ann faoi chontúirt listéire atá ar bhianna áirithe. Ag an choinne seo ba chóir cóip d’fhoilseachán na Roinne dar teideal "Agus tú Torrach" a thabhairt do na máithreacha torracha, a léiríonn mioneolas ar réimse tinneas bainteach le bia, listéire san áireamh. Ar a bharr faigheann máithreacha arb é seo an chéad uair dóibh bheith torrach "Leabhar toirchis-treoir iomlán le haghaidh toirchis shláintiúil". Cuirtear san áireamh tagairt do bhianna ba chóir a sheachaint sna céimeanna luatha toirchis. Tugtar cóip de "An Toircheas S’agat" (arna fhoisiú ag Bounty) do mháithreacha ag dúil lena dara duine clainne nó leis an chéad duine clainne eile a dhéanann tagairt do listéire agus bianna bainteacha eile. Pléitear ceist listéire sna céimeanna malla toirchis ag ranganna Parentcraft. Diabetes Care Team : Foyle Community HSS Trust Mrs Annie Courtney asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline (a) if there is a psychologist employed in the diabetes care team for the Foyle Community HSS Trust; and (b) any steps she will take, if necessary, to address this situation. (AQW 2611/01) Ms de Brún: At present there is no psychologist employed in the diabetes care team in the Foyle Community HSS Trust but I understand that the Western HSS Board is examining this matter. Faoi láthair níl síceolaí ar bith fostaithe ag an Roinn san fhoireann cúram diaibéitis in Iontaobhas Pobail SSS an Fheabhail ach tuigim go bhfuil Bord SSS an Iarthair ag scrúdú na ceiste seo. Elective Surgery Procedures : Ulster Hospital Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the number of elective surgery procedures that have taken place at the Ulster Hospital since December 2001; and (b) the steps she is taking to improve these figures. (AQW 2613/01) Ms de Brún: (a) From 1 December 2001 to 31 January 2002, the latest date for which information is available, a total of 2,683 elective surgery procedures were carried out at the Ulster Hospital. (b) Several steps are being taken by the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust to improve the situation: additional emergency inpatient lists have been scheduled at the Ulster Hospital to protect planned lists whilst pre-assessment clinics have been introduced to reduce pre-operative length of stay and hence create bed availability for planned work. The Trust has a dedicated Day Procedure Unit at Ards Community Hospital which has increased the number of day cases year on year over the past three years. (a) Ó 1 Nollaig 2001 go 31 Eanáir 2002, an dáta is déanaí a bhfuil eolas ar fáil orthu, rinneadh 2,683 modh máinliachta roghnaí in Otharlann Uladh. (b) Tá roinnt beart á ndéanamh ag Iontaobhas Otharlanna Pobail Uladh leis an riocht a fheabhsú: liostaí breise éigeandála d’othair chónaitheacha a dhéanamh in Otharlann Uladh chun liostaí pleanáilte a chosaint agus tionscnaíodh clinicí réamh-mheasúnaithe leis an fhanacht roimh obráid a laghdú agus mar thoradh air sin níos mó leapacha a chur ar fáil d’obair phleanáilte. Tá Ionad tiomnaithe Modha Lae in Otharlann Pobail na hAirde a mhéadaigh líon na gcásanna lae bliain ar bhliain thar na trí bliana anuas. Southern Board In-House Sevice for Personal Care : Costs Mr Tom Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the total cost, including administration, of the Southern Health Trust's in-house service for personal care. (AQW 2617/01) Ms de Brún: The Southern Board advise me that the total cost of "in house" personal care provided by Armagh and Dungannon Trust, Craigavon and Banbridge Trust, and Newry and Mourne Trust in the Southern Board area in 2000/2001 was £10,724,814. Chomhairligh Bord an Deiscirt go raibh £10,724,814 costas iomlán cúraim phearsanta "inmheánaigh" a chuireann Iontaobhas Ard Mhacha agus Dhún Geanainn, Iontaobhas Craigavon agus Dhroichead na Banna, agus Iontaobhas an Iúir agus Mhúrn i gceantar Bhord an Deiscirt i 2000/2001. Southern Board Trusts In-House Services : Personal Care Mr Tom Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail within the Southern Board Trusts, any of their 'in-house' service provision that does not provide personal care. (AQW 2618/01) Ms de Brún: The Southern Health and Social Services Board advise me that Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust, Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust and Newry and Mourne HSS Trust "in house" services all provide personal care. Chomhairligh Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Deiscirt go gcuireann seirbhísí inmheánacha Iontaobhas SSS Ard Mhacha agus Dhún Geanainn, Iontaobhas SSS Craigavon agus Dhroichead na Banna, agus Iontaobhas SSS an Iúir agus Mhúrn cúram pearsanta ar fáil. Domiciliary Care in Southern Board Area : Pricing Difficulties Mr Tom Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any providers of domiciliary care who have left the Southern Board area in view of pricing difficulties. (AQW 2619/01) Ms de Brún: The Southern Health and Social Services Board advises that Crossroads Caring for Carers, Extra Care and Provincial Care have left its area due to pricing difficulties. Chomhairligh Bord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Deiscirt gur fhág Cúraim a Thabhairt do Chúramóirí de chuid Crossroads, Cúram Breise agus Cúram Cúige a cheantar mar gheall ar dheacrachtaí le praghasanna. Maximum Working Week : Junior Doctors Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the recommended maximum working week for junior doctors; (b) her plans to reduce hours worked to the recommended level; and (c) the evidence she has to confirm that her plan is working. (AQW 2642/01) Ms de Brún: There is no recommended maximum working week for junior doctors. However, under the New Deal on Junior Doctors’ hours introduced in 1991, it is recommended that junior doctors should not on average work more than 56 hours per week and should not be contracted for more than an average of 72 hours per week. My Department established an Improving Junior Doctors’ Working Lives Implementation Support Group (ISG) in August 2001 to work with Trusts and Boards to deliver the New Deal on Junior Doctors’ hours. Since the establishment of the Implementation Support Group, the majority of Trusts have been visited and advised on how to improve their compliance with the hours and rest requirements of the New Deal. Trusts are now submitting modified work patterns for assessment by the ISG against the New Deal standards and, when agreed, these will be implemented as soon as possible. Níl uas-sheachtain oibre ar bith molta do dhochtúirí sóisearacha. De réir an Mhargaidh Nua ar uaireanta Dhochtúirí Sóisearacha tionscanta i 1991 áfach, moltar nár chóir do dhochtúirí sóisearacha níos mó ná 56 uair sa tseachtain ar an meán a dhéanamh agus nár chóir dóibh bheith ar chonradh do níos mó ná 72 uair sa tseachtain ar an meán. Bhunaigh mo Roinn Grúpa Tacaíochta Feidhmithe um Fheabhsú Slí Bheatha Dhochtúirí Sóisearacha (GTF) i Lúnasa 2001 le comhoibriú le hIontaobhais agus le Boird leis an Mhargadh Nua ar uaireanta Dhochtúirí Sóisearacha a chur i bhfeidhm. Ó bunaíodh an Grúpa Tacaíochta Feidhmithe, tugadh cuairt ar bhunús na nIontaobhas agus tugadh comhairle dóibh ar na dóigheanna is fearr le cloí le coinníollacha uaireanta agus scíthe an Mhargaidh Nua. Tá na hIontaobhais ag cur isteach patrún athraithe oibre anois le haghaidh measúnaithe ag an GTF de réir chaigheáin an Mhargaidh Nua agus, nuair a chomhaontófar iad, cuirfear i bhfeidhm a luaithe agus is féidir iad seo. Eating Disorders Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people with eating disorders have been referred to consultant psychiatrists by their GP in the last 12 months. (AQW 2648/01) Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available. Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh. Assistance for Diabetics Becoming Visually Impaired or Blind Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what measures are in place to assist those people with diabetes who are becoming visually impaired or blind. (AQW 2649/01) Ms de Brún: There is a range of services for people with diabetes to help them control and monitor their condition, and reduce its possible effects on vision. Part of the regular review of such people involves eye screening. For those who develop visual impairment, referral is made to consultant ophthalmologists, Low Vision Clinics or community Visual Impairment Teams, as appropriate. My Department has established a regional group to advise on how the current screening services can be improved to ensure all people with diabetes have regular eye screening carried out and to identify the costs of providing such a service. Tá réimse seirbhísí ann do dhaoine le diaibéiteas chun cuidiú leo smacht a chur ar a riocht agus monatóireacht a dhéanamh air, agus lena thionchair fhéideartha ar radharc a laghdú. Mar chuid den athbhreithniú rialta ar a leithéid de dhaoine sin déantar scrúdú súile. Do na daoine sin a bhfuil lagradharc orthu, seoltar chuig oftailmeolaithe comhairleacha, Clinicí Radhairc Ísil nó chuig foirne Lagradhairc iad, de réir na rogha atá ceart. Chuir mo Roinn grúpa réigiúnach ar bun le comhairle a thabhairt ar an dóigh ar féidir na seirbhísí scrúdaithe reatha a fheabhsú le cinntiú go ndéantar scrúdú rialta súile ar na daoine go léir le diaibéiteas agus le costais sholáthar a leithéid de sheirbhís a mheas. 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. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||