asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of commissions at present set up under the aegis of his Department; the purpose of each commission; the cost to date; and when their report will be available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental and Semi-State Reports.
26.
The information is contained in a statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report. It is assumed that the Deputy is not concerned with bodies which have continuing functions and these are, therefore, excluded from the statement.
The information is as follows:
1. Working Party on the Psychiatric Nursing Services of Health Boards
|
Terms of Reference: |
To examine and report on the psychiatric nursing services of health authorities and to make recommendations in regard to changes and improvements necessary. |
|
Cost to date: |
£550 (travelling and subsistence and incidental expenses). |
|
Expected to report: |
1st April 1972. |
2. Working Party on Survey of Work of Public Health Nurses.
|
Terms of Reference: |
1. To measure the time being devoted by Public Health Nurses to each of their separate duties, distinguishing between duties performed within and outside normal working hours. |
|
2. To assess the proportion of nurses' working time given to the following broad categories of activity: |
|
|
(a) actual nursing duties; |
|
|
(b) clerical duties; |
|
|
(c) non-nursing duties, if any, appropriate to other personnel; |
|
|
(d) travelling time. |
|
|
3. To assess any significant variations in duties and working time and their association with important relevant factors such as— |
|
|
(a) type of area, e.g. urban or rural; |
|
|
(b) training; |
|
|
(c) supervision. |
|
|
4. To make recommendations about the area and size of the population which could be served satisfactorily by a Public Health Nurse on district duties. |
|
|
5. To make recommendations relating to the Public Health Nursing Service having regard to the findings of the survey. |
|
|
Cost to date: |
About £500 (travelling and subsistence). |
|
Expected to report: |
About the end of 1972. |
3. Consultative Council on General Medical Practice
|
Terms of Reference: |
To advise the Minister for Health in relation to the development of general medical practice. |
|
Cost to date: |
£380. |
|
Expected to report: |
As the Council has only recently started to function it is not possible at this stage to say when it is likely to complete its task. |
27.
asked the Minister for Health what reports were commissioned by his Department and semi-State bodies under the control of his Department in each of the past ten years; what reports were published; the total cost of these reports and in what cases the findings were implemented.
The information is contained in a statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
It is assumed that so far as the semi-State bodies are concerned information is not required in regard to investigations of minor matters undertaken as part of the day-to-day administration.
I would point out that the ten-year period indicated by the Deputy excludes Reports of the Commissions on Mental Handicap and Mental Illness whose recommendations are being, in the main, implemented.
The information is as follows:
1. Reports commissioned by the Department:—
|
1962 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
1963 |
|
|
Report: |
(First) Survey on the Incidence of Limb Deformi Attributable to Thalidomide. |
|
Cost: |
£1,070 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report was not published. Its findings were not such as to call for implementation. |
|
Report: |
Working Party on the Establishment of a Central Sterile Supply. |
|
Cost: |
Nil (services were supplied by Department of Health). |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Report was not published but was distributed among hospitals. Its recommendations are being implemented. |
|
Report: |
Committee set up to examine the question of establishing a Superannuation Scheme for staffs of Voluntary Hospitals in receipt of grants. |
|
Cost: |
£630 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report was not published. The recommendations were implemented. |
|
1964 |
|
|
Report: |
Survey of Gastro-Enteritis in Dublin. |
|
Cost: |
£9,400 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report was published and serves as a guide to medical practitioners. |
|
1965 |
|
|
Report: |
Study Group on Child Health Services. |
|
Cost: |
£2,000 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Report was published in 1968; it is being implemented. |
|
Report: |
(Second) Survey on the Incidence of Limb Deformities Attributable to Thalidomide (undertaken following withdrawal of the drug). |
|
Cost: |
£483 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Report was not published. Findings were not such as called for implementation. |
|
Report: |
Inter-Departmental Committee on Care of the Aged. |
|
Cost: |
Nil |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report was published. Its recommendations serve as a guide in the development of proposals for services for the aged. |
|
1966 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
1967 |
|
|
Report: |
A long-term study of the dental condition of school children in Mitchelstown and Macroom for the purpose of evaluating the effect of fluoridated water on the teeth of children. |
|
Cost: |
Please see note (a) at end of list. |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Study is still in progress. |
|
Report: |
Consultative Council on the General Hospital Services (The FitzGerald Report). |
|
Cost: |
£4,000 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report was published. Its recommendations have been accepted in principle. Many of the proposals are being implemented. Other proposals are under examination. In regard to the selection of centres for general hospitals in areas outside Dublin the proposals will be examined by the Regional Health Boards and the proposed Regional Hospital Board. |
|
Report: |
Education and Training in Hygiene and Food Hygiene. |
|
Cost: |
£1,220 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report was published. Some of its recommendations have been implemented, others are under consideration. |
|
1968 |
|
|
Report: |
Working Party on Drug Abuse. |
|
Cost: |
£3,000 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Report was published and its recommendations are being implemented. |
|
1969 |
|
|
Report: |
A survey of the dental caries experience of Cork City school children after 4½ years of fluoridation. |
|
Cost: |
Please see note (a) at end of list. |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Report was published in 1970. The nature of the survey was such as not to call for implementation. |
|
1970 |
|
|
Report: |
Working Party on Child Health Records. |
|
Cost: |
£800 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Report was published and its recommendations have been implemented. |
|
Report: |
Towards Better Health Care — Management in the Health Boards. |
|
Cost: |
£82,940 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Report, furnished by a firm of Management Consultants, was not published. The main recommendations have been or are in process of being implemented. |
|
Report: |
Clinical trial to measure the effectiveness of an 0.2% solution of sodium fluoride mouth rinse in the control of dental caries in school children in Fermoy. |
|
Cost: |
Please see note (a) at end of list. |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Trial still in progress. |
|
1971 |
|
|
Report: |
The consultative Council on General Medical Practice. |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
The Council, which was established in October, 1971, has not yet reported. |
(a) The cost of the studies and surveys undertaken in connection with the fluoridation of water supplies is about £10,000 per year. It is not feasible to apportion this outlay among the different surveys.
II. Reports commissioned by semi-State bodies under the aegis of the Department.
|
1962—1969 (inclusive) and 1971 |
|
|
Nil |
|
|
1970 |
|
|
Report: |
Investigation into alleged shortage of nurses. Commissioned by An Bord Altranais. |
|
Cost: |
£1,400 |
|
Publication and Implementation of Report: |
Not published. Recommendations under consideration. |