Written Answers. - Rehabilitation Treatment.
Mary Harney
Question:
219
Miss Harney
asked the
Minister for Health
if his attention has been drawn to the lengthy waiting lists at the Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; the steps, if any, he proposes to take to improve the situation for patients urgently in need of rehabilitation treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15858/96]
Mary Harney
Question:
222
Miss Harney
asked the
Minister for Health
the nature and extent of services for people with brain injuries; his views on whether there is a considerable need for comprehensive rehabilitation services for these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15861/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 222 together.
Rehabilitation services, including services for people with brain injuries, are provided by the National Rehabilitation Hospital. My Department's 1996 allocation to the NRH is £6.202 million.
In April this year I was pleased to officially open a new head injuries unit at the NRH. The new facilities have meant that the number of beds available for people with head injuries has increased from 23 to 34. Separate wards for adults and children have been created with specialised facilities for the more severely disabled patients. Nineteen additional staff have been recruited in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social work, psychology as well as nursing. This has facilitated the development of a multi-disciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of the patient. I was pleased that my Department was able to make £150,000 capital available towards the development of the new accommodation and £300,000 ongoing funding for the running of the facilities.
I also recently approved a capital grant of £50,000 for the development of a pre-discharge unit on the grounds of the hospital. This unit is for patients immediately prior to discharge to rehabilitate them to the outside environment. I have also recently agreed to the establishment of a hospital development project team at the NRH which will comprise representatives of the hospital and officials of my Department. This team will look at all aspects of service provision at the hospital and plan future improvements.
A wide range of services is available for people with brain injuries in addition to those provided at the NRH. In line with the Government's commitment to disability issues, additional funding has been made available for the development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, including people with brain injuries. As a result, improvements have taken place in a number of services, including home support services, community based therapy services, provision of aids and appliances and additional grants to voluntary organisations.
The review group on services for people with a physical or sensory disability is currently examining the service needs of people with disabilities, including the provision of rehabilitation services. Its report is expected to be published very shortly at which time I will make a decision about the development of rehabilitation services as part of my overall decision on the appropriate development of services generally for people with disabilities.
