Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 1

Written Answers. - Consultant Geriatricians.

Dan Wallace

Question:

52 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the total number of consultant geriatricians employed in public hospitals here; the average number of elderly people per such consultant; if he will give comparative figures with other EU countries in this regard; the proposals, if any, he has for improving medical care facilities for the elderly, including psychiatric, psychological and counselling. [3919/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): As the Deputy will be aware, improving health services for the elderly was addressed by the Working Party on Services for the Elderly, culminating in the publication of The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly in 1988. The principal recommendations of The Years Ahead were to maintain the elderly in dignity and independence at home with the support of the community care services where necessary, and when this was no longer possible, to ensure that they had access to the best possible medical and long-term care. The Health Strategy, Shaping a Healthier Future, builds on these recommendations.

The Years Ahead stated that the development of departments of medicine of the elderly and the appointment of consultant geriatricians in general hospitals has been one of the most significant advances in the care of the elderly. Such departments ensure prompt admission of elderly patients to hospital, specialist diagnosis and treatment, skilled nursing and rehabilitation and, in many cases, continuing support in a day hospital on discharge. Geriatric departments tend to encourage close liaison between domiciliary, community and extended care facilities in the interest of a comprehensive response to the problems of vulnerable elderly people.

At the time of publication of The Years Ahead, there were ten general hospitals with departments of medicine of the elderly attached under the direction of twelve physicians in geriatric medicine. The Years Ahead recommended that every general hospital should either have such a department or have access to one. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that today, 26 consultant geriatricians are employed working in specialist departments of medicine of the elderly attached to 22 general hospitals around the country. Taking the population of people aged 65 years and over, this gives a ratio of one geriatrician to approximately 15,000 elderly people. It is not possible to give comparative figures for other EU countries as this information is not available to my Department.

I would like to assure the Deputy that I intend to continue the development of these units and funding has been allocated in 1997 for the development of a further three specialist departments of medicine of the elderly. Priority will also be given to strengthening the role of the general practitioner, the public health nurse, the home help and other primary care professionals in supporting older people and their carers who live at home and to developing services for elderly people with psychiatric illness and dementia.