Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Equipment.

David Stanton

Question:

125 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria under which health boards are authorised to supply people with motorised wheelchairs; the plans, if any, he has to relax the criteria in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10439/99]

David Stanton

Question:

126 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money made available by his Department for each of the past two years in order to supply people with wheelchairs; the number of wheelchairs supplied; the number of waiting lists for each type of wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10440/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.

Under the Health Act, 1970, the provision of items of equipment for people with disabilities, including motorised wheelchairs, is a matter for the health boards. The system is that applications for an item or items of equipment, particularly those related to mobility, are assessed on their own merits by the boards' occupational therapists. In making their assessments, the occupational therapists take account of such factors as the age, health status and the social and domestic circumstances of the individual concerned. In making an assessment in favour of motorised wheelchairs, I understand that, in addition to points mentioned above, criteria employed by the occupational therapists require that such a chair is essential to the health and well-being of the individual concerned and that s/he is unable to use a manually propelled wheelchair. I have no plans to modify the criteria used by occupational therapists in their professional assessments of applications for motorised wheelchairs.

Items of equipment are provided under the generic community care, acute general hospital and other programmes operated by the health boards. Figures on the amounts spent on specific types of equipment are not readily available within my Department. However, I would point out that, since taking office, this Government has made almost £37 million additional funding available to the physical and sensory disability sector. This includes special allocations for the provision of aids and appliances, including wheelchairs, in 1997 and 1998 totalling £9.325 million. This year, additional funding of £13.4 million has been allocated for the maintenance and development of services in the sector including capital supports.

The most recent figures available to my Department – i.e. at the start of the year – regarding waiting lists for wheelchairs are given in the following table.

Health Board	Number awaitingwheelchairs.	Comments.
Eastern Health Board	150(Approx.)	Board advises of possible duplication in applications as between their lists and voluntary agency lists.
Midland Health Board	46(Approx.)	Board advises of possible duplication in applications as between their lists and voluntary agency lists.
Mid-Western Health Board	61
North-Eastern Health Board	47
North-Western Health Board	Nil	Board advises that delivery of specialised wheelchairs may take between 4 to 6 weeks.
South-Eastern Health Board	173	Board advises that this number is awaiting assessment and not all may require a wheelchair.
Southern Health Board	21	Waiting list for non-motorised wheelchairs is fully addressed. The number shows applications for motorised wheelchairs.
Western Health Board	83	Board advises that a further 200 people are awaiting assessment – not all may require a wheelchair.