As the Deputy is aware, health related support services for children with autism and their families within the Eastern Regional Health Authority's area of responsibility have been greatly enhanced and expanded since 1998. Two multi-disciplinary outreach teams were established in 1998 and 1999, each consisting of a psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, social worker and secretarial support. This year a further £500,000, with a full year cost of £600,000 in 2001, has been provided for the expansion of the outreach and respite services, bringing the total additional funding provided for these services since 1998 to £1.2 million in 2000. A third multidisciplinary outreach team is being established to cover the western part of the region, which will have a similar composition to the two existing teams. The establishment of this team will relieve some of the pressure on the existing personnel, thus enabling them to spend more time with the children within their designated areas. The question of the overall level of input from any particular therapist will vary in each case, depending on the individual needs of each child. I understand that, in addition to recruiting the additional staff already mentioned, the authority is also seeking to fill two existing psychology posts which are currently vacant in the services. My Department will continue to endeavour to assist the authority to meet the health related needs of these children.
I am aware of the difficulties being experienced within the health services generally in relation to the recruitment of health professionals. Following a Labour Court recommendation in 1997, an expert group was established to examine and report on various issues, including recruitment and retention of staff, relating to paramedical grades. The group is in the process of finalising its report, which is expected to be published in the next few weeks. A review of psychology services is under way, with manpower planning as one of its terms of reference.
My Department is also working closely with other Departments, the health boards, voluntary service providers and the various professional representative bodies to facilitate in any way it can issues related to the short-term recruitment of additional nursing and paramedical staff to work in various areas of the health services.
