Vol. 518 No. 5
138 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a report by the Irish Kidney Association in regard to the standard of facilities in the country's renal services claiming that early diagnosis and referral is poor and a multi-disciplinary approach is non-existent. [12300/00]
The Irish Kidney Association's renal service development policy, to which the Deputy is referring, has been submitted by the association to my Department to help inform the approach to be taken in progressing the renal services development initiative announced by my predecessor late last year. As the Deputy may be aware, an investment of £20 million, revenue and capital funding, over a three year period has been committed to support that initiative.
Additional revenue funding of £3 million has already been invested this year, aimed at increasing the number of dialysis places available and at improving the availability of alternative dialysis treatment options. The principles underpinning this investment are to ensure that haemo-dialysis is available on a regionally self-sufficient basis so that patients do not have to travel long distances to avail of it and to ensure an equitable availability of treatment choice for patients irrespective of their geographical location. In addition, services must be patient centred and evidence based, there must be effective and accountable use of resources invested for the benefit of renal patients and there must to be an inclusive decision making process at all levels.
In addition to the revenue funding already allocated, capital projects to improve and extend dialysis facilities will also be funded by my Department and in this regard a number of proposals are currently being developed.
