Vol. 519 No. 6
146 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason 78% of persons with brain injuries, discharged from the National Rehabilitation Centre, failed to receive the continuous treatment recommended for them following their return home; and the reason for the lack of necessary follow-up treatment within the community. [14402/00]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the results of a survey carried out at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in October, 1999 on patients and families of adults and children who have acquired brain injury and who had been in-patients at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. I have been informed that the final report of this survey will be available shortly and when it becomes available, I will have it considered in my Department.
Regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services have been established in each health board and bring together the statutory and voluntary sector services providers, the consumers and their representatives for the better planning and co-ordination of services at regional level. From 1997 to December 1999 an additional 73 posts have been created, including an additional 17.8 physiotherapy posts, and an additional 95 respite places have also been created to provide services to people with physical and sensory disabilities, including people with acquired brain injuries. Each of the health boards is in the process of establishing multidisciplinary assessment and treatment centres which will play an important role in the initial assessment of children and adults with hereditary or acquired disability.
This Government is committed to the development of community based services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, including services to adults and children with acquired brain injury. Since coming into office, additional funding of just over £67 million has been provided for the maintenance and development of community based health services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. In line with the recommendations of the review group report, Towards an Independent Future, priorities for the allocation of funding available for the development of services in the sector are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services.
