Vol. 525 No. 2
179 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement with regard to his plans to deal with the elimination of the long lists for occupational therapy, particularly in the eastern region. [24483/00]
In the first instance, the provision of health related support services, including occupational therapy, to persons with physical or sensory disabilities is the responsibility of the relevant health board.
The recruitment of allied health professional staff generally is presenting problems throughout the health board regions and it is clear that the demand for the three therapy grades, occupational therapy physiotherapy and speech and language therapy needs to be reviewed. Following a Labour Court recommendation in 1997, an expert group was established to examine and report on various issues relating to the allied health professional grades, including occupational therapists. Among the issues examined by this group were the problems which arise in relation to the recruitment and the retention of various grades. The expert group submitted its final report in April 2000 and I am implementing in full the recommendations of this report at a cost of £10 million. Among its recommendations was the urgent commissioning of a workforce planning study for the three therapy grades, that is, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. The terms of reference for the workforce planning study for the three therapy professions have been agreed and the study commissioned. This study will report by the end of this year. In the context of this report, a large expansion in the area of training for these therapists, in both the numbers of graduates produced and the number of training colleges established, will be examined in partnership with the education authorities.
