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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

81 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is intended to provide a psychologist, physiotherapist, speech-therapist and social worker for St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the St. Joseph's Visiting Committee regarding the quality of the refurbishment undertaken in Unit H, particularly the fact that all the windows in the ground floor unit where the day room is situated are all frosted glass, which makes it impossible to see out; the steps being taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19223/01]

The Eastern Regional Health Authority informs me that the filling of posts in a number of particular grades is as follows:

Psychologist – the current complement of psychologists in St. Joseph's in intellectual disability service is one senior psychologist and one basic grade psychologist. These posts are currently vacant due to the two post holders taking up appointments elsewhere in the public services. The posts have been advertised and interviews have been held under the auspices of the Local Appointments Commission, and the recommendation of the commission is awaited.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority's Provider Plan, 2001 identifies an additional basic grade psychologist for St. Joseph's service and arrangements are in train to advertise this post also through the Local Appointments Commission.

Physiotherapist – ongoing efforts to recruit a physiotherapist for St. Joseph's Service even on a part-time or sessional basis have been unsuccessful to date and these efforts are continuing. In the meantime urgent physiotherapy treatments for residents of St. Joseph's Services are provided in Beaumont Hospital.

The authority's Provider Plan, 2001 provides for recruitment of an additional post of physiotherapist for St. Joseph's services.

Speech therapist – St. Joseph's service currently has the services of a speech therapist on a half time basis. The authority's Provider Plan, 2001 provides for the appointment of a senior speech and language therapist in the current year.

Social worker – there is currently no social worker attached to St. Joseph's service. Up to now the authority's community psychiatric nurses have been providing a similar service. The authority's Provider Plan, 2001 provides for the recruitment of a senior social worker for St. Joseph's service in the current year.

In relation to staff recruitment generally, St. Joseph's service are experiencing ongoing difficulties in the recruitment of para-medical staff including occupational therapists in addition to the grades mentioned above. This is due primarily to the general shortage of available staff in these grades nationally.

Tara, unit H, is a unit in St. Joseph's services accommodating up to 18 residents with a profound disability. Over the past several months this unit has been extensively refurbished and re-equipped at a total cost of £120,000. The refurbishments have been carried out to a high standard. The frosted glass on the lower section of the windows in the day room was provided sev eral years ago at the request of unit nursing staff to protect the privacy and dignity of the residents in Tara. The dayroom fronts on to a public access area with passers-by including delivery and other transport vehicles. While curtains are provided on the windows they are liable to be pulled down frequently due to the challenging behaviour of some of the residents. Accordingly it is felt that the continuing use of the frosted glass in these particular windows is necessary for the residents' privacy. The residents are due to return to the unit later this week, having been relocated to alternative accommodation to facilitate the refurbishment.
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