Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2007
293 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide older women with regular visits from public health nurses with regular health assessments and access to services such as chiropody in all localities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14132/07]
View answerThe Primary Care Strategy aims to support and promote the health and well-being of the population by providing accessible local services and reducing reliance on institutional services. Funding totalling €32m has been provided in 2006 and 2007 for the establishment of 200 Primary Care Teams involving 600 new frontline professionals including Nurses(300 per year).
In accordance with the approach set out in the strategy “Primary Care: A New Direction”, the composition of Teams will depend on the needs, demographics and geographic location of the population served but will typically consist of GPs, Nurses, Home Helps and Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Work professionals. A wider range of professionals including Pharmacists, Dieticians, Psychologists and Chiropodists will be organised into Primary Care Networks, with each such Network supporting a number of Primary Care Teams.
The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009; and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008. The Government is already making considerable investment in the development of supports to enable older people to live in their own community.
In 2006, a total of 2,000 extra Home Care Packages were provided at a full year cost of €55 million (prior to this date only 1,100 packages had been in operation on a pilot basis). A similar increase in the number of packages will be provided in 2007, benefiting some 4,000 people.
In the first instance use of mainstream community services is maximized to support and maintain the older person at home. If further services are assessed as being required these services may be provided through the Home Care Package Scheme, which may include the services of nurses, home care attendants, home helps and various therapists, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists. A home care package will vary according to the care needs of the person so that, for example, there might be a greater emphasis in some packages on home help while other packages may require a greater level of therapy and nursing. Referral for a Home Care Package can be made by any health professional whether community or hospital based. The decision to allocate a Home Care Package is based on the assessment of needs of the individual and the identification of any assessed needs which are not being met by mainstream services together with consideration of the appropriateness of care in the community in the individual case. Home Care Packages are therefore an additional support over and above existing mainstream community services and are designed to enhance rather than replace existing home support services.
There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide chiropody services to GMS patients or to any other group of people; however in practice arrangements are made, in certain cases, to provide these services. Before the establishment of the HSE the nature of the arrangements for chiropody and the level of service provided was a matter for individual health boards and so a degree of variation in practice developed over time. Priority is usually given to certain groups of people, including people who are medical card holders aged 65 years and over. In several regions the service is provided by private chiropodists by arrangement with the HSE.
