asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the hardship that has been created by the cutbacks in the supply of incontinence items; his views on whether the protection of long term illness schemes like spina bifida is paramount to an effective and modern health service; if he will respond to the representations made to him and the health boards and restore the full service which existed to the active and hard working Spina Bifida Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cutbacks in Medical Supplies.
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The health boards provide incontinence wear, free of charge, under the long term illness scheme in cases where a medical condition covered by the scheme requires the availability of such incontinence requisites.
Health boards generally arrange for a public health nurse to assess patient need for incontinence wear. The precise quantity and type of material supplied by the board is based on the assessment made.
Where there is any dissatisfaction with the quantity of incontinence material supplied, the patient or family concerned may raise the matter with the health board and all such requests are treated sympathetically.