Vol. 505 No. 5
6 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to school medical examinations; the number of children who are examined annually; the areas covered by this examination; the plans, if any, he has to improve this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/99]
The provision of child health services in schools is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. The current service is based on a comprehensive medical examination of selected classes and/or on referrals from schools. In addition, screening for vision and hearing defects in selected classes is routinely undertaken. Services are provided free of charge for all necessary follow-up services for defects discovered at such examinations.
A number of health boards have phased out school medical examinations as it was considered that these examinations were an inefficient use of resources for a number of reasons. These include better pre-school developmental services; better medical services in hospitals and by general practitioners ensure earlier detection of any problems; heightened general awareness due to ongoing health promotion; better informed parents assist in the early detection of problems. The information provided by the health boards indicates that more than 150,000 children were in receipt of a medical examination and/or audiometric and vision screening tests on an annual basis.
Issues surrounding child health screening and surveillance had not been examined for 30 years. During this period there was rapid economic, social and health care advances and increased emphasis on quality, effectiveness and value for money in health and social services. Accordingly, a review of child health services is being carried out by the health board chief executive officers and I understand that the report is virtually complete. I look forward to receiving it at an early date. My Department will then consider what improvements should be made in the child health service in the light of the recommendations from the chief executive officers.
What is the Minister's view? At present, we have the worst of all worlds. We have a service which has been available for some time but which is partially or selectively applied across the country. There is no clear idea as to whether it should have a future. I presume the Minister has a view as to how best to screen children and ensure that basic testing is carried out. The fact that children are in a school offers an opportunity to carry out a certain amount of screening and testing and that opportunity should not be lost.
What is the Minister's policy position on this rather than waiting for further reports? I presume he has a position on it. Second, in the context of the Slán lifestyles study which showed serious—
The Deputy's minute is up. Only one minute is allowed for supplementary questions.
I do not think this system is working.
We need a stop watch.
The Deputy can take that up with the relevant subcommittee.
I certainly will.
A review of child health services is required when none has taken place for 30 years to take account of economic and social changes. That is my view and that review is taking place. I am more likely to have an informed view if I listen to the health professionals who are dealing with the service. That is the reason the chief executive officers have been asked to examine it.
I do not believe in top of the head decisions without talking to the people on the ground. The Deputy might have a different view but that is my view of partnership. Since we are the authors of social partnership it will probably take some time for the Labour Party to learn about it.
Maybe the Minister should tell the nurses about partnership.
I am. I presume the Deputy respects our labour relations machinery as well.
The Minister has a lot to learn about partnership.
I know what it is about, Deputy.
The Minister to continue without interruption.
I know the game the Deputy is playing and it is not very sincere. The report of the review of child health services is likely to contain a number of recommendations relating to children from birth to 12 years. These will be underpinned by the development of a model which encompasses a more holistic child health promotion approach and emphasises the role of families as partners in the process.
Does the Minister agree that the school medical examination service is an excellent one? Many sight and hearing defects and other medical problems were detected at an early stage through school examination. Surely it would be prudent to invest more money in that system rather than let medical problems develop which will cost the Department more money to correct at a later stage? Does the Minister have discussions with the Department of Education and Science about health education in schools to back up the schools medical examination service?
An examination of these issues is being conducted at present and that is near finalisation. The traditional child health services provided by the schools need to be adapted to modern times. Parents have a greater awareness of child health issues than might have been the case 30 or 40 years ago. We have a more educated population and people can use their own initiative. They do not have to wait for the State to ensure that their children have proper sight and hearing tests and so forth.
We need to examine how to shape the school examination services to greater effect and to make them more focused to deal with the priority issues that must be dealt with. If there is a requirement then for a general health check, it should be available where necessary. However, specific recommendations are required to meet the perceived needs of today rather than tinkering around with a system that was more appropriate 30 years ago.
