Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Staff.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

511 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding for the epidermylosis bullosa nurse based at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, and funded through the registered charity, DEBRA Ireland, is due to run out shortly; if his attention has further been drawn to the value of this nursing service to parents and families of children with the disease; the support services, including specialist nursing, supporting families and organising a clinic, which the health boards provide to the families concerned; if the services of the nurse will be retained when the funding from DEBRA Ireland runs out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18042/99]

Conor Lenihan

Ceist:

533 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make available on a continuing basis at Crumlin Hospital, Dublin 12, a dedicated nurse for the rare condition, epidermylosis bullosa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18359/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 533 together.

The paediatric dermatology service at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, includes the provision of care for children affected by epidermylosis bullosa, EB. The hospital has identified a need for the further development of its dermatology service which includes the provision of continued support services for children affected by epidermylosis bullosa with particular emphasis on the role of the EB nurse specialist, and has submitted a proposal to my Department in this regard. The proposal is under consideration by my Department.

This proposal is linked to a similar proposal from St. James's Hospital for the development of its dermatology service in terms of joint consultant appointments. The continuation of the EB nurse specialist role, in particular, and the further development of the dermatology service, in general, at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children will be the subject of discussions with the hospital in the context of its priority funding requirements for next year. However, while the Estimates pro cess is still ongoing I hope funding for the specialist nurse will be available next year provided the authorities at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children consider it a service development priority in 2000.