Brian O'Shea
Ceist:173 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the establishment of the speech and language therapy assistant grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5933/03]
Written Answers - Speech Therapy Service.
The proposed introduction of a grade of therapy assistant into the health service was among a number of recommendations contained in the report of the expert group on various health professions. This new grade is intended to complement the roles of the major therapy professions, including speech and language therapy, and its development and introduction will be progressed by my Department as part of the continuing implementation of the expert group report.
This initiative will form part of the overall move towards building on skill mix in the health service as set out in the modernisation process for the health service under Sustaining Progress, the proposed new social partnership agreement for 2002 to 2005. As outlined in Sustaining Progress, skill mix is at the core of the requirement for the redesign of jobs, development of new ways of working and the determination of the quality and cost of health care. Enhanced skill mix will benefit patients, empower health personnel to reach their full potential, maintain skill levels and also help to secure a more rational utilisation of available healthcare personnel through a close matching of skills to functions and service needs.