Written Answers - Paramedical Services.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:
311
Mr. Naughten
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the action he has taken to date to implement the Bacon report on paramedical grades; the interim measures which he is taking to address the shortage of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy in the interim; the measures he is taking to deal with this shortfall in the learning disability area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6111/03]
Significant progress has been achieved in increasing the number of therapy training places in line with the recommendations of the report, Current and Future Supply and Demand Conditions in the Labour Market for Certain Professional Therapists, commissioned by my Department from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates and published in June 2001. A detailed assessment of proposals to provide these additional training places was subsequently carried out by an inter-agency group comprising the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Education and Science, the health boards and my Department with regard to such issues as the proposed curricula; the availability of high quality clinical placements; the speed at which these places could be provided; and the recommendation contained in the Bacon report that consideration should be given to the development and validation of courses at different institutions.
Following my joint announcement with the Minister for Education and Science of 175 extra professional therapy training places in May of 2002, the bachelor of science in physiotherapy in the University of Limerick commenced in the 2002-03 academic year with an intake of 28 students. It is envisaged that the masters programmes in speech and language therapy and occupational therapy at the University of Limerick will commence in June, 2003 with an intake of 25 into both courses. These courses are accelerated conversion courses, in respect of which the first graduates will be produced in two years.
The National University of Ireland, Cork, has made provision for a Central Applications Office, CAO, entry in October 2003 for both the bachelor of science course in occupational therapy – 25 places – and the bachelor of science course in speech and language therapy – 25 places. The option of a programme which would allow students with suitable backgrounds to enter into the second year of a degree programme in October 2003 is currently being considered.
The National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, plans to commence its intake of students into both programmes, the bachelor of science course in occupational therapy – 25 places – and the bachelor of science course in speech and language therapy – 25 places – in September 2003. NUIG is also investigating the possibility of accepting suitable students into the second year of the programmes in September 2003. In addition, the universities which are already offering degree courses in these specialties have increased the number of places being offered in the past number of years.
Although the health services are experiencing shortages in these areas, it should be noted that there have been large increases in the numbers of therapy professionals employed in the health services over the last number of years, as shown in the following table:
|
Profession
|
Number employed 1999
|
Number employed 2001
|
% change 1999-2001
|
|
Occupational Therapy
|
371
|
526
|
41.8
|
|
Speech and Language Therapy
|
345
|
399
|
15.6
|
|
Physiotherapy
|
679
|
896
|
31.9
|
Information in respect of the end-2002 position is currently being compiled by my Department. Intensive efforts have been undertaken to improve staffing levels in the therapy professions, both at local and national level. Overseas recruitment by health agencies has, over recent years, made an important contribution to meeting the staffing requirements of the health services in areas experiencing shortages of fully trained and qualified therapy staff, in particular the undertaking of a concerted overseas recruitment drive by the Northern Area Health Board on behalf of all health boards in 2002. Increased attractiveness of employment in the health services has been achieved through such measures as pay enhancements, developments in career structure and enhanced opportunities for professional development as a result of the continued implementation of the recommendations of the report of the expert group on various health professionals. The implementation of the pay recommendations of the public service benchmarking body will make a further contribution to the recruitment and retention of therapy professionals. The introduction of a fast-track working visa scheme for health and social care professionals and the streamlining of procedures for the validation of overseas qualifications are other initiatives that have been taken to help meet the human resource requirements of the health services in these areas.
Having recruited and developed such a large number of staff over recent years, it is a priority to retain them by offering a challenging and rewarding career path. In a human capital and skills intensive health sector, retention has been identified as a key issue in better people management. The implementation of the action plan for people management, which I launched in November 2002, also has a crucial role to play in boosting the capacity of the health services to retain scarce skilled health and social care professionals.
The proposed introduction of a grade of therapy assistant into the health services 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 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 2002-05. 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.
All the initiatives outlined above are intended to benefit service users throughout the health services, including the intellectual disability sector. The Deputy will also wish to know that additional funding has been made available annually in recent years to the health boards in respect of the provision of health related support services for persons with autism and those with an intellectual disability. In particular €14.6 million has been invested in health-related support services for children with autism or intellectual disability nationally between 1998 and 2002. A further €3.3 million has been allocated to these services in 2003. This includes diagnostic and assessment services, early intervention, home support and out reach support to children of school going age.
My Department has asked the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to explore approaches which might result in the maintenance of an existing level of service provision or enhancement in line with agreed services developments for children with autism or intellectual disability using the resources allocated to the services. It is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards to decide on the specific approaches which they may consider appropriate in this area.
