Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Hospital Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005

Tuesday, 21 June 2005

Ceisteanna (276)

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

269 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide details of the specialist hospital services including consultant services, nurse specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social workers and psychologists available to cystic fibrosis patients in County Mayo; if she considers these staffing levels to be adequate; the plans she has to improve the services available to cystic fibrosis patients in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21052/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland commissioned Dr. Ronnie Pollock to review existing hospital services for people with cystic fibrosis in the context of accepted international standards. The report concluded that the services available for persons with cystic fibrosis here are not of the standard that they should be. The report provides an assessment of need for current and future cystic fibrosis patients and makes recommendations regarding the numbers and categories of staff that are appropriate for a modern, multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis service.

Following publication of the report, the Health Service Executive, at the request of the Cystic Fibrosis Association, established a working group to review the current configuration and delivery of services to persons with cystic fibrosis in Ireland, both in hospitals and in the community. The working group will make recommendations for the reconfiguration, improvement and development of those services. The working group is multidisciplinary in its composition and includes representation from the Cystic Fibrosis Association. It held its first meeting in early April and I understand that it hopes to complete its work over the next few months. The Pollock report is one of a number of reports relating to cystic fibrosis services being considered by the group. The work of the group will result in an agreed proposal for the development and reconfiguration of services for cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland.

The Deputy's specific questions regarding the hospital services available to cystic fibrosis patients in County Mayo relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Barr
Roinn