QUESTION NO: 189 , 24 June 2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress that the Working Group on Rehabilitation Services in the Health Service Executive has made in the development of a strategic plan for regional rehabilitation services; the discussions or meetings her Department has had with the HSE in relation to same; when she expects the working group and her Department to be in a position to develop and implement a policy in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY.
The proposed National Strategy for the Provision of Rehabilitation Services is currently in the early stages of development by the Department of Health and Children and HSE. To date a number of planning meetings have been held between the Department and the HSE with the first Working Group meeting due to take place in July. It is expected that the Strategy will:
Define the scope of rehabilitation services
Research best practice approaches to rehabilitation services
Assess the need of the population
Outline a model of service delivery that will encompass all stages of service required to meet the needs of service users
Recommend a framework that will ensure that service developments are within an agreed national framework with common principles
Develop an approach in line with the transformation of HSE services toward increased delivery at primary care level
The strategy will focus on the service provision needs of the following categories:
Static and progressive neurological conditions;
Traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury; and
Other physically disabling conditions who may benefit from medical, psychological or social rehabilitation service provision.
It is anticipated that the Working Group will complete its work by the end of the year.
QUESTION NOS: 69, 25, 15 & 28 to the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Gallagher) for ORAL ANSWER on 29/04/2008
To ask the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of hospitals here which have transient ischaemic attack services; her plans to improve coverage of same; the number of designated stroke unit beds nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the Irish Heart Foundation Irish National Audit of Stroke Care published in April 2008; the action she will take as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY.
I welcome the publication of the Irish Heart Foundation National Audit of Stroke Care, which was conducted with the support of my Department.
The report covers the spectrum of care from prevention to treatment and rehabilitation. It has highlighted a number of areas where clinical care and the organisation of stroke services can be enhanced. Last year I established the Cardiovascular Health Policy Group to advise on how to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and improve services for individuals affected by these conditions. I am aware that the Policy Group has, in the course of its work, considered the Audit and will be making recommendations to me in the summer.
My Department has also discussed the issues raised in the Audit with the Health Service Executive and the HSE is already working to enhance acute hospital services for stroke patients. There have been a number of service developments since the stroke audit researchers collected their data. The HSE is currently finalising an evaluation of its current stroke services and will be publishing the results of this in the next few weeks. The evaluation has so far identified a number of hospitals where stroke services have begun to be developed. Dedicated beds for stroke patients are provided in a number of hospitals which do not yet have a dedicated acute stroke unit. Several hospitals have either on-site rehabilitation beds for stroke patients or have good links to nearby hospitals providing rehabilitation. There have also been developments within the emergency services, with training of EMTs and fast-tracking of patients with suspected stroke in some areas, and plans to extend this to other areas.
QUESTION NOS: 91, 95 & 97 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 13/03/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the actions she will take to provide an overall national and regional policy on stroke within the Irish health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – Denis Naughten
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the availability of community based stroke services across the country; the services on offer and locations of same; her plans for the development of an integrated, community based, multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation services network; the targets that have been set in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number, with regard to the recommendations made in 2000 by the Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke, of these that have been adopted and implemented, in particular in relation to prevention and health promotion, acute treatment and rehabilitation, community rehabilitation and establishment of a stroke register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
In September last year Minister Harney established a Cardiovascular Health Policy Group to draw up a new policy framework for the development of all aspects of cardiovascular health, including stroke. The Group is scheduled to report in May 2008. The work of the Group will, inter alia, be informed by the report of the Irish Heart Foundation’s Council on Stroke and a national audit of stroke services carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation with funding from my Department. The results of this audit will be published shortly.
Current service availability and plans for development of stroke services are matters which relate to the funding, 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 replies issued directly to the Deputies.
QUESTION NO: 152 for ORAL ANSWER on 05/03/2008
To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 31 January 2008 and the Minister of State’s comments regarding the development of formal policy in her Department, the progress that has been made in the provision of a rehabilitation centre in the Cork or Munster region for stroke and acquired brain injury victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
My Department considers that there should be an over-arching policy framework to set out the broad policy guidelines for development of policy on cardiovascular health, including stroke. A new Cardiovascular Health Policy Group was established in September 2007 to develop this framework. The group, chaired by Professor Hannah McGee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, is due to complete its work by May 2008. In addition, a national audit of stroke services is currently being undertaken by the Irish Heart Foundation in association with the Health Service Executive. This will provide the evidence base necessary for the development of stroke policy.
My Department is currently considering the development of a formal policy on rehabilitation. A number of issues must be considered including a needs assessment on a population health basis; the structure of service provision; the location of the facilities; and the nature of the facilities, that is, whether they are hospital type, step down, or preparation for independent living.
Plans have been prepared in some areas for regional rehabilitation facilities. My Department and the Health Service Executive are aware of the need to review the potential benefits of a regional network of rehabilitation facilities and services. The development of such a network should be considered in the context of a national strategy for rehabilitation services and the Department is currently considering this issue.
The Deputy’s question relates 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 the specific matter of the provision of rehabilitation services for the Cork or Munster region investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NOS: 266 & 267 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 04/03/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and location with regard to stroke in-patient services, of dedicated stroke units here; the number of beds available for stroke victims; the location of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds for stroke victims in hospitals here each year for the past five years respectively; if any of these beds are for use by stroke sufferers only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
The Deputy’s question relates to the funding, 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NOS: 102 & 103 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 14/02/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the supports and assistance available through her Department or the Health Service Executive for the families and carers of people with acquired brain injury or who have suffered a stroke; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the organisations that provide services to people who have suffered stroke or acquired brain injury; the location of these services; the funding from her Department or from State agencies allocated to these organisations in 2007 and 2008 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
The Deputy’s question relates 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NO: 208 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 13/02/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people here who have a residual disability as a result of a stroke or an acquired brain injury; the types of residual disability that these people are affected by and a percentage breakdown of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
The Deputy’s question relates 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NO: 209 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 13/02/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people affected by stroke here each year; the breakdown of same per age bracket (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
The Deputy’s question relates to the funding, 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NO: 268 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 12/02/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the range of services available to stroke victims, their families and carers at the stroke rehabilitation unit at Baggot Street Community Hospital; the number of staff employed at the unit, their speciality and grade and if they are full or part time staff; if this is the only dedicated stroke out patient facility here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
Over 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government’s ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.
Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.
QUESTION NO: 269 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 12/02/2008
To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who received treatment at the stroke rehabilitation unit at Baggot Street Community Hospital each year since it was established in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton T.D.
REPLY
The Deputy’s question relates to the funding, 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NO: 210 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 06/02/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who suffered a stroke and an acquired brain injury in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively; the number who did not survive as a result of their injuries each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.- David Stanton T.D.
REPLY
The Deputy’s question relates to the funding, 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
QUESTION NO: 321 for WRITTEN ANSWER on 05/02/2008
* To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide a dedicated stroke and rehabilitation unit in the Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – David Stanton
REPLY
The Deputy should be aware that Cardiovascular Health Policy Group, chaired by Professor Hannah McGee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, is due to complete its work by May 2008. It will set out broad policy guidelines for development of policy on cardiovascular health, including stroke.
My Department and the Health Service Executive are aware of the need to review the potential benefits of a regional network of rehabilitation facilities and services. The development of such a network should be considered in the context of a national strategy for rehabilitation services and the Department is currently considering this issue.
The Deputy’s question in relation to the provision of stroke and rehabilitation services in Cork is 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 this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
