Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I respond to this debate on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The HSE has operational and funding responsibility for the provision of health and social care services, including physiotherapy services, in south Monaghan. The HSE has advised me that the primary, community and continuing care physiotherapy service for Louth and south Monaghan has 1.5 whole-time equivalent physiotherapy staff in its core service. Referrals of approximately 150 patients per year are taken and prioritised on the basis of clinical need. Referrals are made mainly by general practitioners, public health nurses and hospitals following an inpatient stay. In addition, physiotherapy is provided in the community by a number of teams working in disability, district rehabilitation in Louth, palliative care, early intervention and children's disability. All these teams cover the south Monaghan area.

The HSE has advised that persons requiring physiotherapy from south Monaghan can be referred to the outpatient unit in Louth County Hospital. The hospital has four physiotherapists attached to its outpatient unit. It takes referrals mainly from GPs and hospital consultants. Hospital and community physiotherapy services are well integrated and the physiotherapy managers jointly manage hospital and community services. Physiotherapists in either the community or in hospital services share the responsibilities when required.

The HSE plans to further enhance the physiotherapy role by filling approved posts within existing teams that are currently vacant, improving the existing community team structure and further developing discharge planning arrangements. Further implementation of the primary care strategy will also impact on the provision of physiotherapy services. The strategy, Primary Care: A New Direction, aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multidisciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, home helpers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of the new primary care teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services in these areas.

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