Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it affords me an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to developing community-based services at local level.

The Health Act 2004 provides the Health Service Executive with responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. In line with the Government strategy, Primary Care - A New Direction, the executive is refocusing its services in order to provide people with direct access in the community to multidisciplinary teams including general practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, home helps, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. This is designed to maintain people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, decrease hospital attendances and facilitate early hospital discharge and supported care at home.

The HSE plans to have 530 primary care teams in place by 2011. Of that number, almost 130 are already in place and it is intended to have 210 in place by the end of 2009. Of the planned overall total of 530, 138 of the teams will be in the HSE southern area, including 66 teams within Cork city and county. The HSE southern area's target is to have 63 primary care teams in operation, that is, holding clinical team meetings on individual client cases and involving GPs and HSE staff, by the end of 2009. As at 30 September, there were 39 teams in operation in the area. Of these, 13 are in operation in Cork city and county, serving a population of more than 90,000 persons. Another 20 primary care teams in Cork city and county are at various stages of development, with at least ten due to become operational by the end of this year.

The HSE is reassigning staff working in primary, community and continuing care services to work in primary care teams. The executive also intends to redeploy into community services a significant number of staff from acute hospitals and corporate functions. Where possible, primary care teams are based in a single facility to provide easy accessibility for patients and to enhance multidisciplinary teamwork. However, teams are working very effectively where they are not co-located. Although they are not in a single building, they still come together for clinical team meetings. Information technology usage facilitates team working among members who may be based in separate locations.

As part of budget 2009, the Government announced its strong support for the Health Service Executive's innovative proposal to fast-track the roll-out of new primary care centres in collaboration with the private sector through leasing arrangements. The HSE has indicated that, to date, its board has approved a total of 19 locations in Cork city and county to proceed with negotiations with interested parties to secure leasing arrangements. One agreement for lease has been signed and 14 letters of intent have issued.

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