John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the assistance given to date to Survivors of Symphysiotomy; the reason such assistance has not been forthcoming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16634/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My predecessor, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, met with the group, Survivors of Symphysiotomy, in late 2003 and agreed that a range of measures would be put in place to support it. My Department is advised by the Health Service Executive that the position in this regard is as follows.

The former health boards and the relevant voluntary hospitals have appointed liaison officers, who have met and continue to meet with patients that have undergone symphysiotomy to discuss their health care needs. An exercise was conducted, in conjunction with the Survivors of Symphysiotomy group, to profile patients in order to assist in formulating a needs assessment for each individual. An assessment service for patients has recently been established at Cappagh Hospital, Dublin. This service is provided by a multidisciplinary team which undertakes an assessment of patients, following which, recommendations for care pathways are discussed with individual patients.

Independent clinical advice is available, on request, through the liaison personnel, to patients who have undergone symphysiotomy. This has already been availed of by a number of members of Survivors of Symphysiotomy and appropriate follow-up has been arranged. Independent counselling services are available to patients where requested. Information packs have been made available to general practitioners and relevant health care personnel. Medical cards have been granted, based on medical grounds, to Survivors of Symphysiotomy patients who do not have such eligibility. The Health Service Executive is finalising arrangements for the issuing of replacement medical cards to the group which will contain a special patient identifier that will allow for the fast-tracking of patients requiring hospital appointments and treatments, together with the provision of certain non-GMS items recommended for patients by their GP and-or consultant.

My Department is advised that, following a number of meetings with the Survivors of Symphysiotomy group, it was agreed to defer the setting-up of a helpline. The provision of an information line is subject to active consideration by the Health Service Executive. It is evident from the foregoing that considerable progress has been made in putting in place a comprehensive range of support services for patients who have undergone symphysiotomy. The executive will continue to oversee the provision of necessary support services for this patient group.