Written answers

Tuesday, 30 May 2006

Department of Health and Children

Anti-Poverty Strategy

8:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the indicators she uses to judge progress against poverty in health and the way in which they have progressed in the past five years. [20397/06]

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Work is ongoing in relation to the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) targets for the reduction of health inequalities. Actions are being pursued in conjunction with a range of stakeholders both within and outside the health services e.g. the HSE, the Institute of Public Health, the Office for Social Inclusion (OSI), the Combat Poverty Agency, the Equality Authority, the Social Partners (as represented on the Working Group on NAPS and Health) and communities themselves. However, the nature of the targets is such that major improvements are not expected to be observable in the short term.

Analysis of the available data by the Institute of Public Health revealed that gaps continue to exist between the highest and lowest socio-economic groups for low birthweight and for death rates for circulatory diseases, cancers and injuries and poisoning which are two of the three NAPS health targets. However, lack of baseline data for comparison means that progress to date is not easily measured.

The third NAPS health target is the reduction in the difference in life expectancy between the Traveller community and the general population. A Traveller health study is being funded by my Department and this will be used to identify the causes of Traveller health inequalities and inform policy.

A pilot programme under the Cardiovascular Health Strategy to test standards for demographic and socio-economic data of cardiac patients is underway. If the pilot study is successful the next step will be to consider the possible use of such data in other health information systems, particularly in patient care settings.

Work is underway in my Department to select health indicators for inclusion in the forthcoming National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion (NAPincl). The soon to be established Health Information and Quality Authority will also facilitate the collection and processing of health information in such a way as to be able to identify and address health inequalities and their causes.

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