Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the chaos in behaviour which exists in a care home for young people (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive is ignoring all correspondence, telephone calls, complaints and so on regarding this establishment; and her proposals to deal with this situation. [22621/07]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Office have sought an urgent report in relation to this matter from the Health Service Executive (HSE). In addition, the Deputy's question has been forwarded to the HSE and I have requested that the HSE reply to the Deputy directly.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her proposals to enhance services to meet the demands of an increasing number of people with diabetes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22628/07]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes was recently established by the HSE and is currently drawing up standards of care for diabetes. This process will take account of the Department of Health and Children's document 'Diabetes: Prevention and Model for Patient Care'. The group has identified as one of its priorities the development of an Integrated Care Model for the treatment of diabetes. This model will focus on the joint participation of hospital consultants and general practitioners in the planned delivery of care for patients. The Expert Advisory Group has also identified the other areas of diabetes care that need priority attention such as retinopathy screening, paediatric diabetes, patient education and empowerment, and podiatry. It should be noted that the diabetic retinopathy screening to prevent eye diseases in diabetes sufferers is currently being rolled out in the Western region and in North Dublin.

In addition, my Department and the HSE are currently finalising a series of measures to manage the health impacts of chronic disease generally in the population. These measures include:—

The development of a comprehensive, integrated chronic disease policy framework which will view chronic disease as a continuum with "upstream" action on the avoidable cause of disease, disability and premature death (including in particular inter-sectoral action to address the wider determinants of health) as well as "downstream" action to improve the health and quality of life of those already suffering from the condition;

Comprehensive patient registration systems;

The development of shared care models for each condition under a disease management programme;

The development and use of evidence-based clinical guidelines for each condition;

A Self-Care Management Programme; and

Quality assurance and evaluation Protocols.