Written answers

Tuesday, 11 December 2007

Department of Health and Children

Health Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of additional primary care teams funded by her Department in 2007; the cost of this programme; the number of primary care teams in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34047/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Primary Care Strategy aims to increase health service capacity through the development of services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of physiotherapists, general practitioners, nurses, home helps, 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 Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

In 2007 an additional €20m was provided in the Vote of the Health Service Executive to enable the full-year costs of the 87 primary care teams funded in 2006 to be met and to enable a further 100 teams to be established during 2007. These developments will involve, altogether, the appointment of some 600 additional front-line health care professionals. The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009 and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care Services it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

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