Written answers

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Department of Health and Children

Health Services

8:00 am

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if children who have a prosthetic limb and who need a replacement on a regular basis will have it automatically sanctioned rather than having to wait each time for sanction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2075/11]

Photo of John MoloneyJohn Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of primary care centres planned under the primary care strategy and currently in development by the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2078/11]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The HSE has developed a generic model Primary Care Centre brief to accommodate Primary Care Teams. Approximately 270 possible locations for such centres were identified by the HSE. These were advertised in two stages in late 2007 and mid 2008. The HSE has summarised the progress to date as follows:

Approximately 220 new primary care centres are currently under consideration.

In 210 locations, the HSE Board has agreed to proceed with negotiations with interested parties.

107 centres are currently in contractual negotiations which will accommodate 137 teams.

12 centres procured by lease agreement are complete and in operation.

A further 5 centres are expected to open in the first quarter of 2011.

The HSE expects at least 115 primary care centres to be operational by 2013, supporting 160 teams.

The HSE has indicated that all these figures are approximate and that projections will change every quarter due to negotiations being progressed or finalised, projects not progressing due to various issues, including planning, banking and market issues. The HSE is continuing to develop a number of Primary Care Centres funded through its Capital Allocation. A number of these centres are at advanced stages of development.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to implement the palliative care national development framework, 2009 - 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2079/11]

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to develop a national dementia strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2080/11]

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Dementia is a most distressing condition both for those suffering from it and their families, and presents a significant and growing challenge to health and social services. Alzheimer's disease represents about 70% of the cases of dementia. People are living longer and as a consequence are more likely to develop some form of dementia. While dementia is not solely related to age, the prevalence is higher in older people and increases with age. It is estimated that about 5% of people over 65 years of age have some form of dementia with this figure rising to 20% for people over 80 years of age. The demographic make–up of Irish society is changing. The population is growing older and the number of people aged over 65 is estimated to almost triple over the next 30 years.

As I have indicated previously, my Department has started the process of developing a policy on dementia that will support the delivery of long-term care services having regard to future demographic trends and the consequential increase in demand for long-term care. This policy will be developed on the basis of the best evidence available from national and international sources. Officials in my Department have engaged with relevant stakeholder groups on the first stage of the process which is to assemble the research and evidence upon which the policy will be developed. I expect this will be received in 2011, at which stage work on the policy will commence formally.

The Health Services Executive (HSE) is currently exploring the potential for changes in care pathways for people with dementia, and will make recommendations for the future provision of dementia care across all health and social services. An audit is at an advanced stage within the HSE of the current specialist dementia care services available both in residential/hospital and community services and it is hoped to have it completed shortly. This audit will inform future planning and development of services for people with dementia. The educational needs of staff will also be identified to inform any future staff requirements for working in the area of dementia care. This work will also feed into the overall Dementia Policy formulation.

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