(UUP - North Antrim) To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 10151/11-15, why (i) delayed discharges due to patients awaiting tertiary care beds increased from 2.5 percent in 2010/11 to 26.4 percent in 2011/12; and (ii) delayed discharges due to no step-down beds being available increased from 1.3 percent in 2010/11 to 11.9 percent in 2011/12.
The rise in delayed discharges due to patients awaiting tertiary care beds reflects high demand for some regional servicesThe rise in delayed discharges due to no step-down beds being available is predominantly explained in terms of a change in statistical collection criteria which took effect in November 2010. Prior to this date, patients who were moving to another Trust statutory facility (such as Whiteabbey or Mid Ulster hospitals) were recorded as transfers and not discharges. From that date inter-Trust transfers have been included.
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster) To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in relation to the salaried dental service at the Mid-Ulster Hospital, Magherafelt, to detail (i) the number of adult and child patients currently registered; (ii) the costs, including building and capital costs, incurred in the set-up of this service; (iii) the total running costs incurred by the service in the last 12 months, including staff, maintenance, laboratory and materials; and (iv) the gross Health Service item of service fees generated by the service, including the patient contribution to Health Service charges, between 1 February 2011 and 31 January 2012.
Answer
The information to answer this question is set out below:(i) At 29 March 2012 there were 1,593 adult patients and 336 child patients registered with the Salaried Dental Service at the Mid-Ulster Hospital.(ii) The building costs for conversion of Ward 1 at the Mid-Ulster Hospital, including construction work and Estates Services costs, to two dental surgeries with a local decontamination unit, store, waiting area, reception and plant house was £161,137. The equipment/medical devices costs for two fully equipped dental surgeries including digital radiography were £101,415.(iii) The total running costs for the service in the last 12 months were £89,700. (iv) The gross Health Service item of service fees generated by the service, including the patient contribution to Health Service charges for the period 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012 were £52, 370. These fees are for activity associated with a dentist in place 3 days a week for 8 months, and 1 full time for the remaining 4 months.
Mr Peter Weir
(DUP - North Down) To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety which hospitals or clinics offer Health Service podiatry treatment for people with diabetes.
Answer
I am advised by the Health and Social Care Trusts that podiatry services for people with diabetes are provided in the following hospitals:South Eastern HSC Trust – Ulster Hospital; Downe Hospital; Lagan Valley Hospital; Ards Community Hospital and Bangor Community Hospital.Belfast HSC Trust: City Hospital; Royal Victoria Hospital, Mater Hospital.Northern HSC Trust: Antrim Area Hospital; Causeway Hospital; Whiteabbey Hospital; Mid Ulster Hospital; Braid Valley Hospital.Western HSC Trust: Altnagelvin Hospital; Erne Hospital; Tyrone County Hospital; Roe Valley Hospital.Southern HSC Trust: Armagh Community Hospital; South Tyrone Hospital; Craigavon Area Hospital; Daisy Hill Hospital.In addition podiatry services for people with diabetes are also provided in a wide range of community facilities such as health centres and GP surgeries as well as to nursing and residential homes and via domiciliary visits. Podiatry in acute based care is mainly comprised of a high risk caseload including diabetes, renal and vascular patients and those at greatest risk of foot ulceration, infection or limb loss.
Mr Ian McCrea
(DUP - Mid Ulster) To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the current, and future, plans for the Mid-Ulster Hospital site.
Answer
The Mid Ulster hospital site is an important health and social care campus and the hospital will continue to play an important part in the delivery of hospital services to the population served by the Northern Trust. The current services are: Care of the elderly Children’s Unit Community dental services Day Procedure Unit Diagnostics Dietetics Endoscopy Suite Minor Injuries Unit Occupational therapy Outpatients services Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Speech and language therapy The Trust is currently in the process of developing a proposal to refurbish elements of the Mid Ulster Hospital to provide administrative and clinical space to accommodate primary and community care services. I am advised that the Trust has arranged to meet with you and the other Mid-Ulster MLAs in October 2011 to discuss these plans further.