§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to facilitate allied health professionals in continuing professional development and training in Northern Ireland. [173585]
§ Angela SmithThe Department recognises the need for Health Care Professionals to update and maintain their professional competence through access to continuing professional development. In August 2002, the Department established a Centre for Professional Development for Allied Health Professionals. This centre provides a wide range of programmes, both profession specific and on a multi-professional basis, and representatives of relevant professions are involved in identifying priorities for training. The centre is in its early stages of development and the position will be kept under review.
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§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which local health trusts have formally implemented the 1996 Enabling Agreement with regard to allied health professions. [173595]
§ Angela SmithThe following HSS Trusts have formally implemented the 1996 Enabling Agreement:
- Altnagelvin HSS Trust
- Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust
- Causeway HSS Trust
- Craigavon Area Hospital HSS Trust
- Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust
- Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust
- Newry and Mourne HSS Trust
- North and West Belfast HSS Trust
- South and East Belfast HSS Trust
- United Hospitals HSS Trust.
Number of clinical specialists employed within allied health professions in Health and Social Services (HSS) Trusts as at 31 March 2004 Figures are given as headcount unless otherwise indicated HSS1 Trusts Physiotherapy Occupational Therapy Speech and Language Therapy Radiography Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 0 0 0 10 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0 8 0 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 3 0 0 12 Causeway HSS Trust 1 3 12 0 Craigavon and Banbridge Comm. HSS Trust 0 3 0 0 Craigavon Area Hospital HSS Trust 4 0 0 0 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 2 0 5 0 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0 12 0 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 8 8 0 1 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 22.00 29.83 0 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 22.16 0 0 0 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 2 2 5 2 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 4 2 16 0 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 21.00 0 29.20 27.10 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0 0 0 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 0 0 0 8 Ulster Comm. and Hosp. Group HSS Trust 0 0 0 0 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 3 0 0 13
HSS1 Trusts Orthoptics Podiatry Dietetics Total Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 0 0 0 10 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 1 1 10 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 0 0 0 15 Causeway HSS Trust 0 0 0 16 Craigavon and Banbridge Comm. HSS Trust 0 0 0 3 Craigavon Area Hospital HSS Trust 0 0 0 4 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 0 0 0 7 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0 0 12 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 0 0 1 18 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 24.00 0 215.83 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 0 0 0 22.16 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 1 1 13 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 0 1 0 23 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 0 0 0 217.30 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0 0 0 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 0 0 0 8 Ulster Comm. and Hosp. Group HSS Trust 0 0 0 0 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 0 0 16 1 Health and Social Services 2 Whole-time Equivalent There are no allied health profession consultants employed within any of the Health and Social Services Trusts.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what input frontline allied health professionals have in influencing departmental health policy locally. [173620]
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§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) consultants and (b) clinical specialists he estimates will be appointed within the allied health professions in the next (i) 12 months and (ii) 12 to 24 months. [173618]
§ Angela SmithStaffing is a matter for individual Health and Social Services Trusts taking into account factors such as service needs and available resources. Information is not held centrally on projected appointments to specific grades.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) clinical specialists and (b) consultants there are within the allied health professions. [173619]
§ Angela SmithThe information requested is as follows.
§ Angela SmithThe Central Advisory Committee for the Allied Health Professions provides the formal mechanism for frontline allied health professionals to input consolidated advice to influence departmental health policy locally.
The present membership of the committee comprises of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropodists/podiatrists, dieticians, speech and language therapists, 935W radiographers, orthoptists, arts therapists, prosthetists and orthotists.