Hospital Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2010

Tuesday, 5 October 2010

Questions (79, 80, 81)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

74 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hospital beds currently out of use for whatever reason or purpose at each public hospital here; the relevant number of wards closed in respect of such hospitals; the extent of waiting lists for each procedure at each of these hospitals; the extent of the use of trolleys in lieu of beds at the same hospitals; the extent of waiting or overcrowding at accident and emergency in such hospitals; the extent to which she intends to address these issues in the short to medium term; the extent to which the situation compares with the private hospital sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34580/10]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Sean Sherlock

Question:

75 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children when private hospitals will be subject to regulation by the Health Information and Quality Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34692/10]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

The Government approved the development of legislation to underpin recommendations of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance for a mandatory licensing system for public and private health service providers, including licensing for private hospitals. The Health Information and Quality Authority will be the licensing authority. The grant of licences will be linked to compliance with standards set by HIQA and HIQA recently initiated a public consultation on draft National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. My Department is currently preparing the necessary legislative proposals and, subject to Government approval, I intend to carry out a public consultation process on draft heads of a Bill early next year. I propose to bring the legislation into operation from 2012, beginning with hospital services.

Willie Penrose

Question:

76 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in developing specific fully staffed cystic fibrosis units in designated hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34687/10]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

The HSE proposes that services for people with Cystic Fibrosis would be delivered by specialist cystic fibrosis centres either offering full care or supervision of structured shared care centres with satellite CF centres at the following sites:

Dublin North: Beaumont (adult) linked with Children's University Hospital, Temple Street (children).

Dublin South: St Vincent's University Hospital (adult) linked with a more closely integrated children's service at Our Lady's Childrens Hospital, Crumlin/National Children's Hospital, Tallaght (pending the establishment of the New Children's Hospital) Cork:

Cork University Hospital (adults and children)

Limerick: Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick (adults and children)

Galway: Galway Regional Hospital (adults and children).

€6.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive in 2006 and 2007 to develop services for patients with cystic fibrosis. This was to include the recruitment of additional staff across a range of disciplines. 52.55 WTE persons are in post at present and a further 4.25 WTE posts are at an advanced stage of recruitment.