Billy Kelleher
Question:216 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the basis on which community hospitals and beds in community hospitals will close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4609/12]
View answerThursday, 26 January 2012
Questions (215, 216, 217)
Written answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Billy Kelleher
Question:217 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to bring all community hospitals up to Health Information and Quality Authority standards; if he has a plan for hospitals he intends not to bring up to HIQA standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4610/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
The following additional information was provided under Standing Order 40A
I wish to state that in accordance with the Health Act 2004, the arrangement for providing responses on detailed operational issues is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Section 7(4) of the Act specifies that "The Executive shall manage and shall deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services in accordance with the Act." In that context, the HSE is carrying out a viability review of all its long stay nursing homes. When complete, this will give a clear outline and profile of each of the public long stay units including their status on meeting Health Information and Quality Authority standards.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:218 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has access to urgent neurosurgery which has been repeatedly postponed at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4612/12]
View answer
I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies — mainly the HSE and the NTPF.
As a priority, public hospitals were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that the vast majority of hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012 the SDU will support hospitals in the delivery of a 9 month maximum wait time for inpatient or daycase surgery
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.