Written Answers Nos. 537-556
537. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made regarding the location of the new national children's hospital; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41570/12]
View answerAs you will be aware, I established an independent Review Group to consider the implications of the decision of An Bórd Pleanála, received on 23 February 2012, to reject the planning application for the proposed construction of a national paediatric hospital on the site of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The aim of the Review was to consider all the possible options for the earliest possible delivery of a new children's hospital. In June, the Group presented its report, to which I have been giving careful consideration and which I intend to bring to Government shortly.
538. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1782 of Tuesday 18 September 2012, when a decision will issue on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41590/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
539. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide paediatric congenital cardiac services here; the number of consultant specialists expert in this area working here; the hours worked and the facilities available to them; if he considers these resources adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41625/12]
View answerThe Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiothoracic service at Our Lady's Children's Hospital (OLCHC) provides for the care and treatment of infants and children with congenital and acquired heart disease from the Republic of Ireland and increasingly from the North of Ireland. This service is delivered by five Consultant Cardiologists (a 6th Consultant Cardiologist is CAAC approved and, pending approval, recruitment will be commenced) and three Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeons and supported by a multidisciplinary team.
Cardiothoracic surgery is scheduled for 4.5 days a week with approximately 500 - 550 operations carried out annually (prior to 2010 was it was 3 days a week). The 3 cardiothoraric surgeons are 27 hours OLCHC and 10 hours MMUH each, to cater for the transition of patients to the adult congenital cardiac service in MMUH.
Facilities in OLCHC to support the Cardiology and Cardiothoracic services include:
- Inpatient and Outpatient facilities
- Paediatric operating theatres
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit - additional 2 beds opened in 2011
- Access to full range of diagnostics including ECG, ECHO, Cardiac MRI, X-ray and labs
- Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory - for diagnostic and interventional procedures
- Access to paediatric tertiary and quaternary specialties and sub specialties
In September there were 40 patients on the active waiting list. OLCHC currently has extensive local waiting times for interventional cardiology and the HSE is working with the hospital to progress this matter.
540. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to comments by the Minister for Health in the Northern Assembly (details supplied); if he will commit to working with his Northern Assembly counterpart to explore fully an all-island solution for the provision of paediatric congenital cardiac services and that service will prioritise the needs of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41626/12]
View answerThe North-South Feasibility Study, finalised in 2009, examined the potential for joint co-operation in health across an extensive range of health and social care services. It set out 10 priority recommendations and many of these are already being taken forward. Areas of ongoing collaboration include - child protection, cancer research, health promotion, suicide prevention, radiotherapy services, paediatric congenital cardiac surgery and a range of initiatives under the Interreg IVA funding initiative. The Study was published on the websites of the Irish Department of Health and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland last December.
At a departmental level co-operation between the two jurisdictions is active and ongoing. "Transforming Your Care: a Review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland" also recommends co-operation on a number of key issues. My officials are liaising with their counterparts in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland on how to progress these issues.
With specific reference to Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin 12 has since 2009 been assisting the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust in providing Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery Services to patients from Northern Ireland. Crumlin cared for 9 such patients in 2011 and this year it is expected that over 20 such cases will be carried out Crumlin.
There have been two meetings between the Department of Health and the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety and contacts are continuing with a view to determining as soon as possible how best an all Island service might be established and how soon this could be realised if it is determined, through consultation, to be the optimum solution.
I am committed to working together with my Northern colleagues on issues of common concern and benefit. This is of particular relevance in the current time when both jurisdictions are implementing change and pushing forward health reform.
541. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the most recent changes to the stock of nappies in the Health Service Executive Dublin North East and HSE Dublin Mid Leinster Regions; if he will detail the procurement process including tests of quality which were followed in advance of the most recent changes of suppliers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many parents have reported children experiencing extreme discomfort (details supplied) because of the new nappies; if he will commit to immediately investigating this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41683/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
542. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a place will be funded at the Delta Centre, County Carlow, for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite a response [41687/12]
View answerAs 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
543. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will fund on an exceptional basis an operation for gum disease which necessitates gum and bone graft for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite a review of their case [41688/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
544. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will expedite same [41696/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
545. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will expedite same [41697/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
546. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry [41699/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
547. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the decision to grant a general practitioner only card instead of a full medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry. [41700/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
548. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in tabular form a summary of each application received from the Health Service Executive in County Mayo for support from the special delivery unit, to include a summary of the proposal, the amount of money requested, the current status of the application and for those applications under consideration, when a decision will be made; for those turned down, the reason they were turned down; his views on the operation and management of the special delivery unit [41705/12]
View answerMayo General Hospital have submitted one proposal to the Special Delivery Unit for additional funding. Along with others, the proposal is under consideration, and a decision is expected in the coming weeks. As this matter is under consideration I trust the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to answer the specific questions raised by him at this time.
549. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future management of Mayo General Hospital in the context of his proposed restructuring of hospital groups; the impact of his proposals on services at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41706/12]
View answerThe creation of hospital groups and trusts is at the heart of the Government’s reforms of the acute hospital sector. It is an important stepping stone towards the introduction of universal health insurance which is the ultimate destination of the Government's reform programme. As a first step on that journey, hospitals will be aligned within groups on an administrative basis. Each Group will have a single consolidated management team with responsibility for performance and outcomes, within a clearly defined budget and employment ceiling.
In June 2012, the Minister announced the appointment of Professor John R Higgins to work with the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) in the role of Chair of a Strategic Board to assist the Department of Health in the design and establishment of Hospital Groups. As Chair, he will have a key role in progressing the creation of Hospital Groups initially and, ultimately, Independent Hospital Trusts. The Project Group led by Professor John Higgins has carried out a comprehensive consultation process with all acute hospitals and other key advocacy groups which have requested an opportunity to be consulted. In addition, a significant number of submissions have been received by the Project Group. The consultation process has continued through the summer and will conclude later this month.
Criteria for the formation of Hospital Groups and proposed groups arising from these criteria will be identified by the Project Group. A Strategic Board is being established to consider the findings and proposals of the Project Group prior to their submission to the Minister and, subsequently, to Government. The submission to Government is planned to take place before the end of the year.
The Board will also have an ongoing role in overseeing the implementation of proposals in relation to Hospital Groups approved by Government. It is scheduled to have its first meeting in early October.
No decision has been taken yet in relation to what hospital group Mayo General Hospital Castlebar will belong. The final decision on potential Groups will be a matter for the Government to decide.
550. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his views on the more than 100% increase in admissions to the accident and emergency unit at Mayo General Hospital between July 2011 and July 2012, the fact that the majority of this increase is due to patients from County Roscommon presenting for treatment at Mayo General Hospital as a result of the curtailment of accident and emergency services at Roscommon County Hospital; the reason no extra funding has been given to Mayo General Hospital to account for this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41707/12]
View answerThe Deputy would appear to be misinformed. According to the July 2012 HSE performance report, Mayo General Hospital has seen a year on year increase in ED admissions of 8%, far below the 100% suggested. I would also question the veracity of the statement that the majority of this increase is due to patients from Roscommon presenting at Mayo General Hospital. I would ask the Deputy to present the evidence for this statement.
551. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on an application for funding made by an organisation (details supplied) in view of the vital work they are doing in assisting persons with financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41711/12]
View answerMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2012 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number currently being assessed by my Department, and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
552. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is a resident of the Health Service Executive South Region; if they are entitled to attend respite care on a full time basis; if the HSE South Region refer a person to a different HSE region for respite care; if any reciprocal agreements are currently in place between HSE regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41717/12]
View answerAs these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
553. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if lyme disease sufferers are eligible for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41731/12]
View answerPatients with lyme disease are not eligible for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). In July 2011, I announced changes to the remit of the NTPF - namely that it would move from working to largely outsource treatments for those waiting longest to working with hospitals in a performance improvement capacity to improve access to scheduled care. The NTPF has been aligned with the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) and is now targeting waiting lists strategically and incentivising hospitals to manage their waiting times proactively. The NTPF capability is a core part of the SDU's performance improvement role in holding public hospitals to account.
554. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the steps he has put in place and the progress that has been made to reduce the waiting time for speech therapy in view of the fact that the Health Service Executive reported in May of this year that 653 young persons were waiting between nineteen and thirty nine months in Carlow/Kilkenny [41751/12]
View answerAs 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.
555. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding correspondence from the Health Service Executive Bray to recipients of the home care cash grant informing them that this grant is to be reduced by 10% effective immediately in order for the HSE to operate within its financial allocation from Government in 2012; if this decision will be reversed in view of the essential services that the grant is used to pay for, that is, to enable persons to remain in their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41752/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
556. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a query (details supplied) regarding hospital consultants roster arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41811/12]
View answerThe new arrangements agreed between health service management and the consultant representative bodies at the LRC include provisions relating to 24/7 rostering. It is envisaged that in some settings, for example emergency medicine, radiology and obstetrics, consultants will be required to participate in 24/7 rostering based on international norms for specialist staffing, availability of appropriate NCHD staffing, multi-disciplinary supports and the frequency, volume and acuity of workload. These arrangements, which provide for increased consultant availability in key areas, with less reliance on NCHD cover, are intended to improve the quality of patient care.
