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Tuesday, 9 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 650-670

Ministerial Responsibilities

Questions (650)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

650. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if delegated functions in the area of mental health were given to the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health Kathleen Lynch upon her appointment last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43138/12]

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Written answers

All ministerial functions specified in the Mental Health Act 2001 were delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, under Statutory Instrument 492 of 2011.

Cancer Screening Programmes

Questions (651)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

651. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the identity of the 15 candidate colonscopy units around the country which will deliver the national bowel cancer screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43139/12]

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Written answers

Fifteen candidate colonoscopy units have been identified around the country by the HSE-National Cancer Screening Service (HSE-NCSS) to support the screening programme and these must achieve accreditation in order to provide colonoscopy services on behalf of the programme. The NCSS has supported, and continues to support, the NHS JAG accreditation process for all 15 candidate sites. The accreditation process is for the purposes of quality improvement.

The candidate colonoscopy screening units are: Cavan General Hospital; Connolly Hospital, Dublin; Kerry General Hospital, Tralee; Letterkenny General Hospital; Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar; Mercy University Hospital, Cork; Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis; Sligo General Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel; St. James’s Hospital, Dublin; St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin; AMNCH, Tallaght; Wexford General Hospital.

Other units not initially selected may in time be included as screening colonoscopy units as part of the national colorectal screening programme.

Hospital Services

Questions (652)

Gerald Nash

Question:

652. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures and details by consultant specialism on the number of missed outpatient appointments in each major acute hospital in the years 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43143/12]

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Written answers

While acute hospitals currently have in place a variety of DNA (did not attend) policies, a new policy has been developed as part of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) Outpatient Performance Improvement Programme. This Programme is being implemented nationally over the period 2012 to 2015 to improve the provision of Outpatient Services to patients in acute hospitals. The programme will be delivered in a phased manner and a series of Technical Guidance documents will issue to all hospitals covering amongst others (a) Governance and Accountability structures (b) the Management of Referrals (c) the Management of Waiting Lists, Booking and Scheduling (d) the Management and Delivery of Outpatient Clinics (e) the Management of DNAs (f) Clinical Outcome Management and (g) Discharging Patients from Outpatient Services. The first Technical Guidance Document issued on August 20th, 2012, with the key focus on putting governance and accountability structures in place, minimising risk and beginning the process of making robust the manner in which patient referrals are handled and triaged. This document also sets a requirement of a minimum of 6 weeks notification of leave for all outpatient staff.

With regard to the specific question regarding DNA numbers, Table 1 sets out a yearly sum of patients who missed scheduled appointments (did not attend) from 2008 to 2010, along with those who attended and total number of appointments booked (supplied by the HSE Business Intelligence Unit). The DNA rate is calculated by taking the number of missed appointments (DNAs) as a percentage of the total number of attendances and missed appointments combined. While hospitals returned activity, including DNA data across 2011, this data was not compiled / processed by BIU due to the roll out of the Outpatient Data Quality Programme.

Table 1. Outpatients - Attendances and DNAs 2008, 2009, 2010

Year

No of New Attendances

No of Return Attendances

No of Appointments Missed (DNA)

No of Return Appointments Missed (DNA)

All Appointments Booked

DNA as a % of all appointments booked

2008

860,910

2,428,007

142,404

414,295

3,845,616

14.5

2009

930,014

2,489,691

161,862

428,702

4,010,269

14.7

2010

999,978

2,583,312

168,067

429,051

4,180,408

14.3

RAW DATA SOURCE: HSE BIU

In relation to the specific query of DNA's by consultant speciality I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with this information when it becomes available.

Most importantly, however, is the effect of DNAs on outpatient waiting lists and wait times. In 2010, almost 600,000 appointments were missed by patients on hospital waiting lists. Current outpatient waiting lists do not exceed 400,000 patients. It is clear, therefore, that the already limited capacity for the system to attend to all patients on the waiting list in a timely manner is being impacted further by these missed (and therefore wasted) appointment slots which prevents this slot being utilised by another patient still waiting for his/her appointment.

I am determined to do all that is possible to minimise this waste and reduce waiting lists. If a patient finds they cannot attend the appointment they have been given I would appeal to all such patients to inform the clinic concerned as soon as they know they cannot attend.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (653, 658, 659, 660, 661)

Robert Dowds

Question:

653. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reason the primary care centre that was set to be built in Rowlagh, Dublin 22, and was originally to be built using the capital programme, is now to be built under public private partnership; the person who made the decision to change the method of development and the criteria used when making this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43145/12]

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Robert Dowds

Question:

658. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the development of the primary care centre in Rowlagh, Dublin 22, including its expected completion date, which is to be built under public private partnership. [43150/12]

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Robert Dowds

Question:

659. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the development of the primary care centre in Rathdrum, County Wicklow, including its expected completion date, which is to be built under public private partnership [43151/12]

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Robert Dowds

Question:

660. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the development of the primary care centre in Dungloe, County Donegal, including its expected completion date, which is to be built under public private partnership. [43152/12]

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Robert Dowds

Question:

661. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the development of the primary care centre in Ballymote, County Sligo, including its expected completion date, which is to be built under public private partnership. [43153/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 658 to 661, inclusive, together.

Delivery of the health capital infrastructure stimulus is a service matter and the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A

Rowlagh/North Clondalkin was never included in a Capital Plan and was not, indeed, included on the 2012 Capital Plan submitted to the Department. Approval has recently issued for the 2012 Plan and details will be posted on the HSE's website as soon as is practicable.

It is understood that the Deputy, in asserting that a PCC was to be delivered in Rowlagh by way of the HSE's capital programme may be referring to lists reported in the media. It is important to state that these lists related to work that was ongoing; that they were work in progress. The prioritisation exercise was a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation.

An assessment/evaluation of each proposed primary care centre location was undertaken with the infrastructural requirement evaluated under three headings: 1) accommodation assessment; 2) service priority; and 3) deprivation index. The selection of a delivery mechanism was not, however, solely dependent on the resultant priority or ranking. The delivery mechanism selected for each location was based on suitability and the availability of funding (insofar as it is known at any point in time). The following considerations were taken into account:

- agreements for lease in place - where there were good prospects of the leased centre being delivered - these locations remained as lease strategy;

- The size of the centre - the larger centres are more attractive to PPP bidders;

- Extensions to existing facilities or refurbishment of existing buildings are not suitable projects for PPP.

The delivery method for a potential PCC in Rowlagh/North Clondalkin changed in the lists reported in the media and published by the Department as part of the Government's Infrastructure Stimulus Package. This change was on the advice of the Head of Estates in the HSE as PPP was considered to be the method by which progress in this development could potentially commence quickest. However, as mentioned above, the method and timescale for delivery of PCCs is dependent on a number of factors and the list will continue to be reviewed and revised as necessary.

Questions Nos. 654 to 657, inclusive, answered with Question No. 611.
Questions Nos. 658 to 661, inclusive, answered with Question No. 653.

Hospital Services

Questions (662)

Anne Ferris

Question:

662. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health the information campaign that has been carried out by the Health Service Executive in relation to newborn screening cards; the number of cards that have been destroyed and the number retained by consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43154/12]

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Written answers

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

Nursing Home Beds

Questions (663)

Michael Conaghan

Question:

663. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Health when new residential care / nursing home for elderly people at the Old Richmond Barracks site in Inchicore, Dublin 8 will be fully operational to meet local needs [43171/12]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Home Help Service Redundancies

Questions (664, 665)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

664. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns being raised by home helps with regards to their lack of contracts and conditions of employment; his plans to take action regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41675/12]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

665. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that there are standard contracts with detailed terms and conditions for workers in the home help sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41674/12]

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Written answers

Contracts for home helps employed by external (non-HSE) providers are a matter for the individual provider. However, where external providers have service level agreements in place with the HSE it is a requirement of those agreements that the service provider would have appropriate contractual arrangements in place with their employees.

A national contract of indefinite duration for Home Helps employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) was agreed in 2006 with the relevant trade union as part of the work of the High Level Group established to review Home Help Services. The contract was issued to all Home Help workers employed by the HSE at that time and to new recruits in the intervening years.

On 29 June 2012 following a related hearing, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in relation to matters concerning home help contracts. The HSE has engaged with SIPTU concerning the recommendation and its deliberations are on-going.

Medical Card Drugs

Questions (666)

Jack Wall

Question:

666. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/12]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (667)

Jack Wall

Question:

667. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appeal on home help hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/12]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Cancer Incidence

Questions (668)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

668. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the average number of deaths of persons from colorectal cancer per annum per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43209/12]

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Written answers

Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women in Ireland. Approximately 2,200 new cases are diagnosed annually, and it is cause of death in around 950 people each year. The specific information requested will be collated and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Nursing Home Beds

Questions (669)

Finian McGrath

Question:

669. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding nursing home care in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [43220/12]

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Written answers

As 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.

Primary Care Services Provision

Questions (670)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

670. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm plans for the delivery of primary care services in Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43225/12]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

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