Written Answers Nos. 673 to 695
673. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46323/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
674. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health , the amount spent by the Health Service Executive for each of the past three years in making submissions to local and county development plans; the cost of making submissions to any other statutory bodies or Government Departments; the amount of this figure that was paid to consultants employed by the HSE for this purpose; if he will list the consultants involved and each of the bodies to which submissions were made as well as the purpose for making each submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46329/12]
View answerI have referred this matter to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
675. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46332/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
676. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to allegations of organs being removed from dead patients without permission [46344/12]
View answerI am not aware of any recent reports of organs being removed from the deceased without permission. However, if the Deputy wishes to bring a particular issue to my attention, I will, of course, have the matter examined. It is important to note that consent from the family or next of kin of the deceased is not required if a post mortem examination is ordered by the Coroner, who has responsibility under the Coroners Act to investigate sudden, unexplained, violent and unnatural deaths, which may require a post-mortem followed by an inquest.
My Department is currently advancing legislative proposals for a Human Tissue Bill which will address the giving of consent for the removal, retention, storage, use and disposal of organs and tissues from deceased persons in the context of post-mortems, transplantation, research, or anatomical examination. The Health Service Executive has published "Standards and Recommended Practices for Post Mortem Examination Services" and has circulated these to relevant hospital staff. The overall aim of the standards and recommended practices for post-mortem examinations is to drive high quality post-mortem examination services, which are based on current legal requirements and in keeping with best professional practice. They include recommended practices in relation to consent.
677. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if they will be maintained for County Kerry. [46348/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
679. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the new ambulance arrangements for Maynooth, County Kildare, which has seen the service cut from 7am to 7pm every Thursday; if he will provide details regarding the emergency cover being provided during this timeframe taking into consideration the concerns of the residents of Maynooth; if plans are in place to reinstate the full service to Maynooth; when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46361/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
680. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider making available free of charge Hepatitis B vaccination to a group of volunteer community first responders that provide assistance to the Health Service Executive for emergency call outs as this is a requirement of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46368/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
681. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the measures taken by the Health Service Executive to implement Labour Relations Commission Recommendation No LRC20312 issued on the 29 June 2012 regarding to contracts for home helps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46378/12]
View answer682. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health in view of Labour Relations Commission Recommendation No LRC20312, the reason the Health Service Executive is currently allocating home help hours to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46379/12]
View answer683. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact the Health Service Executive has allocated more than 15,260 hours of home help to a company (details supplied) between 2011 and 2012, if he is satisfied that all home help workers employed by the HSE in County Donegal are currently operating at the full contracted hours as agreed between them and the HSE in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46380/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 681 to 683, inclusive, together.
On 29 June 2012, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in relation to matters concerning home help contracts and in the event that there are any outstanding issues they may be referred back to the Court. The HSE engaged with SIPTU concerning the recommendation and advised that as part of the process it would be undertaking an information gathering exercise to ascertain the up to date position regarding the nature of the contracts held by home helps and the hours worked under such contracts. This exercise is in train.
On 15 October 2012, having met with the parties again, the Labour Court has recommended that the parties should re-engage under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission and that this engagement be completed by 30 November 2012. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the allocation and monitoring of home help hours to a private company in respect of the period indicated.
684. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on interim arrangements for the Office of Disability Appeals and the position of Disability Appeals Officer; if he intends to restore the office as constituted under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46381/12]
View answer685. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm when all completed determinations and reasons for decisions reports from the Office of Disability Appeals Officer will be made available for public inspection including any reports from the former disability appeals officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46382/12]
View answer686. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent by his Department on legal costs in relation to establishing and operating the interim arrangements for the office of disability appeals officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46383/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 684 to 686, inclusive, together.
Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 makes provision for the introduction of very specific obligations on the health services, including a statutory entitlement to:
- an independent assessment of health and education needs (Section 8);
- a statement of services (Section 11) which it is proposed to provide;
- an independent redress and complaints mechanism (Section 14) if required;
- make an appeal to the independent Disability Appeals Officer (Section 18).
The Disability Appeals Officer (DAO) is an independent officer appointed by the Minister for Health whose purpose is to provide an appeals service to people who wish to appeal (i) against a finding or recommendation of a complaints officer of the HSE made under the Disability Act 2005; or (ii) against the failure of the HSE or an education service provider to implement a recommendation of a complaints officer.
The Office of the Disability Appeals Officer (ODAO) was created to support the DAO in the performance of his/her functions. It should be noted that the Disability Act does not create an office which exists independently of the person who holds office and, accordingly, the ODAO is not a corporate body. Since 2007, the ODAO has successfully supported the DAO in providing the appeals service envisaged under the Disability Act. From 2007 staff from the Department of Health were assigned to the ODAO to assist the DAO in the performance of her functions.
Following the decision in October 2008 to defer further roll-out of Part 2 of the Disability Act for other cohorts, it became apparent that the ODAO did not have the volume of work originally envisaged and by 2011 there was an insufficient quantum of work to justify a full-time DAO position. The former Disability Appeals Officer resigned her position with effect from 31/12/2011 and my Department has been in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the filling of this post. As an interim measure, a Principal Officer on my Department’s staff has been designated to discharge the duties of the DAO and is independent in the performance of this function. This is a temporary measure only and a longer term arrangement will be put in place as soon as possible.
The provisions for parents wishing to make an appeal have not changed and appeals will continue to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act. As part of its service the ODAO operates a Lo-Call phone line which is manned during normal working hours. The availability for public inspection of the Determination and Reasons for Decision Reports that are produced at any particular time by the DAO is a matter for the DAO and is outside of my remit. I am advised by the DAO that all completed Determinations are available on the ODAO website. I can confirm that an amount of €12,500 plus VAT in legal costs has been incurred by the ODAO since 1 January 2012.
687. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he has made a budgetary allocation for the provision of 30 step-down beds in the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth [46394/12]
View answerAdditional funding for the provision of 36 Transitional Care beds to the Louth Meath Integrated Service area was recently approved by my Department as part of the Frail Elderly Initiative. This initiative is funded by the Department through the Special Delivery Unit. These new Transitional Care beds will support the development of community based services for older persons and improve acute hospital services in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
The HSE are currently spot purchasing up to 36 beds in a number of provider units. No funding has as yet been specifically targeted to the Cottage Hospital. As part of the option appraisal for the Cottage hospital, a proposal has been made to re-configure the long term care beds in the Cottage to Transitional Care beds. A public consultation process is currently underway and the spot purchasing will continue pending the outcome of that process.
688. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the action taken in response to complaints from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 in respect of the medical treatment they have received to date and the assistance which will be provided in order to resolve their health problems [46398/12]
View answerWith regard to specific complaints, a formal complaints policy exists, details of which are available on the HSE website: www.hse.ie. In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at the website: www.healthcomplaints.ie. In accordance with this procedure, if an individual is not satisfied with the response from the HSE Director of Advocacy, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare, a review can be sought from the Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. I have no role to play in this complaints process.
689. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health the number of care assistants employed here in 2010 and 2011 [46454/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
690. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there is a triage service available in the accident and emergency department of Naas General Hospital, County Kildare; the measures being taken to alleviate the number of patients on trolleys in the A & E department, which is one of the highest average figures in Leinster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46460/12]
View answerIn July of last year I announced the establishment of the Special Delivery Unit as a key part of my plans to radically reform the health system in Ireland. The Unit’s purpose is to improve access to the emergency and elective care system. Since it was established last year, it has been working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient journeys through the system and by streamlining waiting lists, including GP referrals. I am pleased to be able to say that very significant progress has been made to date by the SDU in relation to both emergency departments and waiting lists.
A major priority has been to improve access to emergency care and I welcome the fact that for significant numbers of patients, the experience in our emergency departments has been markedly improved. From January to October, the number of patients waiting on trolleys fell by 23.5% compared to the same period last year - that equates to 16,901 fewer patients waiting on trolleys. The 30 day moving average (average number of trolleys over 30 days) has fallen by 31.9% in 12 months, from 361 on 21 October 2011 to 246 on 19 October 2012. On the 22nd October 2012 in Naas General Hospital, there were 9 patients on trolleys at 8 a.m.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy concerning the triage service at the Emergency Department of Naas General Hospital.
691. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will consult with the Primary Care Unit in his Department in order to confirm that the publication of the final report from the review team regarding a person (details supplied) will be published on 30 November 2012, as previously promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46466/12]
View answerThe Primary Care Unit in the Department of Health has had no involvement with this case. From enquiries made with the HSE, I understand an organisation asked the HSE's Local Health Manager in Cavan/Monaghan to carry out an investigation into the case. In the circumstances, the Deputy should refer the question to the HSE's Local Health Manager at Cavan/Monaghan Local Health Manager's Office, Rooskey, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan (Phone: 047-30483).
692. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on efforts being made by his Department to facilitate the search for justice by survivors of symphysiotomy here; the position regarding the redress process and requested changes to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46473/12]
View answerMy first priority is to ensure that the women who have had this procedure have their health needs comprehensively and professionally met. In this regard, the HSE provides a range of services to women who continue to suffer the effects of having had this procedure. These services include the provision of medical cards, the availability of independent clinical advice and the organisation of individual pathways of care and the arrangement of appropriate follow-up.
In relation to symphysiotomy generally, my Department has commissioned an independent research report in relation to the practice of symphysiotomy in Ireland. The research included a consultation process involving patient groups, health professionals and in particular the women who have experienced symphysiotomy. It is expected that this report will be presented to the Department in the near future. It is intended that the research report will inform the Department’s overall consideration of this matter, including the consideration of any actions that may be required and possible legal implications. It would be premature for me to make any other comments at this stage on what actions might be taken, prior to giving full consideration to the recommendations of the report.
693. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the list of 200 locations which were earmarked for primary care centres; the reason the Ballyshannon Primary Care Centre was not prioritised for inclusion in the centres selected for progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46485/12]
View answerThe consideration of any project for inclusion in the multi-annual capital programme is an evolving process. There are always more construction projects than can be funded from the Exchequer's capital health care allocation. The Health Service Executive is required to prioritise infrastructure projects within its overall capital envelope taking into account the existing capital commitments and costs of completion over the period.
The list of 200 locations referred to in media reports represented the situation at a given point in time. However, the prioritisation exercise is a dynamic process constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation. There are more than 200 locations under consideration for progression and the list of locations requires further work and objective analysis by my Department and the HSE, particularly with regard to the feasibility of implementation. Accordingly it is not proposed to publish the list at this time.
694. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons diagnosed with any type of cancer on a county basis from 1990 through to 2012 [46492/12]
View answerThe National Cancer Registry is the statutory body with responsibility for, inter alithe collection and analysis of information relating to the incidence of cancer in Ireland. My Department has asked the Registry to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the incidence of cancer on a county basis from 1990 through to 2012.
695. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will give assurances that operating theatre two in Wexford General Hospital, which has been closed for eleven weeks, will reopen before years end and in view the fact that St Aidan's Ward in Wexford General was closed in a similar circumstances two years ago and remains closed, if he will specify the date on which operating theatre 2 will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46497/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
