Written Answers Nos. 205-212
205. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when funding will be made available to a hospital (details supplied) to provide a paediatric diabetic clinic nurse specialist; his views on whether the current lack of an adequate service is acceptable in view of the expert advisory group on paediatric diabetic services recommendations. [51684/12]
View answerThe funding pressures now being experienced in the health services mean that the acute sector must reduce its costs in order to deliver the agreed level of activity within the resources available to it. This means that we must concentrate on maximising efficiency and getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. However, this on its own is not sufficient. Activity levels in our acute hospitals have been running ahead of the levels set in the approved HSE Service Plan and therefore it is inevitable that activity levels must also be reduced. This will be a significant challenge, and in meeting it we must be flexible and responsive to service needs, in order to ensure that essential services are protected and that patient safety and quality remain paramount.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
206. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of adults are being funded by the Health Service Executive in 2012 to receive specialist care in facilities outside the State; if he will provide details in respect of each of those adults on the type of care being provided, for example mental health, learning disability, brain injury and each setting, that is hospital, community or residential placement; if he will provide details in respect of the duration of each placement, start date and projected end date; the name and address of the care provider; the HSE area that is funding each placement and the programme of care, for example mental health, physical or learning disability; the total cost to the HSE of each placement for the financial year 2012, with a breakdown of each care provider's costs, that is, hospital, day care, residential, therapy, treatment; the cost of family visits flights, taxis, meals, accommodation and so on; and the costs for the HSE multi-disciplinary teams who travel abroad to each unit/placement for review meetings, assessment and case conferences that is flights, taxis, meals, accommodation and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51750/12]
View answerTreatment outside the jurisdiction is only considered when there is no suitable facility in the State or where specialist skills are clinically indicated but are unavailable here in Ireland. In relation to the query raised by the Deputy regarding specific detailed information in a range of circumstances, some of the information is not available in the format requested. However, as this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply in respect of any data that is available on this subject.
207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the most up to date homelessness figures for Counties Limerick, Cork and Kerry, for the period of October 2011-October 2012, in tabular form highlighting the number of persons that had actually presented homeless or were deemed to be homeless during that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51765/12]
View answerThe Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities have statutory responsibility for the provision of homelessness services in Ireland in line with the National Homeless Strategy, 'The Way Home 2008-2013' and 'Pathway to Home'.
Local authorities identify and address the level of need through a range of community based accommodation options and related housing supports, and the HSE and its partner agencies arrange health and personal social care supports appropriate to the individual service user's needs within this structure.
The allocation of the HSE's homeless budget comes within the remit of the HSE and is allocated based on identified needs in line with the overall financial constraints that the HSE operates within.
I have arranged for your question to be forwarded to the Health Service Executive, who will respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the homelessness information requested for Counties Limerick, Cork and Kerry.
208. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the facilities available in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Tallaght Hospital, St. Vincent's, St. James's and Connolly Memorial, Blanchardstown to treat patients who have tuberculosis; his plans to expand these facilities in view the recent Primetime investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51767/12]
View answerThe World Health Organisation (WHO) describes countries with an incidence of less than 10 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 population as a low incidence country. In 2010 and 2011, the annual TB notification rates in Ireland were 9.2 per 100,000 (420 cases in 2010 and 424 cases in 2011) which is the lowest rate recorded since surveillance of TB began in the 1950s and now categorise Ireland as a low incidence country and represents a drop from 11.3 per 100,000 (480 cases) in 2007. The number of TB notifications for 2012 up to week ending November 9th is 339 cases, which is a decrease of 49 cases compared to the same period in 2011 (388 cases).
I am happy to confirm that the overall rate of tuberculosis continues to decline and this decrease has prompted a review in the HSE of the continuing requirement for BCG which is currently in progress.
In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding treatment facilities I have forwarded to question to the HSE who will respond to you directly in this regard.
209. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the reason more than 7,000 medical card holders aged over 70 years in County Donegal were recently written to by the Health Service Executive and informed that their cases were being reviewed despite previous assurances that they would be renewed in 2015; the way he intends to address the concerns that have arisen from the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51784/12]
View answerThe HSE operates a standard practice whereby medical cardholders aged over 66 years are reviewed every 4 years in order to ascertain whether the person still qualifies for a medical card. From 1 January 2012 the length of validity for all standard medical cards for people under 66 is reviewed every three years. An examination of the national medical card database, held by the HSE, has found that some medical cards have expiry periods of more than 4 years.
On foot of the national database examination, the HSE has identified about 7,000 medical cardholders throughout the country that have not been reviewed for over 10 years. The HSE has started to contact these individuals.
210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available in 2013 under the clinical care programme for the establishment of a full time paediatric diabetic clinical nurse specialist for Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, in view of the fact that expert advisory group recommends one paediatric diabetics clinical nurse specialist for every 100 children and there are currently around 138 children with diabetes attending the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51786/12]
View answerThe HSE National Clinical Programme for Diabetes - which includes the care of children and adolescents with diabetes - was established within the Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate. The purpose of the Programme is to define the way diabetic Clinical Services should be delivered, resourced and measured; and a clinician has been appointed to lead on the development of the programme. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a local service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
211. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive has contributed to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51797/12]
View answerThe Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities have statutory responsibility for the provision of homelessness services in Ireland in line with the National Homeless Strategy, 'The Way Home 2008-2013' and 'Pathway to Home' which set out the new configuration of support services to be provided in the Dublin region for those at risk of, or currently experiencing homelessness.
Local authorities identify and address the level of need through a range of community based accommodation options and related housing supports, and the HSE and its partner agencies arrange health and personal social care supports appropriate to the individual service user's needs within this structure.
The allocation of the HSE's homeless budget comes within the remit of the HSE and is allocated based on identified needs in line with the overall financial constraints that the HSE operates within.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
212. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the promised and urgently needed podiatry post at Mullingar Regional Hospital, County Westmeath, which was sanctioned in April 2012 as part of the National Footcare Programme to tackle diabetes related foot ulcers and amputations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51807/12]
View answerAs this is a local service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
