Written Answers Nos. 590 - 600
591. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of September 2011, in which he advised that the Health Service Executive was undertaking to investigate potential avenues of funding for the only specialised domestic violence unit in County Kildare (details provided); if he will provide an update on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53901/12]
View answer592. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a residential unit (details supplied) in County Kildare for victims of domestic violence; the funding allocation for the unit for this year; the way he proposes to make use of newly built and vacant residential units at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53903/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.
In 2010 the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was published. It aims to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is lead by Cosc which is the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The HSE subsequently published its own Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The principal actions are in line with the National Strategy. The HSE’s policy states that a health-focused analysis of violence is crucial, not only because the consequences of such violence require a significant amount of healthcare system resources, but most importantly because the health care system is often the first route through which victims seek to access supports.
Nationally the HSE funds 42 frontline domestic violence service providers. 20 of these provide refuge accommodation and this number has risen from 15 since 2000. The services provide a wide range of supports such as crisis refuge, advocacy and counselling and were funded to the amount of €13.465M in 2012. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
593. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the safe ratio of staff for a domestic violence refuge, including any children that may need care and supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53904/12]
View answerIn the context of increased demand for domestic violence services, the HSE is conducting a national and regional review of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services that are funded by the HSE. The aim of this review is to ensure that funding is allocated and informed by need. The four HSE regions have set up governance groups to analyse the information that was gathered in the review and a full report will be prepared of the findings.
The HSE's National Office for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence Services funds 42 frontline domestic violence service providers. 20 of these provide refuge accommodation and this number has risen from 15 since 2000. The services provide a wide range of supports such as crisis refuge, advocacy and counselling and were funded to the amount of €13.465M in 2012. These services are aimed at the prevention of domestic violence and ensuring that all families experiencing or at risk of domestic violence will receive a continuum of supports from health and community service providers, who will understand the issue and who will recognise and respond to the impact this type of violence has on health as per the HSE Policy.
594. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of domestic violence refuges that are in operation here; the catchment areas they serve; the average number of residents in each unit for 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53905/12]
View answer595. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the cost of running each of the State's domestic violence refuges; the amount budgeted for each domestic violence refuge in 2012; the staffing complement and resident capacity of each domestic violence unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53906/12]
View answer596. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of families who have been refused stay at a domestic violence refuge here in 2012; the number of residents accepted in the same year; if he will break these figures down by each individual refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53907/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 594 to 596, inclusive, together.
In 2010 the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was published. It aims to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is lead by Cosc which is the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The HSE subsequently published its own Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The principal actions are in line with the National Strategy. The HSE’s policy states that a health-focused analysis of violence is crucial, not only because the consequences of such violence require a significant amount of healthcare system resources, but most importantly because the health care system is often the first route through which victims seek to access supports.
Nationally the HSE funds 42 frontline domestic violence service providers. 20 of these provide refuge accommodation and this number has risen from 15 since 2000. The services provide a wide range of supports such as crisis refuge, advocacy and counselling and were funded to the amount of €13.465M in 2012. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
597. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason six cystic fibrosis patients were sent home from St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, on 26 November 2012. [53925/12]
View answer672. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the expansion of the Cystic Fibrosis unit at St. James' Hospital, Dublin, to facilitate its planned 34 patient capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54572/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 672 together.
St Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) is the designated National Adult Referral Centre for patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The new Nutley Wing at the hospital, built at a cost of just under €29m and opened this summer, is designed to provide a state of the art clinical building which includes up to date isolation facilities with accommodation for people with cystic fibrosis. In the new unit 20 beds are set aside for patients with cystic fibrosis. Each bed is in a separate room with its own toilet and washing facilities. The 20 beds include 4 complete isolation rooms. The unit also provides a dedicated CF Day Unit, containing offices, treatment rooms, together with 10 single day treatment rooms, each with en-suite sanitary facilities for treating patients with cystic fibrosis.
Under a protocol for the treatment of CF patients at SVUH, signed off in July 2012 with the hospital, the HSE, Department of Health and CFA, up to 34 isolation beds will be made available in the new wing.and the 10-bed day unit will be used effectively to help ensure that patients are treated in the optimum setting. Except in certain circumstances, the additional 14 single inpatient rooms when required will be located in the Nutley Wing and these rooms will be grouped together as far as possible. 1-2 inpatient rooms in the Nutley Wing will be kept available at all times for emergency admissions. In circumstances where the emergency admission rooms have already been utilised and all the other inpatient rooms in the Nutley Wing are occupied, patients with CF will be accommodated elsewhere in clinically appropriate single rooms until such time as a room becomes available in the Nutley Wing and then the patient will be transferred there as a priority.
Last week, the CFAI raised concerns with the hospital about CF patients waiting for admission to SVUH. The hospital has advised that the patients in question have all been admitted. The position with regard to the facilities in St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin for patients with Cystic Fibrosis is being continuously monitored. The hospital has confirmed it is very happy to work with the CFAI to carry out a review of the management of CF beds at St Vincent’s and a series of meetings have been held recently in an effort to develop robust protocols and policies to meet the needs of patients with Cystic Fibrosis who are acutely ill and require admission to the hospital. These will be finalised by the relevant parties shortly. In the meantime, interim measures are in place to deal with any surge requirement.
598. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the amount of money paid to agency staff in County Kerry working for the Health Service Executive for the accounting period November 2011 to November 2012 on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53929/12]
View answerIn the health service, agency staff have traditionally been used to meet a short-term service need or where some flexibility in staffing a service is required. Agency staff may be used only in the most exceptional of circumstances and when all alternative avenues have been exhausted. Such staff may only be engaged when signed off by identified senior management. As the specific issue raised is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
599. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of incidents of a violent nature that have taken place in domestic violence refuges, whether against staff or against residents, in 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53932/12]
View answerIn 2010 the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was published. It aims to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is lead by Cosc which is the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The HSE subsequently published its own Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The principal actions are in line with the National Strategy. The HSE’s policy states that a health-focused analysis of violence is crucial, not only because the consequences of such violence require a significant amount of healthcare system resources, but most importantly because the health care system is often the first route through which victims seek to access supports.
Nationally the HSE funds 42 frontline domestic violence service providers. 20 of these provide refuge accommodation and this number has risen from 15 since 2000. The services provide a wide range of supports such as crisis refuge, advocacy and counselling and were funded to the amount of €13.465M in 2012. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
600. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will state the policy and the procedure that is followed by the Health Service Executive National Ambulance Service in responding to an emergency call in cases when the most appropriate treatment may be available at a hospital which is not the closest acute hospital to the patient's location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53934/12]
View answerPolicies and procedures for the National Ambulance Service are set by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) and the HSE and are operational matters for the HSE. Accordingly, as the question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
