Written Answers Nos. 956-971
956. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if adequate resources and training are in place for care workers dealing with patients suffering from dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57866/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
957. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57880/12]
View answerA comprehensive programme of rationalisation has been implemented across Department of Health funded agencies since mid-2008. The primary aim of the rationalisation programme is to streamline service delivery, professional registration and policy making in a number of areas in the health sector, through the integration and/or amalgamation of functions. The extent of savings will vary between organisations and the majority of staff will be redeployed to other public service bodies. Efficiencies will derive from economies of scale and the elimination of duplication in areas such as recruitment, procurement, payroll and ICT.
Primary legislation was/is required to dissolve each individual agency. Since the Government took office, the following progress has been made:
|
Agency |
Dissolved/Merged |
Date |
|
National Social Work Qualifications Board |
Subsumed into Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) |
31 March 2011 |
|
Children Acts Advisory Board |
Subsumed into the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs |
8 September 2011 |
|
National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery |
Dissolved and Subsumed into An Bord Altranais |
31 December 2011 |
The Drug Treatment Centre Board is scheduled to be dissolved and subsumed into the HSE shortly. It is envisaged that the drafting of the Bill to subsume the Opticians Board into CORU will commence this year and that rationalisation will be finalised in 2014.
As part of the Public Service Reform Plan announced on 17th November 2011, my Government announced 6 further bodies to be considered for rationalisation.
|
Mental Health Commission |
|
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
|
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
|
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
958. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that two junior doctors at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, took their own lives in the past six months, the time limitation on hours worked by junior doctors working in hospitals, and his plans to alter same. [57901/12]
View answerThe causes of suicide are complex and are likely to involve an inter-play of psychological, biological social and environmental factors in the context of a person’s negative experiences over a lifetime, sometimes aggravated by a recent personal difficulty.
The number of deaths by suicide is a matter of continuing concern for this Government. We are committed to addressing this serious issue and have prioritised the implementation of Reach Out – the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention (2005 – 2014).
S.I. No. 494 of 2004 European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive for doctors in training, provides for:
- A maximum 48 hour average working week;
- 11 hours rest every 24 hours or equivalent compensatory rest before return to work; and
- 35 hours continuous rest per week or twice a fortnight or 59 hours continuous rest per fortnight.
There has been a significant reduction in the weekly hours worked by NCHDs in recent years. Typically NCHDs work approximately 55 hours per week. Further work is therefore required to achieve compliance with the requirements of the Directive.
In January 2012, Ireland submitted to the EU Commission a detailed Plan for the achievement of compliance by NCHDs with the Working Time Directive. The plan affirmed Ireland's commitment to achieving compliance with the Directive over a three-year time period. It committed to implementing measures to compliance, including:
a. The implementation of new work patterns for medical staff;
b. Transfer of work undertaken by NCHDs to other grades;
c. Organisation of hospital services to support EWTD compliance.
Compliance is being progressed in the context of the Government’s programme for health reform and at the level of each hospital and through strategic measures in relation to how hospital services are organised and managed.
The Health Service Executive’s Service Plan for 2013 specifically recognises the need to address the issue as a priority, stating that there will be a particular focus in the acute hospital service on the achievement of compliance with the European Working Time Directive amongst the non-consultant hospital doctor (NCHD) workforce, in line with the Implementation Plan submitted to the Commission in 2012.
959. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will safeguard the funding for services (details supplied) in view of the crucial services it provides to children with intellectual disabilities. [57912/12]
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.
960. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will refrain from imposing any further cuts to the disability sector; and if he will make a commitment to protect the current level of funding that exists. [57922/12]
View answerThis Government currently provides funding of over €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2013 , and is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent.
The Minister for Health is working to ensure that protection is afforded to the disability sector, and the Social Care area as a whole.
In 2013 the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2012, by providing the following specialist disability services:
- residential services to over 9,000 people with a disability;
- day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- respite residential support for over 7,500 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- 1.68m hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours.
961. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of maternity hospitals that currently test pregnant women to see if they carry the sickle-cell gene; if there are plans for all maternity hospitals to test for this if they do not already do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57927/12]
View answerIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
962. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health his veiws on correspondence regarding funding for day care services for elderly people (details supplied). [57933/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
963. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health his views on the findings of the National Advocacy Service, published October 2012, that disabled persons being moved out of institutions and into the community without adequate planning resulted in increased doses of prescription medication for some; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57955/12]
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.
964. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review the Health Service Executive has undertaken after an audit found that 7,000 old-age pensioners had not had their eligibility reviewed for more than ten years; the number of medical cards that have been revoked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57956/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
965. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the electronic claims management system that has been rolled out to six sites to replace the paper-based process; the locations at which this system will be rolled out to next; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57957/12]
View answerThe Health Insurance Management System (HIMS) electronically processes private health insurance claims for acute hospitals and allows for the electronic submission of forms to the relevant insurers. Historically this has been a largely manual, paper based, time consuming exercise. Each hospital on the new system now operates a standard process, with patients having the option to sign claim forms electronically on admission.
The system is being implemented by the HSE in conjunction with Sláinte Healthcare who supply the software. The system is now currently live in eleven sites and six sites are in progress. Rollout to further sites is envisaged and will require approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Live Sites
St James's Hospital
Mater Misercordiae Hospital
Cork University Hospital
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin
Adelaide and Meath Incorporating the National Childrens Hospital, Tallaght
Mid-Western Regional Hospital Dooradoyle, Limerick
Mid-Western Orthopaedic Hospital, Croom, Co Limerick
Mid-Western Maternity Hospital, Ennis Road, Limerick
University Hospital Galway
Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway
Mercy University Hospital, Cork
In Progress
Beaumont
Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda
Sligo Regional
Waterford Regional
Roscommon General
Portiuncula.
966. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will receive an appointment for a hearing test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57967/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
967. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form and by Health Service Executive region the amount paid in bonuses to HSE managers in the years 2009-2012 inclusive; the number of managers who received such bonuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57974/12]
View answerA number of performance related award schemes were introduced in the health service following a decision by the then Government on the implementation of recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, in a report published in September 2000. In May 2009, in the context of the serious deterioration in the public finances and in view of the cessation of such awards in the civil service, my Department wrote to the HSE stating that bonus payments should be suspended pending the issue of further guidelines. In March 2010, my Department instructed the HSE that the schemes should be suspended on an indefinite basis; the schemes remain suspended.
The Deputy's question, insofar as it relates to any payments made prior to the suspension of the schemes, has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
968. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 has been 44 months waiting for an appointment for orthodontic treatment and the action he will take regarding same. [57984/12]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to her as soon as possible.
969. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the reason a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy was refused a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57995/12]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits, and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to themselves and their dependents without undue hardship. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons who have cancer.
There is a provision for discretion to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded. The HSE recently set up a clinical panel to assist in the processing of applications for discretionary medical cards where there are difficult personal circumstances.
There is an emergency process for a person who is terminally ill, or in urgent need of medical attention and cannot afford to pay for it, that provides a card within 24 hours while the normal application process is completed. Once a letter from the patient's GP or consultant is received, stating that the person is terminally ill, and the required personal details are provided an emergency card is issued to that person for a six-month period.
970. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing the breast check programme from the age of 45 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57996/12]
View answerThe BreastCheck Programme provides free mammograms to all women aged 50-64. The Programme for Government includes the extension of Breastcheck to women in the 65-69 age group, in keeping with EU Guidelines on effective screening for breast cancer.
The NCSS continually reviews and assesses new and emerging evidence in screening benefits, including the optimum age range for screening. In 2009 it commissioned a review of the evidence for reducing the lower screening age limit from 50 to 47 years. The review found that the effectiveness of screening below age 50 remains an issue of debate.
The main priority for the HSE's National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) at present is to maximise national uptake in the 50-64 year age cohort and it aims to extend the upper age range from 65 - 69 in 2014 in keeping with the Programme for Government.
In the meantime women of any age who have concerns about breast cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to the symptomatic breast services in one of the eight designated specialist cancer centres.
971. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for fair deal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58003/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
