Skip to main content
Normal View

Wednesday, 23 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 232 - 235

Hospital Services

Questions (232)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment with an appropriately qualified medical professional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3260/13]

View answer

Written answers

I understand from Letterkenny General Hospital that the person in question has a Cardiac Device which was fitted in the United States. Dr Santhosh David, Consultant Cardiologist at Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH) has made two separate referrals to specialist Cardiology Tertiary Centres in Dublin to arrange follow up for this patient. The Consultant in each of these centres has been unable to see the patient as they have no experience in dealing with the type of device that he has had implanted.

It is my further understanding that LGH is continuing to seek to identify a centre with the requisite experience to which the person may be appropriately referred. The Cardiology department at LGH will be in contact with him as soon as a referral is confirmed.

Orthodontic Services Provision

Questions (233)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

233. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that were seen each week in the orthodontic unit in Navan County Meath, in the years 2011 and 2012; the number of patients that have been seen in equivalent orthodontic units in County Louth and north Dublin in the years 2011 and 2012 listed by unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3265/13]

View answer

Written answers

The 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 him as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (234)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

234. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be assessed for cataract treatment in Regional Hospital, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3266/13]

View answer

Written answers

Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the NTPF has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. A maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment by 30 November 2013.

In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.

Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.

In 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.

Disabilities Services Funding

Questions (235)

Tom Fleming

Question:

235. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting autistic spectrum disorder assessments and interventions in County Kerry; the length of time these children are on the waiting list; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3269/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with a disability including those with autism having regard to the resources available. A range of community and other services are provided for children with a disability including those with autism by or on behalf of the HSE.

Significantly the HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children and young people with disabilities including those with autism under its Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People (0-18 years). This aims to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way both early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities are delivered. A detailed action plan is being implemented with the following objectives: one clear pathway to services for all children with disabilities according to need; resources used to the greatest benefit for all children and families and; health and education working together to support children to achieve their potential.

In practical terms this means that health professionals and parents will know exactly where a child should be referred and how to refer them. Services may be provided at primary care level or by early intervention and school age disability teams, with access to specialist services, according to the child’s needs.The reconfiguration of existing therapy resources aims to ensure that the resources available are used to best effect.

The particular issue raised by the Deputy is an operational service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Top
Share