Written Answers Nos. 784-808
784. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for a medical card appeal; the number of applicants waiting for their medical card appeal to be assessed and a decision made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5238/13]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
Question No. 785 answered with Question No. 773.
786. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the make up of the new Mayo Galway Roscommon Health Board; the reason Mayo is not represented on the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5252/13]
View answer787. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future of Mayo General Hospital; the timeframe expected in attaining these goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5253/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 786 and 787 together.
Under the Programme for Government 2011-2016, the Government committed to developing a universal, single-tier health service, which guarantees access to medical care based on need, not income. On foot of this commitment the Government will introduce a system of Universal Health Insurance (UHI).
A key stepping stone to the new system will be to develop independent not-for-profit hospital trusts in which all hospitals will function as part of integrated groups. The rationale behind the establishment of hospital groups and trusts is to support increased operational autonomy and accountability for hospital services in a way that will drive service reforms and provide the maximum possible benefit to patients.
The work on hospital groups is not about downgrading hospitals. It is about the bringing together groups of hospitals to form single cohesive entities to allow maximum flexibility in management, budgets and service delivery.
The provision of services at any hospital site will primarily be determined by the appropriate clinical programme for that service, taking account of the population which the hospital serves and services provided by other hospitals which are within a reasonable commute.
Each Hospital Group will have a single consolidated management team with responsibility for performance and outcomes. It is intended that non-executive Boards, consisting of persons with expertise in key competencies such as clinical / business / legal / medical academic / patient advocacy, will oversee each Hospital Group management team and will have responsibility for decisions in relation to services in all hospitals in the Group.
In June 2012 I appointed Professor John Higgins to chair a Strategic Board on the Establishment of Hospital Groups. A Project Team was tasked with developing criteria to assist my Department in the development of policy in relation to the composition of hospital groups, governance arrangements, current management frameworks and linkages to academic institutions. The Team carried out a comprehensive consultation process with all acute hospitals and other health service agencies as well as reviewing a significant number of written submissions.
Work is nearing completion on the draft report on the wider issue of hospital groups: Prof. John Higgins will submit that report to me in early February, I will then bring it to Cabinet for decision. The Government will then decide on the initial make up of hospital groups which will be established on an administrative basis pending the legislation required to set up hospital trusts by 2015. Before those trusts are established the composition and functioning of the Groups will be reviewed and if changes prove necessary then they will be made with Government approval when the hospital trusts are being formed. As such I cannot comment at this time on the final composition of the new Hospital Groups.
The Galway/Roscommon University Hospital Group was established on a pilot basis in January 2012, consisting of University College Hospital, Galway, Merlin Park Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe and Roscommon Hospital. This was in response to budgetary and service issues in relation to Galway and the movement of services between Roscommon and Portiuncula hospital in line with the principles of the smaller hospitals framework, that service should be delivered as close to a person’s home as possible. This is commensurate with the need to ensure quality and safety in service delivery such that more complex work generally needs to be carried out in larger hospitals.
The Galway / Roscommon University Hospital Group has gone some way towards realising the governance arrangement which will be recommended by the Report with the appointment of Mr. Noel Daly as chairperson of the Board in May 2012. Mr. Daly is former Chief Executive of An Bord Altranais and he has also served in senior management posts in the health services in Ireland and in the UK. In January 2013 the HSE established an interim Board on an administrative non-statutory basis, pending the establishment of Hospital Trusts to manage public hospitals in line with the Governments programme for reform of the health service. The competencies of the individuals appointed are the key to better management of hospitals and it was on this basis that the Board appointments were made. The administrative Board will be replaced in due course by a Trust Board on a statutory basis and may be dissolved and reconstituted at any time to facilitate the development of Hospital Trusts.
788. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future of the Sacred Heart Hospital Castlebar, County Mayo; the time-frame expected in attaining these goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5254/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Question No. 789 answered with Question No. 779.
Question No. 790 answered with Question No. 772.
791. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [5259/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (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 Special Delivery Unit (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 a 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 hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
792. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the amount of his Department’s €397 million capital spending for 2013 that will go towards construction projects; the projects involved; the details of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5277/13]
View answerThe health capital allocation for 2013 is €397m of which the HSE's allocation is €381m. This €381m includes €40m for information and related services.
The remaining €341m which includes €8m to be funded from the proceeds of the disposal of surplus assets is available for construction projects.
Work is underway on the Executive's multi-annual Capital Plan 2013-2017. My Department is reviewing the proposals and following up with the HSE where further details may be required. The draft Capital Plan 2013-2017 will require my approval with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Following its approval details of the Plan will be published by the Executive on its website.
My Department's 2013 capital allocation is €16m. It includes provision for the Health Research Board's contribution for the construction of a Clinical Research Facility at Galway University Hospital.
794. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the single health insurance fund will be put in place; the persons who will be covered under the new system; the services to be covered by the fund; the amount of the additional cost that is covered; if there is a forum in which private insurers may decide how to modify their plans in line with these services; if additional tax relief is planned for those still maintaining private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5283/13]
View answer812. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the projected timeframe and progress made in the plan to introduce universal health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5370/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 812 together.
The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where access is based on need, not on income. Insurance will be provided under a multi-payer insurance model with no distinction between "public" and "private" patients. Under UHI, everyone will be insured and will have equal access to a standard package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. A new Insurance Fund will subsidise or pay insurance premiums for those who qualify for a subsidy.
In moving to a system of UHI, there are a number of key stepping stones that are necessary to pave the way for the introduction of universal health insurance. Work is underway on these critical building blocks that will bring benefits and drive efficiencies in advance of implementing UHI. They include:
- the strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients;
- the work of the Special Delivery Unit in tackling waiting times and establishing hospital groups;
- the introduction of a more transparent and efficient "Money Follows the Patient" funding mechanism for hospitals, and
- reform of the private health insurance market.
The reform programme is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and sequencing over a number of years. The Programme for Government acknowledges that full implementation of UHI will take some time to achieve. Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015 highlights the importance of a step-by-step evidence-based approach to achieving an effective, equitable and efficient system and sets out key actions to systematically deliver on reform. It is anticipated that by 2016 the necessary groundwork will be in place to enable us to phase in implementation of UHI, as promised in the Programme for Government.
The Department is preparing a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance which will provide further detail on the UHI model for Ireland in addition to the estimated costs and financing mechanisms associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. The work involved is both complex and technical, necessitating significant research and financial modelling to support analysis and costing of different design options. This, in turn, demands a wide-range of specialised expertise. The Department is engaged in a process to ensure the provision of this expertise to feed into work on the preparation of the White Paper during 2013. The White Paper will be published as early as possible within the Government’s term of office.
In advance of the White Paper, my Department has produced a Preliminary Paper on UHI, which I intend to publish in the near future.
Finally, the Deputy has asked about a forum in which private health insurers may engage in relation to plans on UHI. Last year, I established the Health Insurance Consultative Forum. The Forum comprises representatives from the country's main health insurance companies, the Health Insurance Authority and the Department of Health. The Forum provides a platform for identifying ways of addressing costs throughout the industry, whilst always respecting the requirements of competition law. In addition, it also gives a voice to insurers in raising issues relating to the development of the new Universal Health Insurance model.
Question No. 795 answered with Question No. 779.
796. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the total amount of money allocated to St. Joseph's Foundation, Charleville, County Cork in 2012. [5305/13]
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.
797. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect an outpatient appointment. [5320/13]
View answerImproving 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.
798. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card renewal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork [5325/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect an outpatient appointment. [5328/13]
View answerThe issue of Out-Patient waiting lists was essentially an untended problem. The scale of the problem was unmeasured and consequently no special action was taken to deal with it. This Government intends to change that. The Special Delivery Unit is now dealing with the issue of Out-Patient waiting lists on my instruction, with the assistance of the NTPF.
Work has commenced on the systematic and automatic collection of waiting time data at an individual patient level, in a standardised format, from all hospitals providing an Out-Patient service. This will be the first time that such detailed data will be available at a national level from all hospitals. The collection and analysis of Out-Patient waiting time data will allow the SDU and the NTPF to address issues at regional / hospital/speciality and consultant levels. The Special Delivery Unit and NTPF recently published the first set of validated out-patient waiting time data on the website www.ptr.ie. Published data is broken down by region and by hospital.
The target maximum waiting time for a first Out-Patient appointment in 2013 is that no patient should be waiting more than 12 months by the end of November. Hospitals will be held responsible and accountable for ensuring that patients are seen in Out-Patients within this maximum waiting time. The Special Delivery Unit and the NTPF will assist hospitals in targeting their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen, assessed and appropriately treated.
In parallel with reducing the numbers of those waiting longest, the Special Delivery Unit will also commence work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of Out-Patient services to ensure that the right patient is seen by the right health professional at the right time.
The goal of the measures outlined above is to improve access by implementing an Out Patient Service Performance Improvement Programme that will underpin a radical transformation of how Out-Patient services are delivered in Ireland.
I have arranged for the question to be forwarded to the Health Service Executive, who will respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the information requested on Out-Patient waiting times in University Hospital, Galway and the particular case referred to the Deputy's question.
Questions Nos. 800 to 802, inclusive, answered with Question No. 780.
803. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of women who were diagnosed with postnatal depression each year since, and including 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5332/13]
View answer804. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the funding provided by his Department to raise awareness about postnatal depression each year since and including 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5333/13]
View answer805. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the funding provided by the Department, each year since and including 2005, to facilitate and assist women suffering from postnatal depression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5334/13]
View answer806. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the funding provided by his Department, each year since and including 2005, to counter the occurrence of postnatal depression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5335/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 803 to 806, inclusive, together.
The HSE’s General Adult Mental Health Services provides care and treatment to women who are referred to the Specialist Mental Health Services during pregnancy and post partum. These referrals are usually through a GP or Primary Care Team. There are currently 123 General Adult Community Mental Health Teams throughout the country, led by a Consultant psychiatrist and staffed by a multidisciplinary team.
Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the HSE and funding for such services has been provided to the Executive as part of its overall vote. I have, therefore, referred the specific questions raised by the Deputy to the HSE for direct reply.
807. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamnetary Question No. 223 of 24 November 2011, if his policy proposals have been submitted to Government; when he expects legislation to be published on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5336/13]
View answerThe policy proposals on the regulation of Assisted Human Reproduction and related matters have not yet been submitted to Government. However, last year I instructed my officials to further examine a number of policy issues on this matter, and I am currently considering these proposals.
808. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which counselling and support services are available locally in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5340/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
