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Tuesday, 5 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos 834-857

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (834)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

834. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been refused a medical card; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5600/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (835)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

835. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has been refused a medical card; if he will reconsider the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5601/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (836)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

836. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason persons (details supplied) in County Sligo have been refused a medical card, if he will reconsider the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5602/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (837)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

837. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused a medical card; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5606/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Provision

Questions (838)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

838. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the Health Service Executive policy document regarding the withdrawal of solids from an ill or disabled person when they are no longer able to swallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5622/13]

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Written answers

Decisions about the appropriate management of patients with swallowing difficulties are the clinical responsibility of the attending medical practitioner based on the clinical circumstances of an individual case. The Medical Council 'Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners' provides guidance in relation to end of life care. The Guide states that the doctor shares with others the responsibility to take care that the patient dies with dignity, in comfort and with as little suffering as possible. There is no obligation to start or continue a treatment, or artificial nutrition or hydration that is futile or disproportionately burdensome, even if such treatment may prolong life. Doctors should respect the right of patients to refuse medical treatment or to request the withdrawal of medical treatment. The Guide states that doctors should take care to communicate with patients and their families so that they have a clear understanding of what can and cannot be achieved and offer advice on other treatment or palliative care options that might be available to them and ensure that support is provided to patients and their families, particularly when the outcome is likely to be distressing. Doctors must not participate in the deliberate killing of a patient by active means.

Question No. 839 answered with Question No. 818.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (840)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

840. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in tabular form the total cost of all conferences and seminars attended by his Department in 2012; the purpose of each conference/seminar; the location; the number of delegates that attended from his Department/agencies or otherwise that were represented; the total cost of each conference/seminar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5638/13]

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Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Department is set out in the attached table and includes the details of the conference/seminar in each case as well as location and the number of delegates. The total direct cost of the conferences/seminars is also provided which includes registration and associated fees. This does not include the cost of travel and subsistence for the individual delegates which was paid at standard rates in accordance with the appropriate circulars issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and accounted for separately under the overall general heading of travel and subsistence under Subhead A2 within the Department's Administrative Budget.

The information in relation to the Non-Commercial State Agencies is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the the Deputy as soon as it is available. The information requested by the Deputy which relates to the HSE has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Conferences and Seminars 2012

Purpose of Conference

Location 

Number Delegates Attended

Total Cost of Each Conference

CEO Health Forum on Competition and Health

Dublin

7

1,600.75

Ireland's EU Presidency

Dublin

1

245.00

Discovery - The Release of Documents by Public Authorities

Dublin

7

1,543.50

Healthcare Conference 

London

1

735.54

RCPI Management Registration 

Dublin

1

120.00

Evidence into Practice Seminar 

Dublin

1

40.00

Paris Forum on Health Quality

Paris

1

1,272.11

Scientific Meeting RCPI

Dublin

3

660.00

Stroke Conference - Irish Heart Foundation

Dublin

1

150.00

 Bioethics Conference

Rotterdam

1

575.00

Health Service Library Group Conference

Dublin

1

95.00

Time Management and Personal Effectiveness

Dublin

2

490.00

Legal Professional Privilige Seminar

Dublin

3

735.00

Industrial Relations News Annual Conference

Dublin

1

395.00

Achieving Reform for the Public Sector

Dublin

1

250.00

Annual Review Conference Legal Island

Dublin

1

195.00

Minute Taking

Dublin

1

245.00

Institute Internal Auditors - Irish Annual Conference

Dublin

2

1,300.00

Irelands EU Presidency

Dublin

1

215.25

New Ways of Gathering Evidence 

Dublin

1

50.00

 EU Law Seminar 

London

2

1,906.09

 Public Health Emergency Planning Conference

Dublin

1

50.00

 Implementation Science School Conference, Trinity College

Dublin

5

1,260.00

2012 Workshop on Loss 

Dublin

1

95.00

International Conference on Emergency Medicine

Dublin

3

1,755.00

Professional Regulation in Ireland - 2012 & Beyond

Dublin

1

190.00

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Venice

1

1,950.00

Social Inclusion Conference

Dublin

1

50.00

European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology

Istanbul

1

250.00

Constitutional Law 

Dublin

2

120.00

Health Seminar

Dublin

2

130.00

Fixed Term Contracts

Dublin

2

450.00

Developing a Social Media Strategy 

Dublin

2

590.00

*International Pharmacy Federation Centennial Congress *

Amsterdam

2

1,996.50

Health Management Institute Annual Conference

Dublin

1

150.00

Forum on Price/Tariff Setting 

Dublin

7

1,100.74

Corepay Year-End 

Dublin

2

200.00

Future of Health Services

Dublin

1

239.85

Health Informatics Society 

Dublin

6

1,380.00

Economic Recovery and Public Sector Reform

Dublin

4

702.00

Royal College Physicians of Ireland Conference

Dublin

1

100.00

Tort Litigation

Dublin

1

150.00

Irish Association for Cancer Research  

Cork

1

500.00

Total

26,227.33

*Attendance at this conference secured a 5,000 delegate conference for Dublin.

Question No. 841 answered with Question No. 773.

Primary Care Centre Provision

Questions (842)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

842. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health regarding the primary health care centre (details supplied) in County Meath, the reason plans for it were cancelled; the reason the centre was not included on the list of 35 primary care centres published by him in July 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5672/13]

View answer

Written answers

Kells is one of the 35 potential locations for primary care centres announced in the July 2012 PPP Stimulus Package.

Primary Care Centre Provision

Questions (843)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

843. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health regarding the primary health care centre (details supplied) in County Meath, the facilities available in the centre at present; the number of general practitioners operating out of the centre; the facilities planned for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5678/13]

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Written answers

The key objective of the Primary Care Strategy is to develop services in the community which will give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. The HSE has responsibility for the provision of services in Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Primary Care Centre Provision

Questions (844, 850)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

844. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in relation to a primary health care centre (details supplied) in County Meath, if there are plans to make provision for one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5680/13]

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Billy Kelleher

Question:

850. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the details of primary care centres currently open in County Meath; the number expected to be delivered in 2013; the details of same and in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5707/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 844 and 850 together.

The key objective of the Primary Care Strategy is to develop services in the community which will give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. The HSE has responsibility for the provision of appropriate infrastructure for these Primary Care Teams. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Questions (845, 846, 847)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

845. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there will be any reconfiguration of services at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5702/13]

View answer

Billy Kelleher

Question:

846. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any services were withdrawn from Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5703/13]

View answer

Billy Kelleher

Question:

847. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if any services were withdrawn from Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5704/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 845 to 847, inclusive, together.

Recommendations on the formation of specific groups and arrangements for the management and governance of all groups have been drafted as part of a report on the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to hospital trusts. This report is based on a comprehensive consultation process, as well as a significant number of submissions from stakeholders and individual citizens. These recommendations have been considered and endorsed by a Strategic Board composed of representatives with national and international expertise in health service delivery, governance and linkages with academic institutions. The report on the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to independent hospital trust will be presented formally to me by the Chair of the Strategic Board, Professor John Higgins, in the near future. I will prioritise consideration of that report, which will then be submitted to and presented to Government for decision on the hospital groups composition in light of the recommendations of the Report.

The Framework for Smaller Hospitals defines the role of the smaller hospitals. It outlines the need for smaller hospitals and larger hospitals to operate together. The Framework outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within the smaller hospital. It defines the need for the smaller hospital to be supported within a group of hospitals in terms of education and training, continuous professional development, the sustainable recruitment of high quality clinical staff and the safe management of patients who present with varying levels of complexity. It also sets out to address the categories of services that should transfer from the larger to the smaller hospitals and vice versa within a Hospital Group so that services are delivered in the most appropriate hospital.

I am determined to ensure that as many services as possible can be provided safely and appropriately in smaller, local hospitals. On this basis, the organisation of hospital services nationally, regionally and locally will be informed by the ongoing development of the HSE Clinical Programmes. With this in mind the Framework will set out what services can and should be delivered safely by these hospitals in the interest of better outcomes for patients. In relation to the specific details for the years 2011 and 2012 sought by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services Staff

Questions (848)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

848. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of medical-dental staff; nursing staff; health and social care professionals, management-administration staff; general support staff and other staff in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, at end of March 2011, end of March 2012 and end of December 2012, and anticipated for end of December 2013. [5705/13]

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Written answers

As the issue raised is a matter for the HSE, I have requested the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the details requested.

Health Services Staff

Questions (849)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

849. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of graduate nurses employed in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath; the number of graduate nurses that were taken on in 2010 and in 2011 in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5706/13]

View answer

Written answers

As the issue raised is a matter for the HSE, I have requested the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the details requested.

Question No. 850 answered with Question No. 844.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (851)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

851. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he is satisfied with the way that urgent cases are being dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5781/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 852 answered with Question No. 818.

Health Services Staff

Questions (853)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

853. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health his views on the suggestion made by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation that the direct conversion of currently employed agency staff into direct employment would potentially save the Health Service Executive up to €23 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/13]

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Written answers

Furthermore tight control is needed of expenditure on agency and overtime in nursing services. For these reasons there are no plans to increase the numbers of permanent nursing staff employed in the health service.

Question No. 854 answered with Question No. 832.

Legislative Programme

Questions (855)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

855. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding abortion legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5826/13]

View answer

Written answers

I note the information that has been forwarded by the Deputy; however, as he will be aware, the Government has approved the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case by way of legislation with regulations, within the parameters of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the Xcase. It has also been agreed to make appropriate amendments to the criminal law in this area.

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Questions (856, 857)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

856. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his Department employs a full-time legal adviser; if recent reports on spending on legal advice by his Department are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5840/13]

View answer

Billy Kelleher

Question:

857. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department have considered recruiting extra staff with legal expertise to decrease costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5841/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 856 and 857 together.

My Department currently employs three legal advisors. One is employed on a full time basis at Principal Officer equivalent and 1.4 WTEs are employed at Assistant Principal equivalent. My Department is aware of the need to minimise legal costs and, in general, avails of legal services and advice from the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. The legal costs referred to by the Deputy (€1,027,669) is accurate and reflects the total additional fees paid for legal services over the five year period from 2008 to December 2012. These costs include engagement of legal drafting services in relation to a broad range of secondary legislation, mostly on complex statutory instruments required to implement EU directives. It also includes legal advice on inquiries and in respect of certain litigation that warranted specialist legal expertise.

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