Written Answers Nos. 487 to 504.
487. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if agency nurses have been employed in the medical wards in Sligo General Hospital at any time since 1 January 2011; the number employed each month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13627/13]
View answerThe employment of agency nurses is a matter for the Health Service Executive, and as such, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
488. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the memorandum of understanding between midwives attending home births and the Health Service Executive sufficiently safeguards a woman's right to give birth how and when she wishes by the care provider of her choice; and, if not, his plans, if any, to revise it. [13648/13]
View answerCurrently in Ireland there is a National Domiciliary Midwifery service available to eligible expectant mothers who wish to avail of a home birth service under the care of a self employed community midwife (SECM). This service is provided by the SECM on behalf of the Health Service Executive who signs the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Health Services Executive (HSE). As the HSE has responsibility for this matter it has been referred to them for direct reply to the Deputy.
489. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive will be opening up a new panel for physiotherapists; the number that will be put on the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13631/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. As the recruitment of physiotherapists is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
490. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on the physiotherapist panel; the date on which this panel was established; when same was last updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13632/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. As the recruitment of physiotherapists is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
491. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health when a refund under the drugs payment scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [13633/13]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the Drug Payments Scheme, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
492. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14 will receive an assessment for behavioural issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13639/13]
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.
494. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions that were received regarding the dementia strategy and if he will provide a full progress report on the development of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13659/13]
View answer496. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if and when consultation meetings will take place in relation to the development of the dementia strategy; the persons who will be asked to participate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13660/13]
View answer497. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the date on which he will publish the dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13661/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494, 496 and 497 together.
The Programme for Government gave a commitment to develop a National Strategy on Dementia which will increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and enhance community based services for all people living with this condition, and to do so by the end of 2013. The Department of Health and Atlantic Philanthropies commissioned a research review to create the evidence that will help to lay the foundations for the Strategy and to provide guidelines as to the future direction of public policy in Ireland. The research review, titled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care, A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy, has been completed and is available on the websites of Trinity College at livingwithdementia.tcd.ie and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.ie
A public consultation process which sought the views of interested parties to help inform the development of the strategy concluded at the end of August 2012. 73 submissions were received, these were analysed and a report was published in February 2013. A working group to develop the Strategy will be established shortly with a view to finalising and publishing the Dementia Strategy by the end of this year.
495. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13641/13]
View answerShould 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.
498. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarity regarding the period when a medical card is being reviewed including the duration of the appeals process; if he will specifically address the circumstances when a medical card should be withdrawn; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current system means that when a card is withdrawn and then reinstated by the appeals officer that the period in between is not covered, leaving persons without cover and the medicine needed during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13662/13]
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.
500. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Waterford is on the waiting list for a gastric bypass; the steps being taken to progress their health situation; the length of time they will be expected to wait for this procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/13]
View answerShould 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.
501. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to remain in employment with the Health Service Executive as a home help carer after her sixty-fifth birthday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13717/13]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive it has been referred to the Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
502. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting on a gastric bypass at St Colmcilles' Hospital; the average waiting time for these patients; the action he will take to address the problem of long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/13]
View answer507. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the longest time a patient has had to wait for a gastric bypass at St Colmcille's Hospital within the past two years. [13798/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 507 together.
In 2011, I established the Special Delivery Unit in my Department as set out in the Programme for Government. The aim of the SDU is to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. The SDU's Scheduled Care Team focused initially on waiting times for in-patient and daycase elective surgery. For 2012, a target was set that no adult should wait longer than 9 months for inpatient or daycase treatment. By the end of December 2012, the number of adults having to wait more than 9 months for inpatient and day case surgery nationally had fallen to 86. This was down from 3,706 in December 2011, representing a 98% decrease.
I am determined that the progress made in 2012 be maintained and improved upon. For 2013, the target is that no adult should be waiting longer than 8 months for inpatient or daycase treatment. It is important to recognise that the progress made in 2012 does not mean the problem is solved, and 2013 will of course be extremely challenging. For example, winter pressures in Emergency Departments have impacted on scheduled care waiting times. However, in the coming months, as winter pressures ease, the SDU will work towards re-balancing scheduled care to maintain the improvements seen in 2012 and to achieve the new 2013 target.
In relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy regarding waiting lists for gastric bypass surgery, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
504. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health his views on the conflict that has arisen between the parent of a child (details supplied) who resides in Laura Lynn's Children's Hospice and the hospice management over visitation rights; and if he will inquire with the appropriate personnel in the Health Service Executive that they investigate the matter. [13746/13]
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.
