Written Answers Nos. 54-70
54. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he has considered a proposal for a salary review in respect of the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive; if this is an upward review; the sum involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13775/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 provides for the replacement of the HSE Board with a Directorate structure. The Directorate will be comprised of the Director General and a number of senior managers, and will have collective responsibility as the governing authority for the HSE. As well as chairing the Directorate, the Director General will be responsible for the management of the HSE.
The annual salary for the present Deputy CEO of the HSE has been set at €194,950. Once the new Bill has been passed by the Oireachtas, I intend to formally appoint the Deputy CEO as Director General. The salary rate which will then apply to this post will be agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I have no proposals for an upward review of the salary for this position. The rate for the position, as with all senior public service posts, will be subject to reduction in line with the arrangements announced by the Government in the context of the public service pay talks which concluded on 25 February last.
57. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way the recently published Health Service Executive regional plans will help those requiring disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13863/13]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive must prepare a service plan and submit it to me for my approval following publication of the Estimates. The National Service Plan which was submitted to me in December sets out the quantum and type of health services to be provided in 2013 within the overall level of funding provided.
In accordance with the Act I approved the National Service Plan and laid a copy of the plan before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 9 January this year. Subsequently, the Executive prepared and published its the Operational Plan and Regional Service Plans which underpin the National Service Plan at the end of February. The HSE has responsibility for the delivery of services set out in these Regional Plans and to ensure that services are delivered within budget.
The Director General Designate of the HSE, Tony O'Brien, has provided full briefing on the Regional Service Plans to the Regional Fora.
60. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if there has been any full report in relation to the review of the configuration of services in the Health Service Executive Dublin south-Wicklow area comprising St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital and St. Columcille's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14348/13]
View answer63. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if there has been any full report in relation to the review of the configuration of services in the Health Service Executive Dublin south-Wicklow area comprising St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital and St. Columcille's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14349/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 63 together.
As the Deputy's query relates to operational matters for the Health Service Executive, this question has been forwarded to the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
61. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will protect funding for not-for-profit organisations that provide neuro-rehabilitation supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13783/13]
View answer122. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will invest in the implementation of the neuro-rehabilitation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13782/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 122 together.
The aim of neuro-rehabilitation is to enable the person to achieve the highest possible level of independence. Desired outcomes range from a return to full independence in social and work situations to a person requiring long-term support and care but with a higher level of independence than in the absence of neuro-rehabilitation. Current services available include acute hospital services; the National Rehabilitation Hospital; multidisciplinary community services; long-term assisted living supports; and rehabilitative training services. These services are provided directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and several non-statutory organisations.
The Department of Health and the HSE have developed and published the "National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 - 2015". In addition the HSE is developing its Rehabilitation Medicine Programme within the Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate. The Report is the overarching policy on neuro-rehabilitation services and includes proposals for a framework for the future of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland and proposals on implementing the report including key elements such as guiding principles; implementation structure; methodology for implementation; and information and communication.
The Report recognises that given the current economic climate, the focus in the short to medium term has to be on re-configuration of services, structures and resources and the enhancement of the skills and competencies required to meet the changing context.
The Rehabilitation Medicine Programme has been working in collaboration with the National Disability Unit as part of an expert Working Group planning for the implementation of the Report. The key priority areas, as identified in the HSE's National Operational Plan for 2013 are to map and develop Integrated Service Area level rehabilitation networks; and implement the model of care for rehabilitation services within the networks with a focus on community rehabilitation.
The Rehabilitation Medicine Programme has incorporated key elements of the Report into its own Model of Care and adopted the Strategy's recommendation of "hub and spoke" model for specialist rehabilitation services and is keen to progress with a comprehensive model for the continuation of such service into the community.
With regard to funding agencies, this Government currently provides over €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the HSE's National Service Plan for 2013. We are committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities, including neuro-rehabilitation services, 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. While the allocation for disability services in 2013 will be reduced by 1.2%, its share of the estimate reduction, the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2012.
62. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that lamp treatment facilities for psoriasis patients are not in use in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, because of non-deployment of staff; if he will address this as a matter of urgency with the Health Service Executive and the hospital in order that this treatment can be made available to the patients who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13777/13]
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.
67. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in detail a breakdown of the further 55 public nursing home bed closures scheduled in 2013 in the Dublin north east Health Service Executive region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13766/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
68. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a complaint (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13685/13]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2007, statutory responsibility is given to the Chief Inspector of Social Services, part of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), for the independent inspection and registration of certain categories of designated centres including residential care settings for older people.
This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising the Health Act 2007, the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009, as amended, the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009 and the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland.
The Care and Welfare Regulations provide that all nursing homes, both public and private, have a complaints procedure in place in relation to the making, handling and investigation of complaints.
As a regulator HIQA has no formal legal role in examining individual complaints, however, the Authority does take into account all information it receives, including complaints from the public, when carrying out inspections. The Chief Inspector has the power to refuse to register, attach conditions to a registration or cancel the registration of a designated centre in the event of non-compliance with the Regulations or the Standards.
In the case of the Health Service Executive and public facilities the Health Act 2004 provides a framework for statutory complaints. Advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at www.healthcomplaints.ie. When an individual is not satisfied with the response he or she receives, he or she may wish to take the complaint further by seeking a review from the HSE’s Director of Advocacy or the Office of the Ombudsman.
