Written Answers Nos. 598-616
598. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown for the years 2010, 20911, 2012 and to date in 2013 of the number of home help assistants in County Donegal contracted by the Health Service Executive; and the hours they worked per week [18482/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
599. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason home help assistants, contracted by the Health Service Executive, do not appear to have hours they have lost reinstated or replaced over recent years [18483/13]
View answer600. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a commitment that all contracts between the Health Service Executive and home help assistants will be honoured in terms of compensation for lost hours in the event of their clients being taken into respite care or in the event of their client's death [18484/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.
I fully appreciate the difference quality home care can make to individuals and their families. The HSE also recognise the importance of home help and home care in supporting older persons to live in their own homes and communities in accordance with Government policy. Home helps play a vital role in enabling people to continue to live at home and this policy will continue to be a key feature of health service delivery. The Government will make every effort, despite significant resource pressures, to protect front-line home support services for vulnerable older people and to facilitate the development of the home help service.
While the HSE announced a reduction in the provision of home help hours as one of a number of measures required to address the significant 2012 budget deficit last October, this was subject to home help services continuing to be available to those assessed as requiring them. The HSE’s 2013 Service Plan includes the provision of 10.3 million hours of home help service, the same level as planned for in 2012.
The number of hours worked by home help assistants varies according to service needs. Their terms and conditions were covered by an agreement negotiated with the representative unions in 2009. On 29 June 2012, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in relation to matters concerning the contracts of home help assistants. The Court issued a further recommendation on 12 December 2012 noting that management proposals to deal with the issues raised would be encompassed in a comprehensive delivery model for home help services. The parties have since met on a number of occasions in relation to contractual issues under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission and this engagement is ongoing.
601. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the supports available here to persons suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; if his attention has been drawn to the work done by the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18491/13]
View answer653. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of sufferers in the State of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who develop breathlessness, fatigue, cough and ultimately respiratory failure; and the average current annual costs of their current treatment from the Health Service Executive. [19026/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 653 together.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease affecting both genders and usually in patients older than 50 years of age. The symptoms appear gradually and include a cough and breathlessness. It is not know how many patients suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Ireland. The annual costs for treatment are unavailable. The diagnosis and treatment of this condition is made in the hospitals setting. A variety of medical treatments have been used to treat the condition and, in some cases, may require a lung transplant.
602. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a financial breakdown of the current budgetary performance of every hospital providing acute services within the Health Service Executive with details of the expected target of each acute hospital and the projected outturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
603. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will report in respect of the proposed closure of a hostel (details supplied) in County Kerry, the setting up of a forum as agreed at the meeting with him of 7 November 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18522/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
604. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the development of a new acute admission and inpatient unit at St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18530/13]
View answerDelivery of healthcare infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
605. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will request the National Treatment Purchase Fund to renegotiate and agree a fair price for the continuation of high quality long-term nursing home care in respect of a nursing home (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18533/13]
View answerFinancial support for long-term nursing home care is provided under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The Scheme provides support to individuals, not to nursing homes. In order to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme all private nursing homes, and voluntary nursing homes which previously received funding for long-term residential care under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, must negotiate and agree a price for the cost of long-term nursing home care with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). This is necessary due to the commitment by the State to meet the full balance of the cost of care over and above individuals’ contributions.
The NTPF is independent in the performance of this function and, in carrying it out, it must ensure value for money for both the individual and the State. The NTPF negotiates with each nursing home individually and may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process. The NTPF assesses nursing home process under four criteria:
- costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the nursing home and evidence of value for money,
- price(s) previously charged,
- local market price, and
- Budgetary constraints and the obligation on the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.
An NTPF pricing agreement is in place with the nursing home referred to by the Deputy. It is scheduled for renewal on 1 July 2013 and NTPF are currently in contact with the proprietors concerning that renewal.
606. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when orthodontic treatment will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18553/13]
View answerThe 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.
607. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when orthodontic treatment will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/13]
View answerThe 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.
608. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) in Dublin regarding services to those with an intellectual disability [18568/13]
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.
609. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in view of the commitments in the Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2013 to a number of objectives including the further developments of forensics and community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and mental health intellectual disability and to the recruitment of 477 additional staff to implement these measures, if he will detail the number of these posts that have been filled in each of the HSE areas; when he expects to have the recruitment process complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18569/13]
View answer636. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in the commitment in Budget 2013 to appoint 891 new staff for community mental health services this year in view of the fact that an additional €35 million was promised for community mental health services this year. [18819/13]
View answer663. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding community mental health and youth mental health (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19091/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 609, 636 and 663 together.
Following on from the special allocation of €35 million for mental health in Budget 2012, a further €35 million was provided in Budget 2013 for the continued development of our mental health services. The HSE National Service Plan 2013 commits to a number of objectives including the further development of suicide prevention initiatives and forensic services; community mental health teams for adults, children and older persons and for mental health intellectual disability; and to the recruitment of 477 additional staff to implement these measures.
In order to ensure that the additional resources will be used to best effect, the HSE, in consultation with the Department of Health, is working towards finalising the allocation of these resources. Business cases from each HSE Region are being finalised and examined, against each of the identified objectives, detailing how the funding is to be spent and the type and number of WTE to be recruited. It is expected that this process will be concluded in the very near future with a view to recruitment of the additional staff proceeding as soon as possible. 384 of the 414 posts approved in 2012 have either been filled, are under offer or awaiting clearance. I have been assured by the HSE that the recruitment process for the new posts being funded in 2013 and any outstanding posts from the 414 approved in 2012 is being given priority within the HSE.
Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention recognises the youth sector as a high risk group and sets out a number of specific actions. Consequently, the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has developed a range of initiatives aimed specifically at supporting young people who are suicidal and also supporting their peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.
The annual budget for suicide prevention increased this year to over €13 million. Over €8 million of this is provided to the NOSP to fund voluntary and statutory agencies delivering services in the area of prevention, intervention, postvention and research. This includes an additional €1 million from the €35 million allocation for 2013 (above). The remaining €5 million for suicide prevention is available regionally to fund HSE Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention, Self-Harm Liaison Nurses in Hospital Emergency Departments and local suicide prevention initiatives.
The NOSP is reviewing its current activities to make the most of our available resources, including looking at best practice internationally to inform evidence-based policy decisions. This will result in a revised strategic approach for 2013 and will inform the final phase of Reach Out, our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention which runs until 2014. I expect that the HSE will approve the revised approach in the very near future.
This reviewed approach will build on progress made to date, which includes the provision of awareness and training programmes such as safeTALK and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), National Mental Health Awareness Campaigns as well as the Guidelines for Post-Primary Schools on Mental Health & Suicide Prevention which were jointly developed with the Department of Education and Skills.
610. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in view of the impact that the delay in hiring key health specialist professionals can have on the welfare of vulnerable persons including many children and the need to provide communities with reassurance that the needs of such persons will be addressed, if he will provide specific details regarding the date on which the recruitment of 13 occupational therapists, two physiotherapists and seven speech and language therapists for the Health Service Executive West area will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/13]
View answerOn 27th March last, I conveyed approval to the HSE to recruit the following posts for Primary Care Teams: 70 Public Health Nurses; 37 Registered General Nurses; 51 Occupational Therapists; 46 Physiotherapists; and 47 Speech & Language Therapists. It is my firm intention to have these posts filled as soon as possible. Arrangements are now being made within the HSE to coordinate the necessary documentation for submission to its National Recruitment Service (NRS) to proceed with the filling of the posts. The NRS has confirmed that panels are in place for the above grades and they will be in a position to proceed to offer the posts once all the necessary documentation is received. The expectation is that appointments will be made as soon as possible thereafter. In relation to the specific question about HSE West, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy when further information becomes available.
611. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the total actual and total profile spend, split by capital and current, for his Department for the three months, January, February and March 2013; and the reason for any variance [18574/13]
View answerGross current expenditure at the end of March for Vote 38 is €6m under profile and gross capital expenditure is €1m under profile. These variances are primarily a timing issue
Vote 38 - Department of Health
|
- |
Profile |
Actual |
Variance |
|
- |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
January |
|||
|
Current |
23,554 |
23,957 |
-403 |
|
Capital |
33 |
33 |
|
|
23,587 |
23,990 |
-403 |
|
|
February |
|||
|
Current |
16,576 |
15,333 |
1,243 |
|
Capital |
40 |
10 |
30 |
|
16,616 |
15,343 |
1,273 |
|
|
March |
|||
|
Current |
15,364 |
10,605 |
4,759 |
|
Capital |
945 |
15 |
930 |
|
16,309 |
10,620 |
5,689 |
|
|
Cumulative |
|||
|
Current |
55,494 |
49,895 |
5,599 |
|
Capital |
1,018 |
58 |
960 |
|
56,512 |
49,953 |
6,559 |
612. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the information he is now required to provide each month to the programme finance Troika and the reason this additional information has been sought; the length of time this monthly reporting and monitoring will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18575/13]
View answerAs part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Troika, my Department provides analysis each month on expenditure trends. The HSE's Performance Report, which provides overall analysis of key performance, and an update on progress achieved to date in relation to the savings measures required is also provided, as set out in F.11 and F.12 of the Memorandum of Understanding. The latest Programme Documents are available on the Department of Finance’s website. All the data requirements and conditions are to be found in these Programme Documents. Troika missions take place every quarter and the Programme documents are amended and agreed accordingly. The Programme only runs until the end of this year. http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/mou/moumarch2013.pdf.
613. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18687/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
614. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the medical card changes made by the Health Service Executive, removing home improvement loans payments and excluding the first €50 per week from travel to work expenses from the standard medical card means test assessment; if he has approved these changes; if he will reverse these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18691/13]
View answerAs part of Budget 2013, it was announced that there would be a tightening of rules for eligibility. Consequently, the HSE is taking a number of measures to reduce the cost of the General Medical Service (GMS) Scheme. In addition to the reduction in the income limits for over-70s Medical Cards, the assessment criteria for the standard medical card is being changed. Home Improvement Loan payments and a €50 per week car allowance in Travel-to-Work expenses, as referred to by the Deputy will, in future, be excluded from consideration in the means test assessment.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the changes were identified as the expenses that would best mitigate the impact of removal of some allowable expenses in the assessment process while also yielding the requisite savings. In so doing, the need to reduce the income limits for medical cards was avoided. In addition, the new arrangements continue to fully take account of a person's mortgage or rental expenses.
615. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when is it expected that the tender for the Health Service Executive advanced home care packages will be renewed; when it will be advertised; when the proposed guidelines on the tender will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18704/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
616. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when an assessment regarding occupational and speech and language therapies will be made in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18705/13]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a 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.
