Thomas P. Broughan
Question:227. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the further steps being taken to reduce the waiting times in the accident and emergency Departments Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. [22052/13]
View answerAccident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times
Questions (227)
Written answers
Since my appointment as Minister for Health, I have set out to address the issues which cause delays in patients being treated in our hospitals. I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which is working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient flow through the system, including Beaumont Hospital. An intensive work programme is underway between the SDU's liaison officers, the Clinical Programmes and Beaumont Hospital teams. The SDU is satisfied that there is increased engagement at all levels in the hospital, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care so that emergency patients may be seen in a timely manner.
There has been some improvement in treatment times for patients at Beaumont Emergency Department (ED). On a year to date basis, at the end of April 2013, 54% of all ED patients were admitted or discharged within 6 hours and 68% were admitted or discharged within 9 hours. As measured by the INMO, there were 9% fewer patients on trolleys in the twelve months to the end of April 2013 compared to previous period. This is on top of the 15% improvement in 2012 compared to 2011.
In relation to the Deputy's question regarding the additional steps being taken to reduce waiting times at the hospital, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
Health Strategies
Questions (228)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:228. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health his views on research carried out by the National Coalition for Vision Health in Ireland, which indicates that the 220,000 already suffering sight loss could rise to 272,000 by 2020; if he is confident that he will be able to honour the commitment to the World Health Organisation guidelines to eradicate avoidable blindness by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22056/13]
View answerWritten answers
The issues involved in eye health are not specific to the disability sector, but would span a number of areas in the health sector in regard to access to treatment, patient safety and quality of care. The policy with regard to the disability sector is not condition-specific, with a focus on the development and implementation of policies to enable the Health Service Executive to fund a broad range of supports which enable people with disabilities to live full and independent lives in the community, with health supports provided as appropriate. In this regard, the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services, will assist in achieving a more person-centred service for people with disabilities, including those with sight and blindness issues, as much as other persons who have physical disabilities or related impairments and whose needs and issues are acknowledged in the Review.
There are a number of eye conditions which are part of Vision 2020 including cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration. There are detection and treatment services available at present in community and acute hospital settings for these conditions. In addition, there are a number of high level strategies which would be relevant to the area of eye health, including Clinical Programmes; Public Health; Health Protection; Positive Ageing and Carers Strategies and Screening initiatives. A number of these strategies link with the Clinical Ophthalmology Programme. The health sector will continue to provide and deliver vision services and supports through these programmes and specifically through health prevention, screening and intervention policies and programmes. In this context, it is not proposed to develop a national vision strategy.
National Lottery Funding Applications
Questions (229)
Brendan Griffin
Question:229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to a service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22064/13]
View answerWritten answers
My Department administrates a National Lottery Discretionary fund which provides once-off grants to community groups and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. The application form and full details are available on the Department's website at www.doh.ie.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (230, 231)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:230. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the emergency call centres in counties Kerry and Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22069/13]
View answerMichael Healy-Rae
Question:231. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an independent safety audit has been carried out on a facility in Townsend Street which it is proposed will be taken over as an ambulance control room for Cork and Kerry; if one has not been carried out, if it will be carried out in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22070/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.
The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS), through its national control centre reconfiguration project, is continuing to rationalise the number of ambulance control rooms across the country, with a target of one system across 2 sites - Tallaght and Ballyshannon. This project is focused on improving call taking and dispatch functions and on delivering improved technology. This will assist in improving response times and will allow the NAS to deploy emergency resources in a much more effective and efficient manner, on a regional and national basis rather than within small geographic areas.
The control centre reconfiguration project is consistent with international best practice and is endorsed by HIQA as the most appropriate approach to improve the quality of services to patients and facilitate investment in technologically enabled service delivery. The project is also a key element of Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Health Reform in Ireland 2012-2015. The NAS intends to move the Cork, Tralee and Navan Control Centres to the existing facility in Townsend Street, pending completion of the Tallaght Control Centre. The NAS is satisfied that the move to Townsend Street will mitigate against existing risks in Cork, Tralee and Navan and will therefore improve the safety of services to patients.
The NAS has undertaken appropriate risk assessments in relation to this process. It is satisfied that Townsend Street can facilitate the interim move of the three control centres and is providing additional staff, training, technology and equipment to facilitate this process. The transfer will also improve the dynamic utilisation of resources in those areas, including rapid response vehicles, intermediate care vehicles and emergency ambulances.
Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists
Questions (232)
Martin Ferris
Question:232. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive orthodontic treatment. [22093/13]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (233)
Martin Ferris
Question:233. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an MRI scan. [22094/13]
View answerWritten answers
The management of inpatient and daycase waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first). 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (234, 235)
Martin Ferris
Question:234. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if there will be an orthopaedic surgeon at Kerry General Hospital in July and August. [22095/13]
View answerMartin Ferris
Question:235. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting orthopaedic surgery at Kerry General Hospital. [22096/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together.
The 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.
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 the particular queries raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.