Written Answers Nos. 216-223
216. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) has to wait 19 months for a video EEG monitoring test in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; the alternatives or supports available to enable this person to access the urgent medical attention they require [24925/13]
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.
217. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to a project (details supplied) in Dublin 11, he will provide details of a timescale for the acquisition of a suitable site, including any sites under consideration; the time scale for the completion of the project:; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24946/13]
View answerDelivery of health care infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
218. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of inappropriate billing by hospitals to private health insurance companies for beds not occupied when patients were instead on trolleys; if he will provide an estimate of the scale of this problem in view of the fact that it pushes health insurance premiums higher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24947/13]
View answerHospitals do not charge health insurance companies or their members the private accommodation charge for any time spent in A/E on trolleys. Under current legislation, private accommodation charges can only be raised for those private and semi private designated beds and does not include hospital trolleys.
219. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of home helps in County Kerry; the number of applicants for home help in County Kerry awaiting a decision on their applications; the number of applicants in County Kerry whose hours have been reduced in the past 12 months; the total number of hours cut in County Kerry during the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24953/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
220. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive plans to fill sanctioned posts in areas of diabetes care, specifically one integrated diabetes nursing post to serve the new mid-west integrated care area, 1.2 diabetes nurse specialist posts to be shared between Limerick and Galway and a 0.75 dietician post for Limerick to allow for the wider availability of insulin pump therapy to children and adolescents in the HSE west the recruitment process for these posts has been completed and has identified a panel of successful candidates but letters of appointment have been so far unissued; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24956/13]
View answerThe HSE National Clinical Care Programmes provide a national, strategic and co-ordinated approach to a wide range of clinical services.
Currently there are 33 Clinical Programmes, including one for diabetes, in different stages of development/implementation. The programmes have three main objectives – to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost/value, effectiveness.
The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme is being implemented on a phased basis. The programme will improve patient access and manage patient care in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in better outcomes, enhanced clinical decision making and the most effective use of resources.
Funding has been approved for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists (one per HSE Integrated Service Area) to support the phased roll out of the programme. These Diabetes Nurse Specialists will work 1 day per week in a hospital setting and 4 days per week in primary care. They will play a key role in the development of clinically sound collaborative links between primary care and secondary care providers and will also be an essential resource in empowering patients to achieve optimum diabetes control. It is anticipated that all 17 positions will be filled shortly.
The podiatry and paediatric diabetes care posts are under recruitment and the aim is to have them filled as soon as possible in 2013.
In relation to the queries regarding specific locations 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.
221. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health when he intends to fill sanctioned posts in critical areas of diabetes care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/13]
View answerThe HSE National Clinical Care Programmes provide a national, strategic and co-ordinated approach to a wide range of clinical services
Currently there are 33 Clinical Programmes, including one for diabetes, in different stages of development/implementation. The programmes have three main objectives – to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost/value, effectiveness.
The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme is being implemented on a phased basis. The programme will improve patient access and manage patient care in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in better outcomes, enhanced clinical decision making and the most effective use of resources.
Funding has been approved for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists (one per HSE Integrated Service Area) to support the phased roll out of the programme. These Diabetes Nurse Specialists will work 1 day per week in a hospital setting and 4 days per week in primary care. They will play a key role in the development of clinically sound collaborative links between primary care and secondary care providers and will also be an essential resource in empowering patients to achieve optimum diabetes control. It is anticipated that all 17 positions will be filled shortly.
The podiatry and paediatric diabetes care posts are under recruitment and the aim is to have them filled as soon as possible in 2013.
In relation to the queries regarding specific locations 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.
222. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health when a service (details supplied) will commence at Letterkenny Regional Hospital, County Donegal [24977/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.
223. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate if and when assessment will be carried out to determine eligibility for speech and language therapy in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24998/13]
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.
