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Wednesday, 3 Jul 2013

Written Answers 233-239

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (233)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

233. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal whose case has been regarded as a priority may expect to be called for elective hip surgery in view of the fact that the patient is in severe pain; the number of elective hip replacements carried out at this hospital last year and the expected number for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32461/13]

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Written answers

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 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 these matters.

Hospital Consultants Contract Issues

Questions (234, 235, 236)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

234. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, hospitals where management have implemented elements of the deal agreed between health service management and hospital consultants at the Labour Relations Commission in Autumn 2012; the nature of the elements of the agreement that have been put in place in each acute hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32466/13]

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Billy Kelleher

Question:

235. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, the hospitals where management has introduced the rostering of hospital consultants on any five out of seven days under the terms of the agreement reached at the Labour Relations Commission in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32467/13]

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Billy Kelleher

Question:

236. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will identify, by name, the hospitals where management has put in place roster arrangements to have consultants on duty on a 24 hour basis in specialties such as emergency medicine, neonatology, intensive care and obstetrics as provided in the agreement on work practice reforms brokered at the Labour Relations Commission in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32468/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 236, inclusive, together.

In September 2012, following intensive engagement between health service management and the consultant representative bodies at the Labour Relations Commission, a comprehensive set of measures was agreed. The agreement encompasses a range of flexibilities to enhance productivity and efficiency and to maximise the availability of consultants, as key clinical decision-makers. These arrangements are to be given effect as determined by service needs in any particular hospital and resource considerations. Management across the hospital service have been instructed by the HSE to implement the agreement with effect from November 2012.

I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy with detailed information in relation to progress at hospital level in implementing the various aspects of the agreement. The extent to which any hospital would utilise the range of flexibilities agreed would vary depending on the nature of services provided.

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Questions (237)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

237. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in the Health Service Executive currently being paid a salary on the basis of the grade of national director; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32469/13]

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Written answers

As this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Services Staff Issues

Questions (238)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in the Health Service Executive actually serving as a national director and the number of staff who continue to be paid as a national director on a personal-to-holder ring-fenced basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32470/13]

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Written answers

As this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (239)

John McGuinness

Question:

239. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1341 of 16 April 2013, if a date for a heart operation will be set in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford. [32483/13]

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Written answers

I understand that the HSE responded to the Deputy on 15th April last, in relation to this matter indicating that the patient had been issued with an Outpatient appointment to be seen by the CardioThoracic service but was not on the waiting list for surgery. In general should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. However in relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy regarding a heart operation, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

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