Thomas P. Broughan
Question:685. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients treated in the accident and emergency department of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin over the past four weekends. [36289/13]
View answerAccident and Emergency Services Provision
Questions (685)
Written answers
In 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 in this matter.
Health Strategies
Questions (686)
Róisín Shortall
Question:686. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 21 February 2013, the target date in 2013 for the publication of a national sexual health strategy. [36290/13]
View answerWritten answers
As I advised in February, a high level steering group is leading the development of the Strategy. The steering group is due to meet next week with a view to signing off on the draft strategy which will then be submitted to me for my consideration with a view to publishing in the autumn.
Patient Safety
Questions (687)
Catherine Murphy
Question:687. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the establishment of a patient safety authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36306/13]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is examining the appropriate structures for the responsibilities that might be assigned to the Patient Safety Agency (PSA). The role and inter-relationship of the PSA with the reforming health system needs to be carefully designed and developed. My Department is liaising with the Health Service Executive on the details surrounding the establishment of the PSA to ensure an identifiable and distinct leadership responsibility for patient safety and quality at national level having regard to the need for a robust quality and safety function within the new delivery structures of the Reform Programme. Pending Government approval, the intention is to establish a Patient Safety Agency in 2013.
Health Care Infrastructure
Questions (688)
Catherine Murphy
Question:688. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on the establishment of an integrated care agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36307/13]
View answerWritten answers
I believe that structural reform of the health service is key to addressing the problems within our current health system and is also critical in the journey to UHI. Getting the structure right will be a complex task and as such, each phase of the transition will be evaluated carefully as we progress towards UHI. The Government has committed to a major programme of reform, involving the dissolution of the HSE and the assuming of its functions by other agencies including a Healthcare Commissioning Agency (previously described as an Integrated Care Agency), independent Hospital Trusts, a health and well-being agency and other bodies as appropriate. This structural change represents a major programme of work. Each element of the structural reform will need to be addressed in a co-ordinated manner; none of them can be considered in isolation. The establishment of a Healthcare Commissioning Agency is currently being examined in this context, and will be advanced as soon as possible.
Suicide Prevention
Questions (689)
Catherine Murphy
Question:689. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount of annual ring-fenced mental health funding that has been directed to implementing the national suicide prevention strategy in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36308/13]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is responsible for overseeing the implementation of ‘Reach Out’– the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention. Funding for suicide prevention is provided to the NOSP by the HSE from its overall budget for mental health. Funding provided in the years 2010 to 2013 is as follows:
|
Year |
Funding €m |
|
2010 |
3.7 |
|
2011 |
4.1 |
|
2012 |
7.1 |
|
2013 |
8.1 |
The above figures do not include funding of about €5 million which is provided by the HSE for suicide prevention work delivered through HSE regions e.g. Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention, Liaison Nurses in Emergency Departments and local suicide prevention initiatives.
The planned expenditure by the NOSP in 2012 was €7m (approx) but due to a number of factors, the 2012 outturn was only €4m (approx). However, the €8.1m provision for the National Office in 2013 includes plans for spending on a number of initiatives which were intended for 2012 but not advanced.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (690)
Catherine Murphy
Question:690. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents who are in adult psychiatric wards at present; the progress he has made in respect of reducing this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36309/13]
View answerWritten answers
As indicated in the table below, the number of admissions of children and adolescents to adult wards has been reduced from 247 in 2008 to 106 in 2012, a decrease of almost 60%.
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
247 |
205 |
156 |
132 |
106 |
Source: Mental Health Commission Annual Reports
In terms of in-patient child and adolescent services, A Vision for Change recommends the provision of 80 child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient beds nationally. There are currently 39 child and adolescent beds nationally - 12 in Dublin, 12 in Cork and 15 in Galway. A further 8 beds will be commissioned in Cork, and a further 5 beds will re-open in Galway by year end. The second phase of the Child and Adolescent Unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview will increase capacity from 12 to 18 beds in Dublin by the end of 2013.
The Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Facility at Cherry Orchard, Dublin has recently opened and a number of Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health Teams have moved into the new premises. It is expected that the Day Hospital will be in operation by the end of the year. It is also proposed to construct a 22 bed in-patient facility on the Cherry Orchard site, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2013/early 2014. In the medium term, by around early 2017, a new 10 bed Child and Adolescent Forensic Mental Health unit will be provided as part of the new Central Mental Hospital campus development.
The basis of Government policy is that improved community based services, coupled with increased bed capacity for this particular sector, will bring to an end the practice of placing children and adolescents in adult psychiatric facilities. The Deputy should appreciate that, due primarily to historic deficiencies in this area and unavoidable circumstances in individual cases until we achieve this goal, where the admission of a child to an adult unit occurs the approved centre is obliged to submit a detailed report to the Mental Health Commission outlining why the admission has taken place. The Commission reviews any such notifications received, and follows up as deemed appropriate. It is my firm intention, as Minister, to ensure that Government commitments to bring about real improvements to the area of child and adolescent mental health services continues, and that admissions of under 18s to adult facilities is eliminated as quickly as possible.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (691)
Catherine Murphy
Question:691. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health when he expects to present legislation regulating stem cell research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36310/13]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to inform the Deputy that I am considering policy proposals on the regulation of Assisted Human Reproduction and related matters, including stem cell research.
Vehicle Clamping
Questions (692)
Catherine Murphy
Question:692. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients whose cars have been clamped while attending hospital appointments in Connolly Hospital, Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parking in the hospital is pre-pay and time limited and that in many instances patients cannot control how long each appointment takes; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the parking operators may charge significant fees to appeal a clamping decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36324/13]
View answerWritten answers
In 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 in this matter.
Departmental Agencies Pension Provisions
Questions (693)
Michael McGrath
Question:693. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health in respect of each State agency and commercial State company under the aegis of his Department, if he will provide details of the name of each pension scheme; details of the salary percentage contributions made by the employer and the employees; the latest information on the funding position of the scheme; if any changes are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36374/13]
View answerWritten answers
The information sought is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Ministerial Expenditure
Questions (694)
Michael McGrath
Question:694. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of miles claimed for and the amount of travel expenses paid to him and each Minister of State in his Department in respect of their functions in his Department. [36389/13]
View answerWritten answers
The number of miles claimed to date in 2013 and the total amount of travel expenses paid to me and to each Minister of State in my Department to date in 2013 are set out in the table below.
|
- |
Number of miles claimed in 2013 |
Total Amount of Travel Expenses paid in 2013 |
|
Minister James Reilly, T.D. |
15,960 |
€27,237 |
|
Minister Kathleen Lynch, T.D. |
11,923 |
€12,002 |
|
Minister Alex White, T.D. |
4,870 |
€9,024 |
HSE Correspondence
Questions (695)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:695. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 281 of 27 June 2013 when a response will issue from the Health Service Executive. [36420/13]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive has 15 working days from the date a question is asked to reply to the Deputy. In relation to Parliamentary Question No. 281 a reply is due today the 18th July 2013.
Nursing Staff Remuneration
Questions (696)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:696. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 27 June 2013 when a response will issue from the Health Service Executive. [36421/13]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that a response to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 27 June 2013 issued to the Deputy from the Health Service Executive on 1st July 2013.
Hospital Consultants Remuneration
Questions (697)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:697. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 27 June 2013 when a response will issue from the Health Service Executive. [36422/13]
View answerWritten answers
Parliamentary Question 291 of 27 June 2013 has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. My Department has been advised by the Executive that a reply should issue early next week.