Written Answers Nos. 870-885
870. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions under the aegis of his Department filled between March 2011 and December 2013; the number of these positions that were publicly advertised; and the number of female appointments. [1378/14]
View answerIn line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1424 of 2011, relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights. Appointments may not necessarily be from the applications received through the advertising process, which is also in line with the Government Decision. The first advertising campaign was launched in January 2012, and there have been 30 advertising campaigns to date.
The figures sought by the Deputy are currently being collated by my Department, and will be provided shortly.
871. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of JobBridge interns taken on in his Department in 2013. [1394/14]
View answerMy Department had 4 JobBridge interns engaged in 2013.
872. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of positions in the Health Service Executive that have been filled in 2013 using the JobBridge internship scheme. [1409/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
873. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied). [1416/14]
View answerThe matters raised by the Deputy are of a serious and sensitive nature which I understand are the subject of appropriate investigation by Health Service Executive (HSE). In these circumstances, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
874. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1419/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
875. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the curtailment in Beechpark services, including occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, which is having a serious affect on the ability of north Dublin schools to provide a proper service for the children under their care. [1427/14]
View answerThe HSE National Review of Autism Services: Past, Present and Way Forward Report (2012) and the Progressing Disabilities Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme set out the policy context for the provision of autism services to children and young people. The objective of the Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services for children with a disability including those with autism so that there is a clear pathway to the services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. This Programme aims to remedy the variations in service provision that currently persist around the country.
The issue of service levels and funding to be provided for the disability sector is a matter for the HSE in the first instance and needs to be considered in 2014 in light of the resources available and the relevant service priorities. In general terms, HSE disability services are embarking on a large scale reform programme which will transform the model of service to a community-based model of person centred care. In 2014, the HSE are taking a number of key steps in implementing the change programme, including rolling out a new model of assessment and intervention, in line with the Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People. An additional €4 million has been allocated, which equates to 80 additional therapy staff, for these purposes.
Specifically in relation to Beechpark Services in North Dublin, in 2013, the HSE allocated funding to HSE Dublin North East for Beechpark Services, in order to address the waiting list for services in Dublin North East. This provided, in the first instance, for the recruitment of five therapy staff. This process is under way. The HSE also assigned a Disability Manager in Dublin North East to oversee the re-configuration of early intervention services for children and young people with disabilities in the region, in line with the national Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People. The Independent Expert Review Group, which was established to look at the Beechpark model of services, is also nearing completion. The Group has also been asked to consider and make recommendations on a resource allocation model for children’s disability services including autism across the HSE. The Group is currently consulting with the HSE on recent developments in respect of the Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People.
876. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the recent incident (details supplied) is not repeated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1429/14]
View answerThe Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the Pharmacy Regulator is conducting an investigation into the case referred to by the Deputy. It would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this time.
877. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory situation on Inishturk Island, County Mayo, where on occasions when the full-time public health nurse is absent residents of the island are not provided with a locum nurse (details supplied); in view of the fact that an absence of a locum nurse is contrary to his policy the action he will take to address this issue; his plans to have a locum nurse allocated to Inishturk when necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1445/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
878. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of the new national children's hospital in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1452/14]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the body responsible for the planning, design, building and equipping of the new children's hospital capital project. The project is currently in the design procurement stage with a design team expected to be appointed at the end of March. In the interim, the Design Brief is being finalised.
The aim is to submit a planning application by September 2014, and pre-application planning discussions have already taken place. A planning decision is expected in Spring 2015 and construction is scheduled to commence also in Spring 2015. The site decant will take place during 2014 and a Decant Plan is now being finalised with the aim of ensuring the site is vacated by the end of 2014. Transition of services to the new children's hospital is expected to commence at the end of 2018.
In parallel with the construction of the new children's hospital, the operational integration of the three existing children's hospitals is of critical importance in ensuring that the new hospital functions effectively from the outset. A Children's Hospital Group involving the three hospitals has been established, the core function of which is to integrate the three children's hospitals staff and service provision, well in advance of the new hospital being built. A Chair and Board members were appointed in August last year, and in November the CEO of the Group took up post and will play a key role in driving forward the necessary integration.
879. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health in recognition of the fact that there are not enough nursing home beds available to meet the needs of the elderly in the Louth-Meath area; the reason the fair deal scheme is not transferable for long-term or temporary care in the North when patients can be funded for respite care in facilities in the North; the reason it became practice not to fund long-term care in the North; if he will consider providing funding for long term care in the North through the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1468/14]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme does not extend to nursing homes in Northern Ireland. This issue was given careful consideration before the Scheme was introduced in 2009. The decision not to extend the Scheme to Northern Ireland was taken by the Government of the day on the basis of legal advice received from the Attorney General's Office.
880. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the manner in which farms are taken into account when assessing applications for the fair deal scheme; if family farms are treated the same as the family home or if there are other factors in play; if so, if he will provide the details of those factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1470/14]
View answerUnder the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, individuals contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% of the value of any assets per annum towards their cost of care. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment.
An individual’s principal residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three year cap. The three year cap also extends to farms and businesses in circumstances where:
- the person has suffered a sudden illness or disability which causes them to need long-term nursing home care, and
- the person or their partner was actively engaged in the daily management of the farm or business up until the time of the sudden illness or disability,
and
- a family successor certifies that he or she will continue the management of the farm or business.
In the case of couples, the measure applies where the applicant suffered a sudden and unforeseen illness and either or both members of the couple have been engaged in the running of the family farm or business. This stipulation is in keeping with the key principle of joint assessment of couples.
This measure is intended to ensure the financial sustainability of farms and businesses in cases where a person suffered a sudden illness and did not have an opportunity to put appropriate succession arrangements in place. It affords additional protection because it ensures that a person’s maximum contribution is fully quantifiable.
881. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 635 of 26 November 2013, when a response will issue from the Health Service Executive. [1488/14]
View answerI have again asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to investigate this matter and respond directly to the Deputy.
882. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the roads access to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, for ambulances taking emergency patients to the hospital is adequate from a patient safety perspective. [1491/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
883. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of cardiology services in Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1521/14]
View answerLast May, I published the Government's plan to reorganise public hospitals into more efficient and accountable Hospital Groups which will harness the benefits of increased independence and greater control at local level. The establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will, I believe, provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner. The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of hospital groups was committed to in ‘Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform’ and is a key building block in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to fundamentally reform our health service.
Hospital Groups will be required, within one year, to develop a strategic plan which will outline how they will provide more efficient and effective patient services; how they will reorganise these services to provide optimal care to the populations they serve; and how they will achieve maximum integration and synergy with other Groups and health services, particularly primary care and community based services. The role of individual hospitals within each group will be considered in detail in the context of this strategic plan.
Kerry General Hospital is part of the South/South West Group along with Cork University Hospital/CUMH; Waterford Regional Hospital; Mercy University Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; Bantry General Hospital; Mallow General Hospital, and Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene. It will therefore be a matter for the South/South West Group to determine where services, including cardiology, will be located within the Group, taking into account the health needs of the population as well as Government policy.
884. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1527/14]
View answerA maximum waiting time target of 12 months has been set for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE Service Plan. The SDU and the NTPF are working closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a 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. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
885. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1532/14]
View answerThe 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 Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
