Tuesday, 4 Feb 2014

Written Answers Nos. 677-699

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (677, 678, 679)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

677. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the full details of the December waiting lists in the format customarily used by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [5403/14]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

678. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the publication of his 28 January statement on December waiting lists is compatible with the decision to prevent National Treatment Purchase Fund publishing waiting list data until such time as the Health Service Executive monthly management assurance report is published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5404/14]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

679. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of his decision to provide some detail of December waiting lists if he will allow the National Treatment Purchase Fund to publish full detail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5405/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 to 679, inclusive, together.

My statement of 28 January 2014 set out overall figures provided by the HSE on waiting lists for end of year 2013. These figures show:

- 95% reduction in the numbers waiting over 12 months for an outpatient appointment;

- 99.99% of adult elective patients waiting less than 8 months;

- 95% of child elective patients waiting under 20 weeks; and

- 99% of patients waiting for routine endoscopy procedures less than 13 weeks.

These are significant indications of the progress that is being achieved through the work of the Special Delivery Unit, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the acute hospitals. I have emphasised continually that priority must be given to taking care of those patients waiting the longest and hospitals have proven and continue to prove, that they can do this, even in an environment of constrained resources. The dedication and commitment of staff in achieving these targets, whilst ensuring that those in greatest clinical need are prioritised, deserves to be acknowledged.

The CEO of the NTPF has confirmed that the complete NTPF December 2013 performance reports will be available on 20 February 2014 in line with the publication of the HSE Performance Report for December 2013.

Medical Card Data

Questions (680)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

680. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the 2013 target for discretionary medical card which was detailed in the Health Service Executive September 2013 management data report was not contained in either the October or November 2013 versions of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5406/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (681)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

681. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if the provision of a mobility scooter to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be expedited; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5407/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Qualifications

Questions (682)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

682. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which all medical graduates from overseas practising here may have studied for one year less than normal in any EU country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5414/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In accordance with the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Medical Council is the regulator for medical practitioners in this State. Under that Act, it is an offence to practise medicine in Ireland if not registered with the Council.

Section 7 of the Act details the functions of the Council. These include the mutual recognition of medical qualifications awarded in or recognised by Member States, and the recognition by the Council, for the purposes of registration, of degrees, diplomas and other qualifications relating to the practice of medicine awarded in third countries. In addition, the Council undertakes a number of checks when a person applies for registration. These checks include verification of qualifications and obtaining certificates of good standing.

Duration of training in medical specialties may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and it is a matter for the Council to satisfy itself in this regard in line with its functions as set out under the 2007 Act.

Questions Nos. 683 and 684 answered with Question No. 643.

Disability Services Funding

Questions (685)

Seán Fleming

Question:

685. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the funding available for the disability services department in Tullamore, County Offaly for 2014; if this will lead to an increase or reduction in services for the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5421/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within available resources. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion this year to fund its 2014 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities.

Additional funding of €14m has been provided to address the priority needs within disability services identified by the Minister and advised to the HSE: €10m to provide additional places for school-leavers, those leaving training and emergency residential placements, and €4m to deliver the required increase in services for children with disabilities, including autism, and to reduce waiting lists under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Autism Support Services

Questions (686)

Seán Fleming

Question:

686. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the services available for persons with autism in the Laois/Offaly area; if provision will be made in the new service plan to improve these services in view of fact that 350 persons are registered with autism in the Laois/Offaly area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5422/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospitals Funding

Questions (687, 688, 693)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

687. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide separate breakdowns in tabular form of all moneys allocated to St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Childrens Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital from 2007 to 2014 [5429/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

688. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the level of funding to St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital in 2014; and the way it compares with 2013 [5430/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

693. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of all public moneys used by St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital or his Department to treat patients in private hospitals [5435/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 687, 688 and 693 together.

In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (689, 690)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

689. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide timeframes for when the academic posts committed to for St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital will be appointed [5431/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

690. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the consultant posts to be filled in St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital; if the positions have been advertised; and when they will be filled [5432/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 689 and 690 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (691)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

691. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of staff numbers employed in St. James's Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the Coombe hospital from 2007 to 2014. [5433/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to health service staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (692)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

692. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of all moneys spent on agency staff at the St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital from 2007 to 2014 [5434/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to agency staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Question No. 693 answered with Question No. 687.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (694)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

694. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a separate breakdown of in-patient and out-patient waiting times across all specialities at St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital [5436/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Hospital Procedures

Questions (695)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

695. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the number of elective procedures and surgeries cancelled at the St. James' Hospital, Our Lady’s Children's Hospital Crumlin and the Coombe Hospital from 2008 to 2014 [5437/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (696)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

696. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position regarding BCG vaccinations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Ireland's immunisation programme is based on the guidelines of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. BCG vaccination is part of the primary childhood immunisation programme in Ireland.

As the Deputy’s question relates to an individual case it has been referred to the HSE for a direct reply.

Hospitals Funding

Questions (697, 698, 701)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

697. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide separate breakdowns in tabular form of all moneys allocated to Sligo Regional Hospital from 2007 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5444/14]

Michael Colreavy

Question:

698. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the level of funding to Sligo Regional Hospital in 2014; the way it compares with 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5445/14]

Michael Colreavy

Question:

701. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the public money used by Sligo Regional Hospital or his Department to treat patients in private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5448/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 697, 698 and 701 together.

In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (699)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

699. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of staff numbers employed in Sligo Regional Hospital from 2007 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5446/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to health service staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.