Catherine Byrne
Question:185. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health when he expects the report of the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, to be published [5844/14]
View answerHealth Reports
Questions (185)
Written answers
The European Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, SCENIHR, has been mandated to conduct a review of the safety of metal-on-metal implants. This investigation is focusing on the potential health effects caused by metal ions resulting from the implanted medical device. The committee’s opinion is expected later this month.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (186)
Colm Keaveney
Question:186. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to an independent report commissioned into the relative merits of retaining acute psychiatric beds in St Brigid’s Ballinasloe or Roscommon Hospital, when that report was commissioned; when was it delivered to his office; the way the template for the scoring was devised; if it was based on a template for comparisons between other respective hospital sites, if so which one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5847/14]
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As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (187)
Ciaran Lynch
Question:187. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the emergency medical service provided to residents of East Cork; his views on the circumstances of a recent incident (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5848/14]
View answerWritten answers
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides ambulance and pre-hospital emergency care to the population of County Cork. The service operates from 10 ambulance stations: Cork City, St. Mary’s Hospital Cork City, Midleton, Youghal, Fermoy, Mallow, Kanturk, Millstreet, Macroom and Bantry.
The NAS continuously evaluates its services to align them with available resources and activity levels throughout the Southern area. The ambulance service is not a static service and as such deploys its resources in a dynamic manner, working on an area and national basis as opposed to a local basis. The dynamic deployment of ambulance resources ensures that the nearest appropriate resource is mobilized to the location of an incident. Where required the NAS dispatches resources from surrounding stations to an incident. In the east Cork area, additional resources would be sourced from Dungarvan, Clonmel and Cashel.
HIQA, as part of its business plan for 2014, and in line with its programme for the monitoring of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, will review the governance and management arrangements of pre-hospital emergency care services, including the timely call-handling, response, assessment, diagnosis, care and transportation of the acutely ill patient to the appropriate health care facility. This review had been due to commence in the 2nd quarter of 2014; however, in light of a number of recent incidents, the Authority has agreed to my request to commence the review in quarter one. I understand that the review will focus initially on the governance arrangements for the service and how those arrangements translate into the safety, quality and effectiveness of services for patients.
I would also like to inform the Deputy that the NAS is undertaking its own capacity review, to determine current and future service delivery needs. This process will examine a number of areas, including staff numbers and skill mix, as well as resource distribution.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific incident referred to in his question.
Primary Care Services Provision
Questions (188)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:188. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding transport assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 [5850/14]
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
HSE Properties
Questions (189)
Joan Collins
Question:189. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the interest a club (details supplied) has in acquiring land [5856/14]
View answerWritten answers
Management of the health care estate is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Disease Awareness
Questions (190)
Clare Daly
Question:190. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate an awareness campaign in relation to the signs /symptoms of type one diabetes particularly in relation to children, along the lines of the awareness campaign operating in Britain which has had considerable success [5872/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.