Written Answers Nos. 430-451
430. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the waiting times for medical card applications to be processed, including new applications, renewals, reviews and appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10593/14]
View answerThe HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service has received, in the period since the centralisation of medical card/GP visit card processing (July 2011) to date, a total of 1,226,150 medical card/GP visit card applications. This total includes both new applications and renewal/review applications. In this period, there has been an overall 98.93% completion rate for the total number of applications received. Of the total number of applications processed in the period since centralisation, 95.29% of these applications have been processed within 15 working days of the application being received by the HSE.
Applications that remain in process outside of this period of time are facilitated so that eligibility is either retained or assessment prioritised without delay to the applicant that is genuinely engaging with the process. These arrangements strive to minimise any hardship or distress on persons whose circumstances once assessed, qualify them for a medical card/GP visit card. The HSE will not cancel a person’s medical card/GP visit card in the period before a review assessment has finalised if that person is engaging with the HSE in response to a review assessment notification and is making genuine efforts to provide all necessary information and documentation. If a person is a new applicant presenting with an urgent medical need or an urgent medical need in respect of their dependant(s), the HSE will facilitate a prioritised assessment of eligibility once the applicant has provided all the information necessary.
The length of time it takes for medical card appeals to be processed may vary depending on the complexity of the appeal and the number of appeals already on hand. On average, during 2013 this time frame was 4-12 weeks. The Appeals Office is currently dealing with a backlog from late 2013 which has extended this time frame to over 12 weeks. That Office is working on the back log to return to the 4-12 weeks as quickly as possible.
It is important to note that many of these appeal cases are reviews of existing medical card holders and, in that instance, there is no immediate impact on clients as they continue to hold eligibility until the appeal decision is made.
431. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10605/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
432. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he provide in tabular form by year the number of inspections undertaken under the national tobacco control inspection programme from 2009 to the end of 2013 to ascertain compliance with smoke-free workplace legislation, sale to minors legislation and prohibitions on display and advertising at the point of sale; the number of compliant inspections; the number of cases brought and the number of convictions as a result of these cases; if any of these inspections have been conducted in casual markets and fairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
433. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if a unit of the economic and evaluation service has been set up in his Department; and if so the number of trained economists and other staff working in the unit; the current work programme of the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/14]
View answerThe establishment of an Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) is a central Government initiative to enhance the capacity of the Civil Service to undertake evaluations of public expenditure, to provide economic analysis, and to improve the analytical resources available in the design and formulation of policy. It is led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. No Economic and Evaluation Unit has yet been established in my Department.
434. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has had an appointment for a hip replacement operation cancelled on two occasions; if an early alternative date will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10613/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
435. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will undergo an implant pain management procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10624/14]
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.
436. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays in the Cork area for children needing to access Health Service Executive early intervention and autism spectrum disorders, ASD, services; the numbers awaiting such services in Cork north Lee and Cork south Lee respectively; the average waiting times in both of these HSE areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10625/14]
View answer437. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on waiting times for early intervention and ASD services in the Cork north Lee Health Service Executive area; if he will provide details on the average waiting times for referrals and assessments and the subsequent average waiting times for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10626/14]
View answer438. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health with regard to waiting times for early intervention and ASD services in the Cork north Lee Health Service Executive area, if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers awaiting referral, assessment and various services for up to three months, for three to six months, six to 12 months, 12 to 24 months and 24 to 36 months, and more than 36 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10627/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 436 to 438, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with a disability, including early intervention services, within available resources. While these services are in the process of being reconfigured under the HSE’s National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years), it is important to note that all HSE areas have significant services in place for children with disabilities aged up to eighteen years. These are provided directly by the HSE or by voluntary service providers funded by the HSE.
The aim of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services so that there is a clear pathway to services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. An additional €4m has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts.
Almost 60 geographic-based multi-disciplinary teams have been established to date under the Programme as part of the reconfigured service model. It is hoped that a further 30 teams will be reconfigured this year, bringing the overall total to approximately 90 teams by the end of 2014. These figures reflect all children's disability teams that provide early intervention and school age services to children aged up to eighteen years. The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and, importantly, includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, such as service users and their families.
Within this context I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with the detailed operational information requested concerning early intervention services for children with disabilities living in the Cork North Lee HSE area.
439. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm which section of what legislation precludes the Health Service Executive from commenting on the neglect of patients if the Medical Council has been investigating complaints, and precludes it from investigating issues that have been investigated by the Medical Council, as a person (details supplied) was informed by a person in the HSE; and if he will provide details on the matter. [10649/14]
View answerI am not aware of any such legislative provision. I have asked the HSE to clarify its position in relation to the specific case raised by the Deputy and I will forward their response as soon as I receive it.
440. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health to advise how the number of hours worked by agency nurses and level of spending on agency nursing in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, compares to employed staff who worked the same hours at the hospital in 2013. [10665/14]
View answer441. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce agency spend at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; and how he will implement them. [10666/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together.
While the focus under the Public Service Agreement and the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) is on increased productivity and reform, additional nursing support is being made available throughout the system.
In its Service Plan for 2014 the HSE undertakes to minimise the instances of overtime and agency. It is envisaged that the additional hours element of the HRA, the Graduate Nurse Programme and the Support Staff Intern Scheme, coupled with redeployment will deliver major savings in the overall pay bill while maintaining quality and service levels.
The increase in nursing hours available under the HRA equates to nearly 1,400 additional nurses. Nearly 500 nurses and midwives have commenced employment in recent months on the graduate scheme, with over 200 others currently going through the recruitment process.
In relation to specific queries regarding the Midland Regional Hospital, I have arranged for the question to be forwarded to the HSE who will respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.
442. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to replace nurses who have resigned or retired from the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore as there has been a reduction of 63 nurses since 2009 but activity has increased by between 25% and 30%. [10667/14]
View answer444. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the way he intends to maintain patient safety and deliver quality care at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore where the skill mix and nursing numbers are inadequate owing to the continuing recruitment embargo which means experienced staff with a wide range of skill sets are not replaced by similar new staff. [10669/14]
View answer445. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if management at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore is fulfilling its duty to provide a safe place of work when nursing staff are unable to take meal breaks as per health and safety legislation and the Organisation of Working Time Act. [10670/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 442, 444 and 445 together.
Notwithstanding the need to reduce public service numbers the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and quality care and to support service delivery.
While the focus under the Public Service Agreement and the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) is on increased productivity and reform additional nursing support is being made available throughout the system. The increase in nursing hours available under the HRA equates to nearly 1,400 additional nurses. Nearly 500 nurses and midwives have commenced employment in recent months on the graduate scheme, with over 200 others currently going through the recruitment process.
It is important also to note the link between nursing qualifications and safety and to recognise that nurse education levels are also linked to patient outcomes. The recent Lancet study showed that a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a nursing degree is associated with a 7% decrease in the risk of death. Ireland has invested significantly in nurse education since the Commission on Nursing in 1998. Approximately €55 million is spent annually on nurses education and around 1,570 nurses enter the undergraduate programme each year.
All staff working in the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore are entitled to breaks in accordance with the provisions of the Working Time Act and the Working Time Directive. As the provision of breaks is a service matter I have asked the HSE to revert directly to the Deputy in relation to his query regarding the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore.
443. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to open the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore to full capacity to deal with demand, reduce trolley waiting times and ensure all patients are treated in the designated patient areas, as the current capacity at the hospital is 322 but only 259 beds are open. [10668/14]
View answer446. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm there are adequate experienced nursing staff on duty to train, teach and mentor junior colleagues and students at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [10671/14]
View answer447. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the reason elective admissions are now given the same priority as patients waiting for hours on trolleys in the emergency department at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [10672/14]
View answer448. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the way the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore defends the practice of placing extra beds in treatment rooms on a daily basis while there are beds closed in the hospital. [10673/14]
View answer449. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if the overcrowding and understaffing at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore has a negative effect on infection rates in the hospital. [10674/14]
View answer450. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if the number of patient falls at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore increased over the past 12 months. [10675/14]
View answer451. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if the number of complaints from the public has increased as a result of reduced staffing numbers and reduced skill mix at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [10676/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 446 to 451, inclusive, together.
In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
