Tuesday, 4 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 719-736

Midwifery Services Provision

Questions (719)

Clare Daly

Question:

719. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the collective experience of the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director regarding home births; the evidence of continuing professional development, specifically in respect of home birth; the contemporaneous experience of the assistant nursing officer in his Department on working with evidence-based midwifery care; if this structure of Health Service Executive supervisory midwifery officers and departmental advisers is fit for purpose to develop a safe evidence-based maternity service for women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41632/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have referred the Deputies' query in relation to the Office for Nursing and Midwifery Services to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

In regards to the second issue raised in your question, the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer in question has in excess of 20 years experience in maternal and child health care. On the basis of her expertise and qualifications she was appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Nursing Officer with responsibility for Women's Health, Child Health and Welfare and Primary Care Services.

I am satisfied that the structures within the HSE and my department, for the development of maternity services, are appropriate and fit for purpose.

Question No. 720 answered with Question No. 612.

Question No. 721 answered with Question No. 591.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (722)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

722. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41636/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Hospital Charges

Questions (723)

Paul Murphy

Question:

723. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the guidelines, recommendations or regulations in place for hospitals in the use of debt collection agencies in the settling of patients' bills. [41638/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 724 answered with Question No. 586.

Health Services Provision

Questions (725)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

725. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to provide details with regard to provision of paediatric health services in County Wexford; the average waiting time for speech and language therapy; the numbers on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41649/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (726)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

726. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of the Health Service Executive policy to sell or otherwise dispose of health care centres in rural areas, in particular the centre in Aughrim, County Galway, which had been providing general practitioner services; the details of the overall strategy; where primary care centres are to be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41650/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Details of the locations of the primary care centres underway at the 30th September 2014 are shown in the following spreadsheet.

Primary Care Infrastructure - Underway - Update at 30 Sept 2014

Count	HSE Region	County	Location/PCT Name	Delivery Method
1	DML	Dublin	Kilnamanagh/Tymon	Operational Lease
2	DML	Wicklow	Carnew/South Wicklow	Operational Lease
3	DML	Wicklow	Wicklow Town	Operational Lease
4	DML	Kildare	Rathangan/Monasterevin	Operational Lease
5	DML	Kildare	Kildare Town	Operational lease
6	DML	Kildare	Kilcock	PPP
7	DML	Longford	Edgeworthstown	Direct/own build
8	DNE	Dublin	Finglas	Direct/own build
9	DNE	Dublin	Grangegorman	Direct/own build
10	DNE	Dublin	Corduff	Direct/own build
11	DNE	Dublin	Coolock/Darndale	PPP
12	DNE	Dublin	Summerhill, north inner city Dublin	PPP
13	DNE	Dublin	Ashtown (Navan Rd) & Cabra West	Operational lease
14	DNE	Meath	Laytown/Bettystown	Direct/own build
15	DNE	Meath	Kells	Operational lease
16	DNE	Monaghan	Monaghan Town	Direct/own build
17	South	Carlow	Tullow/Rathvilly/Hacketstown	Direct/own build
18	South	Wexford	Wexford Town	PPP
19	South	Waterford	Dungarvan	PPP
20	South	Waterford	Waterford City	PPP
21	South	Tipperary	Carrick-on-Suir	PPP
22	South	Cork	Cork City NW Knocknaheeny/Fairhill/ Gurranebraher/City Centre at St Mary's Hospital Campus	Direct/own build
23	South	Cork	Charleville, north Cork	Operational lease
24	West	Limerick	Limerick City (Ballinacurra/Weston)	PPP
25	West	Galway	Tuam	PPP
26	West	Roscommon	Boyle	PPP
27	West	Mayo	Ballinrobe	PPP
28	West	Mayo	Westport	PPP
29	West	Mayo	Claremorris	PPP
30	West	Sligo	Ballymote	PPP
31	West	Sligo	Sligo Town at Nazareth House	Direct/own build
32	West	Leitrim	Ballinamore	Direct/own build
33	West	Donegal	Ballyshannon	Direct/own build

The Health Service Executive is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets. Therefore, in relation to the Aughrim health centre and details of the overall strategy position in relation to the management of surplus assets, your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Groups

Questions (727)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

727. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of new hospital groups that will be rebranding and renaming themselves following the recent changes by the West North West Hospital group; the details of any proposed rebranding by any of the groups; if his approval or that of Government is necessary for such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41777/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The establishment of Hospital Groups was committed to in Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015. Following Government approval, the two reports were published in May 2013: the “Report on The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts” (known as the Report on Hospital Groups), and “Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: a Framework for Development” (known as the Smaller Hospitals Framework). These Reports provide the foundations for the reorganisation of hospital services into Hospital Groups.

As noted in the Report on Hospital Groups, one of the key enablers in relation to the formation of hospital groups is the creation of a new identity and the adoption of a hospital group name to reflect realignment of hospitals. The naming of individual hospital groups is a matter for decision by the Hospital Group Boards, in consultation with the HSE. The HSE will inform the Department of Health in advance of any announcement or adoption of a new name for a Hospital Group and will also ensure consistency when using the hospital group name in any subsequent written or verbal communications relating to that Hospital Group.

Universal Health Insurance White Paper

Questions (728)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

728. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will be establishing the expert commission on the future basket of services, including those that will be covered under universal health insurance, UHI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41778/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government published the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance in April. This set out the Government's proposals for a universal, single-tier health service for Ireland. A public consultation on the White Paper was undertaken and I have recently received the report of the independent thematic analysis of the submissions on the proposals. My Department has also initiated a major costing exercise for UHI, led by the ESRI. I expect to have initial costings by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

When I became Minister for Health I reviewed our progress to date and the timescales for implementing very important reforms, including UHI. I came to the conclusion that the target date of 2019 for full implementation of UHI may be too ambitious. In this context I have decided to postpone, for the moment, establishing an Expert Commission on the basket of services. However, I want to emphasise my commitment to pressing ahead with reforms such as free GP care, establishment of hospital groups and implementation of Money Follows the Patient - all of which are important building blocks for a universal health care system. When I receive the results of the ESRI costing exercise next year I will be in a position to set out in more detail the next steps on the road to universal health care.

HSE Expenditure

Questions (729)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

729. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the net current deficit that Vote 39 for the Health Service Executive is showing against profile at the end of October, taking into account any receipts from the United Kingdom which were profiled for receipt later in the year. [41779/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The October Issues for Vote 39, returned to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform five working days before the month end, are reporting a net current deficit of €337m compared to the Vote profile at the end of October 2014. This includes receipts under the UK/Ireland Reimbursement Agreement amounting to €172m that were received in September but profiled for November.

HSE National Service Plan

Questions (730)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

730. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has received a draft service plan from the Health Service Executive for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41780/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have not, to date, received a draft 2015 National Service Plan from the Health Service Executive (HSE). I can, however, confirm that considerable work has already been undertaken by the HSE in relation to the preparation of the Plan. I would expect the HSE to approve and submit its 2015 Service Plan within the next two to three weeks for my consideration and approval.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (731, 732)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

731. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of senior house officer positions in each public or voluntary hospital on 1 October 2014; the number of such positions vacant on the same date; the number of these positions being filled by locums on the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41781/14]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

732. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of registrar positions in each public or voluntary hospital on 1 October 2014; the number of such positions vacant on the same date; the number of these positions being filled by locums on the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41782/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 732 together.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

National Children's Hospital Status

Questions (733, 775)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

733. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the latest timeframe for the completion of the children's hospital project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41783/14]

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

775. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the expected completion date for the new national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41986/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 733 and 775 together.

The new children's hospital is a priority in the Programme for Government. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the body with statutory responsibility for the building of the hospital. The Board has appointed a design team, which is now in place and working on design development with the aim of submitting a planning application in June 2015. Subject to planning, the Board expects to commence work on the main site at St James's Hospital, and at the satellite centre sites at Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals, in January 2016. Construction of the satellite centres is expected to be complete in 2017, while the main hospital is expected to be completed in 2019.

On completion of the hospital, the provision of paediatric acute services will cease at the existing locations in Dublin, ie Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children's University Hospital and the existing facilities at Tallaght Hospital (although provision of paediatric services will continue at the Tallaght campus in the new satellite centre).

Question No. 734 answered with Question No. 617.

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Questions (735)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

735. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount paid to each agency staff provider by the Health Service Executive in 2013; the amount paid to date in 2014 to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41785/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 736 answered with Question No. 612.