Written Answers Nos. 349 - 363
349. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital has issued a letter to eye doctors in the midlands that patients in this region who require surgery such as cataract surgery will have to attend a clinic in Portlaoise before being placed on the list for surgery in this hospital. [42823/14]
View answer350. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health his views that eye doctors in the midlands will now be compelled to put their patients requiring cataract surgery on a waiting list to be seen first by a surgeon at a clinic; his views that this will become a long list as there is only one surgeon as opposed to 15 surgeons at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. [42824/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together.
The HSE has advised that a joint collaborative service has been in operation for many years between the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise and the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin (RVEEH). The service was put in place to facilitate patients who attend, in the first instance, the service nearest their own home and are then, as appropriate, referred for surgery or further treatment to the national tertiary service in the RVEEH.
I have been further advised that the purpose of the letters issued to three GPs by RVEEH on 16th October 2014 was to ensure that all GP primary referrals for the region are processed the same way and in a manner that ensures equitable access to surgery/treatment in RVEEH for patients from the midlands area. The hospital has confirmed that, as the national tertiary referral centre for Ophthalmology, they will continue to clinically triage all tertiary referrals received from throughout the country and refer the patients for the appropriate treatment.
351. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for procedures to get a tongue and lip tie diagnoses here; if he will provide a breakdown of the length of time children are on the public waiting list for surgery. [42826/14]
View answerAs 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.
352. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if Irish mothers with rhesus negative blood group in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s were warned about the possible side effects from the anti-D injection which is made from plasma, a blood product; if Irish mothers today who need this injection are informed about the possible side effects from this injection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42828/14]
View answerAs 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.
353. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 30 September 2014, the progress that has been made between the Health Service Executive and Cappagh Hospital in dealing with the backlog of patients waiting to undergo procedures; his views on operating theatres being left idle and the number of procedures that have taken place in the operating theatres to date in 2014 in comparison to the past four years. [42842/14]
View answerAs noted in my response on 30 September to your previous Parliamentary Question in relation to Cappagh Hospital, the hospital has advised that it has experienced unprecedented increase in demand for in-patient treatment throughout 2014. The cumulative effect of a reducing allocation, cessation of NTPF funding and reduction in income in 2014 has limited surgical capability.
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital has a total of seven operating theatres. I have been advised that, while there is sufficient consultant staff available to provide services to meet demand requirements, not all theatres have been in use in 2014. This is a factor of both financial capability and availability of suitably qualified nursing staff for theatre. In terms of access, urgent patients continue to be prioritised and Cappagh Hospital has advised that due to strict chronological booking policies, all patients attending the hospital are being offered dates for surgery based on their waiting time to surgery with due regard to clinical categorisation.
I understand that the HSE is in active engagement with Cappagh hospital to examine and agree options for optimising the available theatre resources and to ensure patients have timely access. I have also been advised that day case and outpatient 2014 activity targets will be achieved this year and it is expected that Cappagh will be in a position to carry out additional activity before year end. I am also meeting with the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital shortly to explore with them mechanisms to ensure optimal use of resources at the hospital. In relation to the query raised I have asked the HSE to provide you with the number of orthopaedic procedures by type that have been carried out at Cappagh Hospital for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and projected for 2014 and the amount of funding provided to the hospital for each of those periods. 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.
354. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 for Letterkenny General Hospital and Sligo Regional Hospital, the number of medical staff per 1,000 inpatient discharges; the number of nursing staff per 1,000 inpatient discharges; the number of agency staff per 1,000 inpatient discharges; the national average in each of the above three categories across all hospitals in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42858/14]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy 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.
355. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42871/14]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible. 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
356. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for funding for surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42872/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised, 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.
357. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to change the structure of his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42888/14]
View answerThere are no plans at present for restructuring the Department along the lines suggested in the question. The management of my Department engages with staff on an ongoing basis to ensure opportunities to improve its functioning are identified and implemented as the demands on the Department evolve.
358. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if the implementation of an open-disclosure policy by the Health Service Executive and the State Claims Agency last year has resulted in savings through a reduction in legal fees and associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42899/14]
View answerThe principal rationale for the introduction of a policy of open disclosure is not to save money, but to ensure that there is more open and patient-centred care for patients.
It is not possible at this stage to indicate what savings in legal costs may have occurred. Evidence of a reduction in litigation costs will only be evident after a longer period of time has elapsed, given the time frame involved between an incident occurring to settlement of litigation.
359. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the location of the medical records, including the birth registers and the maternity theatre registers, for each year from 1951 to 1995, inclusive, relating to maternity and obstetric services formerly provided at Airmount Hospital, County Waterford, under arrangements pursuant to maternity services legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42902/14]
View answerAs 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.
360. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health his views on funding concerns in relation to the meals on wheels service coming from Peamount Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42914/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
361. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for patients in the western region awaiting ophthalmology outpatient appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42917/14]
View answerAs 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.
362. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for patients in the western region awaiting vascular and orthopaedic appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42918/14]
View answerAs 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.
363. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will have a seat assessment for a wheelchair performed; his views that a person should have to wait four months for such an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42921/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
