Written Answers Nos. 22-29
22. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health his views that a sufficient number of community geriatric teams comprising a geriatrician and specialist nurse working in communities could help relieve pressures on bed occupancy in hospitals, particularly at times of over-capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2333/15]
View answerConsultant Geriatrician posts are in general contracted to the acute hospital system with some exceptions. In practice, geriatricians will provide an extended service to the community by way of undertaking clinics in a variety of settings including community hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, primary care centres. This type of outreach service provided in an integrated manner is a significant support to community services and to maintaining older people in their own homes and communities.
It is the intention of the HSE to develop an integrated care programme for older people in 2015 which will examine the variety of ways that consultant geriatricians currently work across hospital and community and to determine what is the most effective way to do so into the future.
There is an important role for consultant geriatric teams in supporting the management of the health needs of older people in community settings and in providing hospital day and outpatient services that avoid the necessity for hospital admission.
23. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the way waiting times for children inpatient and day cases at Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly, may be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2399/15]
View answerLatest available paediatric waiting list figures for the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore indicate that a total of 305 children are waiting for in-patient treatment and 246 patients are waiting for daycase procedures. Of those awaiting in-patient treatment, 183 have been waiting longer than the 20 week target and, of these, 21 have been waiting longer than a year. Of those awaiting daycase treatment, 124 have been waiting longer than 20 weeks and of these, 13 have been waiting longer than 12 months.
Targeting 'long waiters' for treatment is a key priority for me. My Department is working with the HSE to put in place a plan to achieve this. Rigorous waiting list management is critical to success. In terms of improving elective access, the focus in 2015 will be on adherence to the NTPF guidelines in relation to the scheduling of patients for surgery, chronological scheduling, which will be monitored and reported in 2015 and increasing day case surgery rates for specific procedures.
24. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the planned construction of phase 3C of Naas General Hospital, County Kildare, including the much needed endoscopy unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2347/15]
View answerThe HSE is developing a substantial infrastructure project at Naas General Hospital which includes an endoscopy unit. The proposed project will be a two storey build. The oncology unit and the physical medicine department which includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy will be accommodated on the ground floor adjacent to the main concourse and out-patients. The endoscopy unit will be located on the next floor overhead and at the same level as and adjacent to the theatre department which is the ideal location from a patient safety, logistics and staffing viewpoint.
While some enabling works are required to the hospital infrastructure, (electrical distribution system, etc) and subject to the award of planning permission it is expected that project construction could commence in the second half of 2015.
This is a considerable infrastructure investment in Naas General Hospital and in service delivery for central and south Kildare.
25. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health when a decision is likely on a new emergency department in University Hospital Galway; when approval from the Health Service Executive steering committee on the type and height of the new building will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2384/15]
View answerAs with all capital projects the proposed new ED project at University Hospital Galway must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There are proposals to extend and upgrade the Emergency department and some funding is available to advance the development of this project. However, there is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place.
Nevertheless a number of construction projects are underway and are being completed at University Hospital Galway.
- A two phase infrastructure upgrade and maintenance project will be completed this year. Phase 1 includes the upgrade of roads and car-parking and utilities. Phase 2 includes an upgrade of the power supply and distribution system.
- The construction of the clinical research facility funded by NUIG, the Health Research Board and the HSE is now completed and it is expected to be operational in March/April 2015.
- Currently, the HSE is in the process of appointing a contractor for the construction of a new clinical ward block which will deliver 75 beds. It is expected that construction will commence in March 2015. Currently the projected date for completion is end-2016.
- A contractor has been appointed for the construction of a new 50 bed acute mental health department. Enabling works have commenced and it is projected that construction will begin in Q3 2015. At this point it is projected that it will be completed by end-2016.
- The new radiation oncology project is in design phase. It will be built on the site of the current acute mental health department. Construction will commence immediately upon the transfer of service to the new acute mental health department.
- A phased upgrade of the maternity department has commenced. Phase 1, the upgrade of the medical gas network will be completed in Q1 2015.
These projects demonstrate the considerable infrastructure investment underway on the UHG campus.
Any future investment at University Hospital Galway must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, within the overall capital envelope available to the health service and in the context of the establishment of hospital groups. In 2015, there will be a structured integration of the all hospitals in the Saolta University Hospital Group. This will provide further support for all hospitals in delivering high-quality, safe patient care in a cost-effective manner. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
26. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans for maternity care in 2015, in view of the number of high profile maternity cases that occurred in 2014, highlighting serious deficiencies in Irish maternity care. [2336/15]
View answerMy Department is currently developing a National Maternity Strategy in conjunction with the HSE which will be completed this year. The strategy will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. It will be informed by a national review and evaluation of maternity services being undertaken by the HSE.
A sum of €2m has been provided in the National Service Plan 2015 to address current pressures within maternity services. Additional obstetricians, midwives and other front line staff will be appointed. The HSE has also advised that a new National Maternity Office will be established within the HSE Acute Hospitals Division in 2015, and this I hope will drive further service improvement.
The relocation of the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street to the St Vincent’s campus is also progressing and it is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanala later this year. In addition, following the decision to locate the new children's hospital at St James's Hospital, and the need to achieve tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services on that campus, it is necessary to review the proposal to relocate the Coombe to Tallaght and the Rotunda to the Mater. Work has now commenced on that review and will be completed shortly.
My officials will, of course, continue to engage with the HSE, to monitor implementation of the recommendations of a number of reports on our maternity services, and, in particular, to ensure that robust clinical governance and management arrangements are in place for maternity services at hospital group level.
27. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 has no date for an operation in view of being deemed by the orthopaedic surgeon as an urgent case, having iron deficiency anaemia, pseudogout and extremely high platelets, and whose health is deteriorating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2360/15]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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 the particular 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 my officials will follow the matter up with them.
28. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to date to address the issue of delayed discharges from acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2364/15]
View answerDelayed discharges arise when a patient has been clinically discharged from an acute hospital but remains in an acute hospital bed, thus rendering that bed unavailable for patients who need admission. In Budget 2015 the Government allocated €25m to tackle the problem of delayed discharges and this additional funding is being applied across residential and community services to reflect the varying needs of patients.
Of this €25m:
- €10m has been allocated to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme which has resulted in 300 extra approvals and shortening the waiting time for approval from 17 weeks to 11 weeks,
- €8m is being used to augment short-term residential care capacity and has provided for 50 additional short stay beds which have been sourced from the private sector. An additional 65 are to come on stream on a phased basis from March 2015,
- €5m is being used for home care services which will provide 400 additional Home Care Packages to benefit 600 discharges across targeted hospitals, and
- €2m is being used to strengthen Community Intervention Teams which to date has facilitated 571 people to be seen in their own home.
The HSE is looking at every possible option for alternative accommodation, including vacant beds in private nursing homes to address delayed discharges. Since January 5th 2015, the HSE has been working to match patients whose acute care has been completed but who require ongoing residential care with suitable placements. This will see a potential movement of 250 patients across the country from acute hospitals to other suitable facilities.
29. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will seek a report on the decision of a hospital to seek delivery of a 15-week foetus of a brain dead woman kept alive for 23 days in December 2014. [2388/15]
View answerI have already addressed this issue in my reply to Question No. 6. As I mentioned, I am currently considering the High Court judgement on this case and its implications. As part of this process I expect to be seeking further information from the HSE to finalise my considerations and understanding of what lessons we may learn from this extremely difficult and unfortunate case.
Finally, I wish once again to convey my heartfelt sympathies to the family of the woman at the centre of this case and I would ask that the privacy of this family is respected and they are now given the appropriate time and space to grieve their loss.
