Written Answers Nos. 46-53
46. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the roll out of BreastCheck for women in the 65-69 age group will not be complete until 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2394/15]
View answerPlanning for the age extension of BreastCheck to 65 - 69 year olds is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme.
The age extension will be implemented on an incremental basis in line with the capacity of the system to manage the additional screening and follow up workload. BreastCheck will need to recruit and train additional radiographers, medical consultants and administration support in order to accommodate the increased demand. Additional mobile units and medical equipment will also be required. It will be fully rolled out across all women in the extended age range by 2021.
Women of any age who have concerns about breast cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to the symptomatic breast services in one of the eight designated cancer centres.
47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding reproductive rights here, particularly in view of his comments in December 2014 in which he indicated that the existing legislation on abortion is too restrictive and may have a chilling effect on doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2377/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution states that:
'The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.'
The interpretation of Article 40.3.3 was considered by the Supreme Court in Attorney General v X in 1992. Further, in December 2009, the European Court of Human Rights heard a case brought by three women in respect of the alleged breach of their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights in regard to abortion in Ireland. This action was known as the A,B, and C v Ireland case.
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 was enacted in July 2013 and commenced in January 2014. The purpose of this Act is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgement in the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case. The Act received very careful consideration by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Health and Children, including three days of public hearings.
I am not proposing any amendments to the Act or the 8th Amendment of the Constitution at present.
48. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce minimum standards for the delivery of publicly funded private and public home care for elderly persons and vulnerable adults in their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2350/15]
View answerThe HSE is progressing a range of measures to improve Home Care provision overall, to standardise services nationally and to promote quality and safety. This includes a Procurement Framework for Home Care Services which came into effect in 2012. Providers are monitored through Service Level Agreements with the HSE. They are required to provide a prescribed range of information in relation to the services they provide. These are supervised through regular local operational meetings and review of care plans. National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Home Care Package Scheme, which set out standard procedures for providers of home supports, were introduced in parallel with this initiative.
The HSE is also developing National Quality Guidelines for home help services for Older People which will apply to all home support services, including those procured by the HSE from external providers. The HSE is also currently undertaking a full review of home care services with a view to improving services generally.
Government for National Recovery, 2011-2016 commits to developing and implementing national standards for home support services which will be subject to HIQA inspection. Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services. This will be considered by Government on a prioritised and phased basis as resources, legislative and planning processes allow.
49. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new medical card system; and the way these changes will impact on patients. [2328/15]
View answerIn the light of the conclusions of the Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility and the external review of the Medical Card Process, a range of actions have been identified to improve the operation of the medical card system, particularly for people with significant medical needs.
The HSE is putting arrangements in place for a more integrated and sensitive processing of medical card applications involving significant medical conditions to ensure greater interaction between the central office regarding the assessment of a person’s eligibility and the local health office regarding the person’s medical condition and the services that they may require. The HSE has appointed a senior manager to lead the reform of the systems for handling medical card application and reviews.
The HSE is developing a single, integrated process for people to apply for a medical card, a GP visit card, the Long-Term Illness Scheme and the Drugs Payment Scheme. Access points will be established around the country in health offices to support and assist people to make applications.
The HSE is taking steps to establish a clinical advisory group to develop a methodology and guidance for the assessment of applications involving significant medical conditions so as to take account of the burden involved and the needs arising from the condition and to ensure that appropriate services are provided to people who need them.
The Minister and I have asked the HSE to examine, with the Department of Health, the best way to meet the needs of people with significant medical conditions who need the support of the public health system. This work includes considering the best way to make medical aids and appliances available to persons who do not hold a medical card, the provision of services to children with severe disabilities, and to enable people with particular needs to have these met on an individual basis rather than awarding a medical card to all family members.
50. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plan to end overcrowding and lengthy waiting times for persons accessing emergency departments. [2342/15]
View answerED overcrowding is a priority issue for me and for the Government and I acknowledge the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances.
All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. These plans include the opening of additional overflow areas, reopening of closed beds, provision of additional diagnostic scans and Consultants doing additional ward rounds to improve the appropriate flow of patients through hospitals.
The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges and actions being taken include the provision of additional home care packages, additional transition beds in nursing homes, 300 additional Fair Deal places and an extension in Community Intervention Teams. Where it is necessary to prioritise emergency and trauma surgery, cancer and complex non-urgent cases, the HSE assures me that this is being done. Inevitably this will affect waiting lists and waiting times. The challenge is to minimise the need for cancellation at short notice and to manage the impact of such cancellations effectively, within the hospital and in collaboration with other hospitals. It may be necessary to increase elective activity in the summer.
I convened the Emergency Department Taskforce last month to develop long term solutions to overcrowding by providing additional focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by the current trolley waits. My Department and the HSE are currently working together on a plan which will ensure that trolley waits are contained throughout the year, operational arrangements within acute hospitals and across acute and community are designed and implemented consistently so as to contribute to sustainable improvement into the future and there is a strong basis to evaluate and manage performance.
51. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the timeframe for the universal health/patient identifier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2345/15]
View answerI have indicated that the roll out of a system of health identifiers will be a key priority for 2015. The new identifier registers will be managed and operated by HSE. HSE has already established the necessary project management structure and is currently developing a comprehensive project plan which will be available to me shortly.
The principal benefits of health identifiers will be improvements in patient safety. Health identifiers will also underpin the wider eHealth agenda and facilitate improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of our health services and improvements in customer experience. The use of health identifiers will also contribute to maintaining the confidentiality and security of sensitive patient data within the health care environment.
52. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to tackle the accident and emergency crisis in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2338/15]
View answerEmergency Department over-crowding is a priority issue for me and for the government. All hospitals, including Beaumont have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. These plans include the opening of additional overflow areas, reopening of closed beds, provision of additional diagnostic scans and Consultants doing additional ward rounds to improve the appropriate flow of patients through the hospital system.
Beaumont Hospital has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve the patient pathway both through the ED and the hospital, in addition to working closely with the community. All available bed capacity is open and off-site capacity is also being utilised. Elective surgeries (with the exception of cancer cases) have been cancelled and this option is being kept under constant review.
The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges and actions being taken include the provision of additional home care packages, additional transition beds in nursing homes, 300 additional Fair Deal places and an extension in Community Intervention Teams.
I convened the Emergency Department Taskforce last month to find long term solutions to overcrowding by providing additional focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by the current trolley waits. Following a second meeting last week, the HSE is working on an action plan to be finalised by the end of the month to specifically address ED issues with a view to a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015.
53. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if temporary arrangements will be put in place in advance of the proposed new emergency department facility at University Hospital Galway to improve capacity and patient outcomes at this facility for County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2386/15]
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 my officials will follow the matter up.
