Written Answers Nos.180-189
180. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the measures being put in put in place for patients, including general medical services patients, to receive general practitioner services, in view of the fact that their current general practitioner (details supplied) is not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9623/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
181. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be prioritised for a cataract operation, in view of the deterioration in the person's condition while waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9633/15]
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 it.
182. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made regarding the business plan to build a second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied) from the then Minister, Deputy Reilly, on 13 May 2013, which promised that the new hospital groups will enable us to achieve our goal of providing cardiac services at Waterford regional hospital, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; when this will happen for persons in County Waterford and the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9635/15]
View answerI am aware of the correspondence referenced by the Deputy. I am also aware that a business case, prepared by University Hospital Waterford, for the development of a second catheterisation lab and a 24 hour emergency PCI service, is under consideration within the South West Hospital Group.
As for any complex acute hospital service, a key criterion for deciding whether a 24 hour PCI service should be provided is whether there is a sufficient volume of appropriate activity to ensure safe provision of the service to patients. Without sufficient volume, the clinical staff will not be in a position to treat the number of patients needed to maintain their skills and deliver a safe service.
A review of PCI services in Dublin is nearing completion. Following that process, PCI capacity and requirements in areas outside of Dublin, including in Waterford, will be examined. Any decision on further provision of PCI services, in any region, will be based upon evidence on the volume of clinical need, the quality and safety of the service which can be provided, and the resources available.
183. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the reason methadone is used as the sole opioid treatment; if consideration has been or will be given to using buprenorphine as an alternative treatment option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9638/15]
View answerMethadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that enables the people involved to counter their drug problem use and to rebuild their lives. Government policy in relation to drugs, emphasises the need to provide opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use to a drug-free life where that is achievable. However, different people in various circumstances may require different approaches to treatment and support.
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, methadone is the most commonly prescribed substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Europe. In conjunction with other services and supports such as counselling, after-care and training, methadone maintenance treatment provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use.
An Expert Group, set up by my Department in 2006, examined the regulatory framework required to facilitate the prescribing, dispensing and supply of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. In 2011, this Group concluded that methadone is the drug of first choice in the treatment of opioid dependency, but that buprenorphine/naloxone may be more appropriate for particular cohorts of clients.
The HSE has established an Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to develop a plan for facilitating the wider availability of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. The Group, which comprises representation from the HSE and my Department as well as medical professionals with a specific interest in addiction, will shortly be in a position to submit its final report to me.
184. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his views that the protection and promotion of the dignity of the individual person receiving treatment in our hospitals should be one of the core values in the delivery of care; his further views that failure to protect and promote such should warrant some consequence to the managers or care teams or both within the hospital where such failures occur; the action he will take to ensure that this core value is promoted and delivered in all of the care settings for which the Health Service Executive and his Department are responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9643/15]
View answerAs Minister for Health I believe that every individual who uses our health services is entitled to expect and receive care of the highest standard and to be treated in an atmosphere of safety and care. This is true for all age groups but particularly important for the vulnerable elderly whose families have entrusted them to the care of professional staff.
Person-centred care and support is one of the themes of the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. Standard 1.6 states that service users' dignity , privacy and autonomy are respected and promoted.
The HSE's Patient Charter describes what an individual can expect when using health and social care services in Ireland. It is based on eight principles which underpin high quality, people-centred care. Included in these key principles are that we treat people with dignity, respect and compassion, services are provided in a safe environment and that we ensure adequate personal space is provided to ensure privacy in providing care and personal social services. I am aware that following the events in Aras Attracta late last year the Director General of the HSE wrote to all staff informing them that the onus is on them to take personal responsibility to ensure that the individuals supported by the HSE in any care setting are treated with dignity and respect.
In the National Service Plan 2015 the HSE has put in place an enhanced governance and accountability framework for 2015 which makes explicit the responsibilities of all managers to deliver on the targets set out in the National Service Plan across the balanced scorecard domains of Quality and Patient Safety, Access to Services, Finance and Human Resources (HR). The new Accountability Framework describes in detail the means by which the HSE and in particular Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations will be held to account in 2015 for their efficiency and control in relation to service provision, patient safety, finance and HR.
The framework refers to underperformance as:
- Places patients or services users at risk;
- Departs from what is considered normal practice;
- Fails to meet accepted and required standards for that service.
The Accountability Framework outlines performance management processes and sanctions. Sanctions include disciplinary measures where appropriate or necessary.
My Department is also in the process of developing a Code of Conduct for Health and Social Service Providers. The primary objective of the Code is to ensure the safety of those that access our services and to support the frontline staff who provide those services. I expect that the Code will be finalised in the near future.
Finally, both I and the HSE will continue to work to ensure that the management and staff of our health and health supported services maintain high standards of ethical behaviour and apply the training and principles of person-centred care in everything they do.
185. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs will be carried out in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9648/15]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly 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.
186. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the contracting out of relevant elective surgeries to hospitals in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, which should be able to provide at least the same quality of service as here, and probably at a more cost-effective rate per person, and this would eliminate the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9649/15]
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 with them.
187. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of child anaesthetists working in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015; and if there are vacant child anaesthetists posts in Beaumont Hospital. [9666/15]
View answer188. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that apparently there are no child anaesthetists scheduled to work on Wednesdays in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, yet surgeries for children are being scheduled on Wednesdays and then subsequently cancelled. [9667/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.
In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
189. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 480 of 3 February 2015, his plans to address the discrepancy in information available regarding the response times of the national ambulance service, where it has been stated that response time information is recorded for at-scene times as opposed to at-hospital times; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of ambulances available to Dublin hospitals in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015. [9668/15]
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 with them.
