Written Answers Nos. 1 - 30
6. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the reason the data relating to breast cancer patients at University Hospital Waterford for February 2015 was not available; if the breast cancer unit at UHW was fully staffed in the months January to April 2015; the percentage of people with symptomatic breast cancer that were seen within the two week target at UHW in January and February 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20785/15]
View answerThe HSE Performance Report for February 2015 did not contain data for symptomatic breast cancer services for University Hospital Waterford due to data collection issues. However, the relevant data has since been collated and data from Waterford will be included in future reports. University Hospital Waterford has seen 100% of patients triaged as urgent within the two week target timeframe each month from January to April this year. This exceeds the national performance target of seeing 95% of urgent referrals within two weeks.
I want to thank the staff and management in Waterford for this achievement.
University Hospital Waterford had three Consultant Breast Surgeons in the Symptomatic Breast Disease unit in the period in question, the full allocation of posts.
7. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health his proposals to improve the ambulance service in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20770/15]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service has undergone significant reform and modernisation in recent years and this continues in 2015. Key to the reform is the development of a single national control system and the rationalisation of control centres to one national centre. This project is introducing better technology and improving response times. Developments such as national digital radio, computer aided dispatch, mobile data and electronic patient care reporting, will allow the National Ambulance Service to deploy resources more effectively and efficiently, on a national rather than a small geographic basis.
A landmark was reached in January when the Townsend Street control centre, the National Ambulance Service command and control headquarters, moved seamlessly to the new National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght. In April Tullamore control centre and the National Aeromedical Coordination Centre transferred successfully to the National Centre. Wexford, the only remaining regional centre, will transfer later this year. Work is also underway with Dublin Fire Brigade to integrate ambulance call taking and dispatch for the Dublin area and make best use of HSE and Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance resources on a real-time basis.
A €5.4m budget increase in 2015 will help address service gaps, particularly in the west, by reforming rostering and staffing additional stations. Tuam and Mulranny stations have now commenced operations and discussions are underway concerning staffing of a newly refurbished facility at Loughglynn. The number of community first response teams is expanding, with 123 teams now operating. The Emergency Aeromedical Support Service continues to provide rapid access to appropriate treatment for very high acuity patients.
I am confident that all of these measures will further improve our ambulance service in 2015.
12. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve assessment and services for children with autism in counties Laois and Offaly. [20540/15]
View answerThe HSE is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of existing therapy resources for children with disabilities, including those with autism, into multi-disciplinary geographically based teams. The key objective of the Progressing Disabilities Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery across the country. This involves the creation of a clear pathway to services for children with disabilities, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child's difficulties.
A number of HSE Community Healthcare Organisations across the country are successfully implementing the programme. It requires significant preparatory work in engaging with families, schools, voluntary providers and local communities and the development of new procedures and protocols in respect of multidisciplinary and multiagency working. Once this preparatory work has been completed additional posts are being provided to support the implementation of the new model of service.
In the Laois/Offaly area considerable work has been done to put in place the required governance structure which will allow for additional posts to be provided in 2015. A total of 120 new therapy posts will be provided across the country from an additional €4 million allocated this year (equating to €6 million in a full year). The HSE is currently finalising details of the allocation of additional therapy posts and it has informed me that Laois/Offaly will be prioritised.
The allocation of additional resources to Laois/Offaly to support the implementation of the Progressing Disabilities Programme will help address waiting times under the statutory Assessment of Need in the area. Research done by the National Disability Authority has demonstrated that where the Progressing Disabilities Programme has been successively implemented it has had a very positive impact on reducing waiting times for the Assessment of Need.
In addition the HSE is planning a waiting list initiative in Laois/Offaly shortly utilising spare capacity across public, voluntary and private providers to seek to reduce waiting times for the assessment and treatment of children pending the allocation and filling of the additional posts.
13. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to enforce greater accountability by management of the Health Service Executive and his Department officials, in view of recent quality issues in hospitals, nursing homes and care homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/15]
View answerAt my request, the HSE developed and set out a considerably enhanced and strengthened Accountability Framework in its 2015 National Service Plan. The Framework makes explicit the responsibilities of all managers to deliver on the 2015 Service Plan targets across a balanced scorecard covering the four vital areas of:
- Quality and Safety
- Access
- Finance and
- Human Resources.
The Framework describes in detail the means by which the HSE and in particular the Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations will be accountable in 2015 for performance across these four areas and allows for a level of transparency in the process of accountability which has not been there in the past.
A key feature of the Accountability Framework is the introduction of formal Performance Agreements between the Director General and each National Director and between the National Directors and the newly appointed Hospital Group CEOs and Community Health Organisation Chief Officers.
A set of Key Performance Indicators are in place to assess performance on an ongoing basis. A formal escalation and intervention process has been introduced for under-performing services which includes a range of sanctions for significant or persistent underperformance. The escalation process requires supports, interventions and sanctions to be applied. Sanctions fall to be considered at a later stage if supports and interventions do not lead to sufficiently improved performance. The response to underperformance will be differentiated and includes limitation of autonomy in relation to staffing decisions, close monitoring of remedial actions, restrictions in access to additional development and capital funding and restrictions to participation in non-core activities.
My Department engages with HSE senior management on a monthly basis to review performance across the areas of quality and safety, access, finance and HR and detailed performance information on these areas is published on a monthly basis.
The recent HIQA report on Portlaoise highlighted the need for greater accountability across all levels of the health service. The report raised serious questions and issues relating to the appropriateness and effectiveness of managerial actions. These matters will be addressed through HSE internal disciplinary procedures. The Director General of the HSE has confirmed that two review processes will be set up and will involve external reviewers from outside of the HSE in order to guarantee full independence and transparency. One of these reviews will investigate managerial decision making and risk management issues raised in the HIQA report. It will be open to this review to recommend that the disciplinary procedure is commenced in respect of particular staff.
The accountability of officials of my Department is governed by the Public Service Management Act. My Department has recently published its Strategy Statement 2015-2017 which sets out a range of commitments and against which performance will be evaluated over the period.
14. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered any improvement to the ambulance service in rural County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/15]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service is currently reviewing its resources in both urban and rural parts of the country. A €5.4m budget increase in 2015 will help address service gaps, by reforming rostering and staffing additional stations. A recruitment campaign is currently underway for paramedic resources, which once recruited will enhance the service provision in County Limerick. The number of community first response teams is expanding, with 123 teams now operating across the country. The National Ambulance Service has ongoing communication and engagement with community first responder groups in conjunction with CFR Ireland to enhance the capacity of communities to respond to emergency cardiac calls.
The Emergency Aeromedical Support Service, which has been very successful with over 980 missions completed, will continue to provide rapid access to appropriate treatment for very high acuity patients where this might be difficult to achieve by road. The Intermediate Care Service is now providing transport for lower acuity, non-urgent, inter-hospital patient transfers. This service frees up emergency vehicles for more urgent calls. I am confident that all of these measures will further improve our ambulance service in 2015.
15. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for new referrals for an outpatient orthopaedic appointment in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, compared to the national target time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20538/15]
View answerReducing long waiting times for hospital treatment is a key priority for Government. Last January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, I directed the HSE to ensure maximum permissible waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment or a first consultant-led outpatient appointment of 18 months by mid year and 15 months by year end.
Over the last 7 weeks, the number of people waiting for an outpatient appointment has reduced by 7,773. The HSE, in conjunction with Hospital Groups, is focused on this requirement through maximising the use of internal capacity within and across Hospital Groups in the first instance, in addition to validating waiting lists and facilitating additional clinics where capacity exists to do so.
Letterkenny General Hospital advises that the average waiting time for patients to receive an orthopaedic appointment, based on recent attendance data, is 39 weeks.
In April 2015 Letterkenny General Hospital introduced physiotherapy-led musculoskeletal outpatient clinics to address the needs of those referred with lower back pain. It is anticipated that this clinic will provide significant additional capacity for this cohort of patients, contributing to a spectrum of care which supports the efficient use of hospital resources.
As well as initiatives at local level, it is recognised that judicious outsourcing may be required to address prolonged waiting times.
16. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his views on the Disability Federation of Ireland's recent statement that the disability community has not been protected throughout the previous budgets; his further views on the introduction of a package of measures to increase supports for those with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20756/15]
View answerThe Disability Federation of Ireland statement raises a wide range of issues relating to people with a disability. The Government values the role which people with disabilities play in Irish society and is committed to facilitating the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the community through access to individualised personal social supports and services. My response will refer specifically to health service supports.
In 2015, we will continue to support the major transformation programme underway in disability services, and in particular, the reconfiguration of residential services, including moving people from institutions to homes in the community and reconfiguring adult day services based on individualised and person-centred supports. Continued emphasis will also be maintained on enhancing quality and safety, especially through implementation of the HIQA standards for residential settings, reform of adult day services and children's therapy services, planning for emergency places and changing needs, maximising efficiencies and further development of enhanced governance and accountability arrangements. Our focus is to bring about reforms that will positively impact on the way in which people with disabilities are supported to live the lives of their choice.
Funding of almost €1.5 billion will be provided for health and personal social services through the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2015. Residential services are provided by almost 60 agencies to around 9,000 people with disabilities at over 1,200 locations. Day services are provided to around 22,000 people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities and autism at 850 different locations by 80 organisations. Approximately 1,400 young people who are due to leave school and Rehabilitative Training programmes in 2015 will receive new placements. In 2015, an additional €6 million has been allocated to provide places for these school leavers and graduates. Respite residential support totalling 190,000 overnights will be provided. The target for provision of personal assistant/home support in 2015 is 3.9 million hours.
In addition, work is advanced on the re-configuration of therapy services for children aged up to 18 years as part of the HSE's Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years) Programme. An additional €4 million was allocated in 2014 to assist in implementing the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. A further investment of €4 million will also be made to support the development of therapy services in 2015 (equating to €6 million in a full year).
17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a survey carried out by the INMO (details supplied) that points out that the internationally recommended midwife-to-birth ratio of one midwife for every 29.5 births, 1:29.5, is not in place in any hospitals or midwifery units here; the measures he has taken to tackle the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20768/15]
View answerMy attention has been drawn to the findings of this survey. One of my priorities for 2015 is the publication of a National Maternity Strategy. This will provide a roadmap to better maternity services. It will ensure that women have access to safe, sustainable, well staffed maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs.
An extra €2 million has been included in the HSE National Service Plan 2015 to address current pressures within the Maternity Service. The measures proposed by the HSE include the appointment of 7 consultant obstetricians, 3 sonographers and additional senior midwives and midwives, the numbers of which will be informed by the Birthrate Plus study, which will be completed in June. A benchmarking exercise is being undertaken to establish baseline midwifery and maternity care assistant staffing levels in all maternity units.
Ireland has a relatively low ratio of staff per birth in our maternity services. However, the numbers of obstetricians and midwives are increasing. In 2015, we have 123 whole time equivalent consultant obstetricians, compared with 116 in 2011, when this Government came into office. Midwife numbers have increased significantly from 1,189 whole time equivalents in 2011 to 1,424 in 2015. This on-going increase in staffing came at a time when the country was in a financial emergency. This is significant and shows that government and the HSE protected maternity services during the toughest financial environment. Increasing staff numbers, coupled with a falling birth rate, means that, although there is a way to go, the ratio of obstetric and midwifery staff to births is improving and will continue to do so.
While staffing levels and expertise form part of the service delivery, resources are not the only issue. Guaranteeing better outcomes for patients is a fundamental principle of our health reform programme. We all continue to strive to ensure that patients receive the best care possible when they need to access health and social care services.
Action 46 of Future Health commits the Department of Health to work with the HSE to implement an approach to workforce planning and development that achieves the objectives of: recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff; training and upskilling the workforce; providing for professional and career development; and creating supportive and healthy workplaces. This approach will include the development by my Department of a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning during 2015.
A cross-sectoral Working Group will be convened to develop the framework in the near future. The Group's deliberations will take into account any relevant considerations from the development of a national maternity strategy and consultation with key stakeholders will form part of the Group's work.
18. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the examination of proposals to establish the emergency aeromedical support service on a permanent basis; and if discussions have taken place with the Department of Defence on this issue. [20762/15]
View answerThe EAS provides dedicated aeromedical support to the NAS in the west, specifically where land ambulance transit times would not be clinically appropriate. One third of these have involved STEMI-type heart attack patients, who need time-critical transfers to specialist primary PCI units for treatment.
The EAS Establishment Group was set up to examine how to place the EAS on a permanent footing. I have received the Group's report and, along with my colleague, the Minister for Defence, I am considering its contents.
20. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recruitment of additional midwives and nurses at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath. [20761/15]
View answerI have made enquiries to the HSE concerning the recruitment of additional midwives and nurses at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. It was agreed that 10 additional nursing posts would be provided for the Emergency Department in the Midland Regional Hospital. The HSE has advised that these ten posts were offered to nurses on relevant recruitment panels and six nurses have expressed an interest in applying for the posts. Fifteen general nursing posts were offered to nurses on the relevant recruitment panel with eight expressions of interest to date. There have been 8 midwifery posts accepted to date. Those who have expressed an interest in the posts above are now proceeding through the pre-employment recruitment process with the HSE's National Recruitment Service.
21. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the reason the amount of day cases handled at University Hospital Waterford so far in 2015 is down 15% on the same period in 2014; the reason elective admissions at UHW are down 9% in the same period; if there are any plans to reopen the second operating theatre at the hospital which was closed in 2013/2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/15]
View answerThere were 7,491 day cases at University Hospital Waterford to the end of April 2014 and 7,237 for the same period in 2015, a reduction in day case activity of 3.4%. This was mainly due to a reduction in dermatology day case activity. In 2014, dermatology services for pigmented lesion clinics were temporarily transferred to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, pending the filling of two consultant dermatologist vacancies and the return of one consultant from maternity leave.
In the first four months of 2015, with the exception of dermatology, overall day case activity increased by 3.3% over 2014, due to increased activity in general surgery, ophthalmology, ENT and orthopaedics.
There were 1,514 elective admissions at Waterford to the end of April 2015, compared to 1,508 in the same period in 2014 - an increase of 0.4%.
There are eight operating theatres at Waterford, seven of which are functioning at this time. In 2011, two theatres closed for cost containment purposes. One of those theatres reopened in January 2015, to provide additional emergency theatre access. Reopening of the remaining theatre will be kept under review in the context of resource and operational considerations.
22. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce an independent patient advocacy service; its terms of reference and if it will cover all patient services nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20542/15]
View answerAt the outset, I would like to acknowledge the strength and courage of the families who spoke out about their experiences in Portlaoise Hospital. Motivated by the desire to ensure that other families would not suffer as they had, they voiced their concerns. We must ensure that the opportunity provided by the HIQA Investigation Report on Services at Portlaoise Hospital to learn from the mistakes of the past, and to put things right for the future, is not missed. That is the least we owe to the families who spoke out.
I am strongly of the view that any new patient advocacy service should be set up independent of the HSE from the outset. I do not think that people would trust a patient advocacy service to advocate on their behalf to the HSE, if the people working in it were employees of the HSE. My view has been supported by the recommendation made in the HIQA Investigation Report for the need to establish an independent patient advocacy agency.
I am keen to get an independent national patient advocacy service up and running as soon as possible. The scope, role and functions of the independent advocacy service need to be considered along with the appropriate structural, governance and funding arrangements that need to be put in place. My Department will be consulting widely on the best way to get the service up and running in the shortest possible timeframe.
23. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the growing addiction to tablets, prescription and otherwise; if he will consider adding the drugs known as Z drugs to the list of controlled drugs; if he will address the need for clinical guidelines in relation to recovery from benzodiazepines and the short detox time required before accessing treatment. [20536/15]
View answerGovernment's response to the problem of drug misuse in our society is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016.
I am aware that in recent years, the nature and scale of drug misuse has changed, with an increased prevalence of polydrug use, as well as use of benzodiazepines, and other prescription or non-prescription tablets. Treatment figures indicate an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for benzodiazepine use.
The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015, as well as controlling substances decontrolled as a result of a Court of Appeal decision, reconfirmed existing Ministerial regulations and orders made under the 1977 Act. These regulations and orders may now only be amended by primary legislation. While it is intended to bring forward regulations to impose additional controls on benzodiazepines and z-drugs, a second Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill must first be enacted in order to provide the Minister with the necessary powers in this regard. It is my intention to have this Bill published and enacted within the current year.
Clinical guidelines are set out in the Department of Health's "Good Practice Guidelines for Clinicians" for the prescribing of benzodiazepines. The HSE addiction services provides a comprehensive substance treatment service orientated towards those with polydrug issues. Consequently, problem drug users attending such services and who are dependent on benzodiazepines or other z-drugs have this addressed as part of their treatment. I am advised by the HSE that clinical protocols in relation to benzodiazepine treatment are currently under consideration by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee, and that some HSE addiction services are piloting these protocols.
The Department of Health is beginning work on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016. The process will include a comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the public on the current national drugs policy and future priorities, including treatment. It will also take account of evidence-based research, information and data sources on the extent and nature of problem drug use in Ireland. As Minister with lead responsibility for drugs policy, I will play an active role in the development of the new Strategy and I would urge all interested parties to engage in the process.
24. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20764/15]
View answerThe future of the hospital is as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. That Group also includes St James's; Tallaght; Tullamore; Naas and the Coombe Hospitals.
Any change to services at Portlaoise Hospital will be undertaken in a planned and orderly manner. This will be guided by what is best in terms of patient safety and outcomes and will take account of existing patient flows, demands in other hospitals and the need to develop particular services at Portlaoise in the context of overall service reorganisation in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
The timing and scope of such changes will have regard for the capacity and capability of other services within the Group particularly in the short term. This work will be overseen by a Joint Steering Group comprised of representatives from Portlaoise and other hospitals in the Group, including the Group CEO, Dr. Susan O’Reilly.
25. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health in view of the alarming rate of consumption of e-cigarettes and also the rate of expansion of new e-cigarette retail outlets that is occurring here, and whilst also understanding the potentially serious harm being done by these mentioned items, when he will bring the new public health (retail licensing of tobacco products) Bill before Dáil Éireann for debate, which will seek to introduce a much needed licensing system for e-cigarettes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20586/15]
View answerAs the Deputy knows, although e-cigarettes and other non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems do not contain tobacco, they do contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. I am aware that there has been a significant rise in their popularity in the past number of years. In order to ensure that these products are sold in a responsible manner and to protect children, Government has approved the drafting of legislation in relation to the sale of tobacco products and non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems. My Department is currently drafting the General Scheme of a Bill which includes provisions for the licensing system and the prohibition of the sale of non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems by and to persons under the age of 18 years. I expect that the General Scheme will be published this year.
In addition to this legislation, my Department is working in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to put measures in place to transpose the new Tobacco Products Directive into Irish law by the 20th May 2016 deadline. The revised Directive regulates a number of aspects of e-cigarettes, including mandatory safety and quality requirements, labelling and packaging, ingredients and emissions, and stricter rules on advertising and monitoring of marketing developments.
My Department will continue to monitor existing and emerging evidence on the potential harms and the potential benefits of these products, so as to inform decisions around any future additional regulation in this area.
26. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health if he will include in the new national cancer strategy an objective to broaden the campaign for early detection of and screening for all cancers, as opposed to the current campaign which focuses solely on high incidence cancer types, so as to increase the chances of other more rare cancers being detected at an early stage, leading to more successful outcomes for sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20544/15]
View answerThe Cancer Strategy Steering Group, which I have established to advise my Department on developing a new National Cancer Strategy for 2016-2025, met for the first time yesterday, 27 May.
Early detection and screening will be among the issues that will be considered by the Steering Group. However, screening for all cancers is unlikely to be introduced and any proposals for additional screening programmes would have to be assessed in the light of international evidence.
I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the Steering Group later this year.
27. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the Royal College of Surgeons proposed competency assessment model for non-EEA trained nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20543/15]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question raised.
The Deputy will recall my answer of 6 May 2015 to his question in relation to this matter. My answer indicated that as this is an operational matter, I have referred this question to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for direct reply to the Deputy.
If you have not received a reply from the NMBI, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
28. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the payment scheme to which survivors of symphysiotomy may apply, in terms of its failure to address the concerns of the UN Human Rights Committee, and his proposals to make this scheme compatible with our human rights obligations [20565/15]
View answerThe Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme commenced on 10 November 2014. It was estimated that 350 women would apply to the Scheme, but in fact 576 applications were accepted. Applications are being assessed by former High Court Judge Maureen Harding Clark. The Scheme has in the region of €34 million available and participants will receive awards at three levels - €50,000, €100,000 and €150,000. The Scheme was designed to be simple, straightforward and non-adversarial, and aims to minimise the stress for all women concerned. It was designed following meetings with all three support groups, two of which have welcomed its establishment. It was established to give women who do not wish to pursue their cases through the courts an alternative, simple, non-adversarial option in which payments are made to women who have had a surgical symphysiotomy whether or not negligence is proven.
Judge Clark has informed my officials that as at 22 May 2015, 206 offers have been made to women including 1 offer that was rejected. 194 of those offers had been accepted with 11 offers awaiting a response. Of the 194 offers accepted by applicants, 118 were assessed at €50,000, 71 at €100,000 and 5 at €150,000. A large number of applications have been made without medical records or evidence of symphysiotomy and this information is being sought by Judge Clark in order to progress the applications. Where there was a delay arising in the compilation of a woman's supporting documentation due to difficulty in obtaining medical records, applications were accepted by the Scheme, provided the application was received within the time period set out in the Scheme, with a written explanation of the reasons for the absence of the documentation.
The Scheme is voluntary and women do not waive their rights to take their cases to court as a precondition to participating in the Scheme. Women may opt out of the Scheme at any stage in the process, up to the time of accepting their award. It is only on accepting the offer of an award that a woman must agree to discontinue her legal proceedings against any party arising out of a symphysiotomy or pubiotomy. The Deputy may be aware of a High Court Judgment that was delivered on 1 May 2015, where the Judge dismissed the claim for damages by a 74 year old woman who had a symphysiotomy 12 days before the birth of her baby at the Coombe Hospital in 1963. The Judge ruled that even though the woman has suffered since the operation, the practice of prophylactic symphysiotomy “was not a practice without justification” in 1963. The Judge also stated in his judgment that 'Though I would in the words of Sir Ranulph Crewe, Chief Justice of England, “take hold of a twig or twine-thread” to uphold the plaintiff’s case, I must find that this remarkable lady whose story indeed deserves to be told must fail in her case against the defendants'.
While the Government is aware of the comments made by the UN Human Rights Committee, it believes that the provision of the ex-gratia scheme, together with the ongoing provision of support services by the HSE, including medical cards, represents a fair and appropriate response to this issue.
29. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults in County Waterford that are awaiting assessment by a primary care occupational therapist; if he will provide in tabular form the length of time each of these children and adults have been waiting; the number of occupational therapist posts that currently exist in County Waterford’s public system; the number of these posts that are currently vacant; the number of additional posts that will be allocated nationally in 2015, and of these the number that will be allocated specifically to County Waterford in 2015; in relation to a specific case (details supplied) if he will clarify the way a child of five years of age who is currently being seen by the early intervention team will, following the child's sixth birthday, be assessed and receive eight weeks of treatment and then be placed on a waiting list for up to three years on the six to 18 age group bracket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20787/15]
View answerThe particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
30. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of posts he has sanctioned for child mental health; the number that have been filled providing a breakdown of the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18262/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If a reply has not been issued within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
