Written Answers Nos. 141-146
141. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health his plans to use the Blackrock Clinic in County Dublin to provide extra theatre capacity and other facilities for the treatment of scoliosis patients; if patients will maintain their existing position on the Crumlin Hospital waiting list; when the new arrangements will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22585/15]
View answerAs Minister for Health I am determined that waiting times for spinal services at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin must be addressed as a priority. Accordingly, funding was allocated in the HSE Service Plan for 2015 for the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. This will maximise the use of available theatre sessions in the hospital. The first of these additional staff is now in post, and recruitment for the remaining posts is in process. In addition, capital funding has been agreed for a new theatre on site at Crumlin, which will expand theatre capacity further.
As a further measure, available capacity is being identified in other hospitals and some children are being transferred for their surgery, where it is considered clinically appropriate for them. The Blackrock Clinic is one of these hospitals. Clinical criteria relating to age and complexity have been agreed for transfer of patients to Blackrock, enabling the transfer of a number of patients who meet these criteria. Some of these patients have undergone their surgery at Blackrock, while others are undergoing pre-operative assessment.
The Children's Hospital Group, OLCHC and the HSE are working together on an ongoing basis to identify all options to increase capacity further.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the home help arrangements that can be put in place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath, who does not wish to pursue the fair deal scheme and who is currently in hospital, but who cannot be discharged until a plan regarding home help is put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22586/15]
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.
143. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the renegotiation of the general practitioner contract; if he is aware of the range of concerns being expressed by rural general practitioners regarding the difficulty in attracting general practitioners to rural areas; and the impact of the abolition of distance codes; the consideration he is giving to State funded locum cover in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22600/15]
View answerUnder the February 2015 Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), talks have commenced on a new GMS GP contract. It is envisaged that the review of the GMS contract and other publicly funded health sector contracts with GPs will include consideration of how best to support General Practice in urban/deprived and rural areas so as to best meet the needs of patients with regard to the provision of general practitioner services.
144. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing for play therapists to be regulated by CORU – Health and Social Care Professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22630/15]
View answerThe Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the registration boards being established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 are responsible for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence amongst the 14 professions designated under the Act.
Play therapists are not currently regulated under the 2005 Act. The Minister for Health may, however, under section 4(2) of the Act, designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers it in the public interest to do so and if specific criteria have been met.
The Act is being implemented on a phased basis as registration boards and their registers are being established. A total of 8 registration boards have been established to date and my immediate priority is the establishment of the registration boards for all of the remaining designated professions by the end of 2016.
When all of the registration boards and their registers have been established, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council will be requested by my Department to prepare a risk assessment, in terms of public protection, of the health and social care professions seeking designation under the Act, and to make recommendations concerning options for their possible future regulation.
145. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who are lost to natural wastage each year; his plans to stem this exodus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22641/15]
View answer147. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners he deems will be required each year for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22643/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 147 together.
The HSE is currently engaged in medical workforce planning, which includes workforce planning for GPs. This work is being carried out within the HSE's National Doctor Training and Planning Unit where a medical workforce planning system is due to be completed and implemented shortly. The system will be based on a statistical model of supply and demand for medical specialists, which will be informed by expert stakeholders, population and medical workforce data. Both entrants into and exits from the workforce will be accounted for. Furthermore, a measure of patient need and the demand for medical specialist services will be determined and included in the statistical model. Medical workforce planning for General Practice is being prioritised in the development of workforce projections based on both the supply of GPs and the demand for GP services over the next 10 years.
In relation to GPs leaving the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, it is envisaged that this will be considered as part of the current review of the GMS contract, which has already commenced.
Information about GPs who leave the GMS Scheme each year is a service matter; therefore, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (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.
146. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if the numbers of general practitioners currently in training is 628; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22642/15]
View answerFrom 1 July 2010, the number of GP training places increased from 120 to 157 per annum. There are 14 GP training programmes in operation around the country. Currently all GP training programmes are of four years duration and all trainees are required to complete 2 years in a hospital setting and 2 years in general practice with a GP trainer.
As the total number of GPs in training can vary slightly from time to time due to maternity leave, illness, etc., the Health Service Executive (HSE) has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy 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.
