Gerry Adams
Question:670. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners located in County Louth; and the ratio between general practitioners and the population. [29040/15]
View answerGeneral Practitioner Services Provision
Questions (670)
Written answers
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. 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.
General Practitioner Services Provision
Questions (671)
Gerry Adams
Question:671. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners over 60 years of age across the State; the number of these in County Louth; and the percentage this is of the total number of general practitioners in the State and in County Louth. [29041/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. 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.
General Practitioner Services Provision
Questions (672)
Gerry Adams
Question:672. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the financial support the Government provides for the provision of night services by general practitioners in County Louth, in each year since 2010. [29042/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. 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.
Medical Card Administration
Questions (673)
Dominic Hannigan
Question:673. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health when the over 70s general practitioner visit cards will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29058/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015 was enacted on 24th June 2015. Under this legislation GP care without fees will be extended to all persons aged 70 years and over in early August. This universal over-70s service will benefit about 36,000 people and will be provided under the existing GMS contract. Registration for this service will begin later this month.
Mental Health Services
Questions (674)
Dominic Hannigan
Question:674. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the number of posts currently not filled in the community mental health teams in County Meath; the posts that are not filled; the steps being taken to fill them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29059/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Health Services
Questions (675, 676, 677)
Clare Daly
Question:675. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health whether the existing campus at Saint Ita's House should be considered as a public asset, which after some re-development would deliver huge benefits to the North Dublin community, with particular reference to the question of energy efficiency and how it could be resolved on site. [29073/15]
View answerClare Daly
Question:676. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a scoping exercise will be carried out in relation to the re-development of the Saint Ita's House; and if some of the policies currently being implemented at Grangegorman-Dublin Institute of Technology would provide a useful template. [29074/15]
View answerClare Daly
Question:677. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the development the Saint Ita's site at Portrane in County Dublin, as a great opportunity for anchoring both a human services health campus and a lateral park, running from Howth to Balbriggan, and that the volume of public land on the peninsula increases the legitimacy of this option. [29075/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 to 677, inclusive, together.
As there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer the development of facilities which support the delivery of core health services must be prioritised within the context of the overall capital envelope available to us. Given the limited funding available and our health infrastructure needs priority for funding must be based on verified service needs and all capital funding must be directed to supporting these core services. The Health Service Executive is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets the proceeds of which, with Department of Public Expenditure consent, will be re-invested in delivering much needed health care infrastructure. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet health care needs now and in the future.
The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan sets a public sector energy efficiency target to reduce energy use by 33% by 2020. The HSE is endeavouring to comply with the Government’s Green Procurement Guidelines which requires public bodies to ensure that a minimum building energy rating of B3 is achieved in all newly built and leased buildings from January 2012 and a minimum rating of A3 from January 2015. The HSE's design and building construction tenders all reflect these targets and all buildings being procured will meet these standards. Given the age of the old buildings on the Portrane campus, their vastness and total unsuitability for modern health care service delivery, it is generally not value for money and economically advantageous to expend scarce health care resources on their redevelopment. However, the HSE is actively engaged in rationalising the Portrane health care accommodation needs and reducing its energy use.
In the context of the planning application for the new hospital the HSE identified some buildings for inclusion in the OPW register where if future use was compatible with existing health care operations these buildings could be utilised by other public bodies. In relation to the use of State property the Government's Reform Plan sets out commitments relating to property asset management which include ensuring that optimal value for money is achieved in the management of the State's property portfolio. Developments including the rationalisation of State bodies, changing business practices and health care needs combined with reduced property requirements necessitate a multi-faceted adjustment to the management of the State’s property portfolio. The development and implementation of the Property Management Delivery Plan has been one of the outcomes of the reform process. This plan aims to improve the planning and management of the public service property portfolio by improving co-ordination of strategies and activities, processes for strategic planning, projects and property management, standards for accommodation fit-out and data capture, accountability for decision making and deployment of resources.
Abortion Legislation
Questions (678)
Mattie McGrath
Question:678. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the methods used to terminate pregnancies under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013; the number by medical induction; the number by suction or dilation and curettage-dilation and evacuation; for the terminations arising from suicidal ideation, if these patients were first treated with the standard treatment given to suicidal patients, those being counselling, psychotherapy and-or psychopharmacology; his views on reports that staff in one hospital were concerned at how the Act was being implemented, in relation to a termination for suicidal ideation-intent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29078/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the first annual report on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as required under Section 20 of the Act. The report covers the period from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2014. I is important that the Deputy notes that the information published on these procedures is restricted in order to limit the risk of identification in what is a private, confidential matter between women and their doctors.
I am not aware of any staff issues arising from the operation of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.
National Clinical Programme for Asthma
Questions (679, 687)
Finian McGrath
Question:679. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the implementation of the national clinical programme for asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29085/15]
View answer
Terence Flanagan
Question:687. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive national clinical programme for asthma will be implemented, in view of it being officially adopted by the Health Service Executive four years ago; if phase 1, prioritising the spending of just €2.5 million in primary care, will be funded in the upcoming budget for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29131/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 687 together.
Asthma remains a significant challenge for the health services. The new contract with General Practitioners for children under six years of age includes for the first time in Primary Care the provision of a cycle of care for child patients with asthma. The National Clinical Programme for Asthma (NCPA) and the Asthma Society of Ireland have welcomed the introduction of this first step in the provision of a comprehensive programme for asthma across primary and secondary care. The cycle of care includes key actions such as checking inhaler technique, provision of a written asthma action plan, review of asthma medications and recording of smoking status of the home.
A key focus for the National Clinical Programme for Asthma this year has been the two Asthma Integrated Care Demonstrator Projects. Funding for these projects commenced from June in the HSE Primary Care Service Plan 2015. The process for recruiting the clinical care staff is underway with expected commencement in October 2015. These projects will facilitate the implementation of the cycle of care and demonstrate how care can be integrated for Asthma between Primary and Secondary Care. This Integrated Asthma Care will be delivered by a community based Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory - Integrated Care). These projects will be further extended in 2016 so that the needs of asthma patients can be further addressed.
The NCPA has made significant progress since its establishment which to date includes:
- The development of asthma guidelines in acute and chronic management, care pathways, treatment protocols and care bundles for use in all care settings (primary and secondary care levels), in conjunction with National Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine, COPD, Critical Care, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatric programmes and Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP);
- The development of a Model of Care for Asthma (MOCA) approved by the Leadership in HSE and planned for launch in 2015;
- The development and implementation in conjunction with the Asthma Society of Ireland, of asthma education programmes for healthcare professionals to underpin the guidelines implementation;
- The planning of a structured Asthma Programme at Primary Care level in conjunction with ICGP and Primary Care programme to ensure implementation of evidenced based chronic asthma management guidelines and asthma care;
- Supporting the work of the Asthma Society of Ireland in patient asthma education supports initiatives.
As outlined above, the components of the programme are being implemented on an ongoing basis. When the Model of Care is launched later this year, it will be up to the relevant operational divisions within the HSE to implement the programme.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (680)
Finian McGrath
Question:680. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter regarding families of adults with Down's syndrome (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29086/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (681)
Pearse Doherty
Question:681. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for an operation in Saint James Hospital in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29096/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The 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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (682, 683)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:682. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated costs of expanding the National Childhood Immunisation Programme to include the roll-out of the Meningococcal B vaccine, Varicella vaccine and Rota Virus vaccine for all children and the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine for boys. [29108/15]
View answerCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:683. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women. [29109/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 682 and 683 together.
My Department in conjunction with the HSE is examining evidence based changes to the immunisation programmes. The resource implications of the introduction of any new vaccine will be considered in the context of the Estimates Process, the review of HSE vaccination services, engagement with manufacturers, and the HSE Service Planning Process. It is not possible to give detailed figures while this process is ongoing.
There is no recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) concerning the inclusion of Varicella vaccine and HPV vaccine for boys in the childhood immunisation programmes.