Written Answers Nos. 205-216
205. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has been referred to the United Kingdom for mitrofanoff surgery in 2013 has still not had the surgery; and if he will clarify the possibility of the patient being referred back here for surgery. [29395/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
206. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will visit the accident and emergency department of Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 to meet front-line staff and to discuss with them the major increase in the occurrences of overcrowding in the hospital over the past few months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29406/15]
View answerED overcrowding is a key priority issue for the Government. I visited Beaumont Hospital ED in December last year. Shortly thereafter I convened the ED Taskforce to provide focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by ED overcrowding. Last April, the HSE published the Taskforce action plan, with a range of time defined actions to optimise existing hospital and community capacity, develop internal capability and process improvement and improve leadership, governance, planning and oversight.
Based on the Task Force’s Action Plan, additional funds of €74 million were provided in 2015 to increase long term nursing home care places and reduce the waiting time for their funding, as well as providing additional transitional care and home care packages to provide viable supports for those no longer needing acute hospital care. This was additional to measures already taken in Budget 2015, when the Government provided €25 million to support services that provide alternatives to, and relieve pressure on, acute hospitals.
Beaumont hospital has undertaken a number of initiatives both internally within various teams and departments, and externally with the HSE to improve the patient pathway both through the ED and the hospital. Hospital staff work consistently with their community counterparts to ensure that patients who no longer require acute care are facilitated to move from the hospital to more appropriate care settings, or to home, as appropriate. In addition the RCSI Hospitals Group has developed a Frail Elderly Project Team, led by a Community Geriatrician, with a focus on provision of care in Day Hospital and Nursing Homes rather than in the ED.
Other actions which are ongoing include: use of 16 additional beds in Clontarf Orthopaedic Hospital for step down purposes; transfer of patients to Mount Carmel for transitional or rehabilitative care; continuation of funding of transitional care beds in addition to release of Fair Deal funding; continuation of escalation measures, including curtailment of electives where necessary; increased access to diagnostics out-of-hours and at weekends and a focus on reduction of average length of stay for medical in-patients.
The HSE is engaged in a focussed programme of work to ensure immediate actions are being taken to effect a reduction in delayed discharges and to drive improved performance in EDs, including at Beaumont Hospital. Overall, the emphasis is on driving a more integrated approach between primary care, acute hospitals and community care. Progress against the various actions set out in the ED Taskforce action plan is being reported on a monthly basis to the ED Taskforce Implementation Oversight Group.
207. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of addiction counsellors who are employed by the Health Service Executive drug treatment service for each year between 2011 and 2014 and for 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29407/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and 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.
208. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive management staff earning from €100,000 to €150,000; from €150,001 to €200,000; from €201,000 upwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29408/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the 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.
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if better terms under the fair deal scheme will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the matter will be reviewed at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29416/15]
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.
210. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding St. Michael's House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29427/15]
View answerAs 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.
211. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29428/15]
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.
212. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the policy regarding the provision for specially adapted shoes or orthopaedic shoes under the long-term illness scheme; the entitlement for same per year; the possibility of receiving more than one pair of shoes per calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/15]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
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.
213. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29439/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter 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.
214. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of adult residential services units available for persons with intellectual disabilities by county since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29467/15]
View answerAs 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.
215. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the proposals to increase staffing resources in a hospital (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29468/15]
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.
216. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the proposals to have a person return to employment in the Health Service Executive (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29469/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly 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.
