Written Answers Nos. 1130 - 1149
1130. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in Cork University Hospital which are reserved for direct admission from Mallow general and Bantry general hospitals, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32156/15]
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.
1131. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when the review of a case (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32175/15]
View answerI am advised by the HSE that the initial review in this case has now been completed. Accordingly I have asked the Executive 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.
1132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the total costs to a family to date in respect of nursing home costs in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32201/15]
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.
1133. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his views on recent reports that almost 12,000 operations and hospital procedures were cancelled in the first six months of 2015, and that twice the number of such cancellations will occur in 2015 as occurred in 2011; and his plans to address this matter. [32205/15]
View answerThere are a number of reasons why planned elective procedures are cancelled and these can include medical related reasons, non availability of an appropriate bed, staffing issues and failure of patients to attend. In 2015, there has been significant pressures on Emergency Departments, which may have resulted in rescheduling of routine procedures in some hospitals. All urgent procedures continue to be prioritised based on clinical need and all cancellations are rescheduled at the next available date.
In order to address pressure on EDs, I convened the ED Taskforce, which published a plan earlier this year, including a range of time defined actions to optimise existing hospital and community capacity, to develop internal capability and process improvement and to improve leadership, governance and oversight. The implementation of this plan is a key focus for the HSE in 2015. Improving waiting lists for scheduled care is also a key priority for Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, I put in place a maximum permissible waiting time for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. Additional funding of €51m has been provided this year to ensure that these maximum waiting times are achieved. In June, the HSE reported performance against the 18 month maximum waiting time of 99.6% for IP/DC and 92% for OPD. In order to maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15 month maximum waiting time by end December, the HSE has directed that hospitals which breached the 18 month maximum waiting time in August are to be fined. The fines will be calculated on the basis of the activity based funding cost of each procedure and are being imposed from 1 September.
1134. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken this year to reduce waiting lists for elective treatment given that in August more than 25,000 adults were waiting longer than six months for such care. [32206/15]
View answerImproving waiting lists for scheduled care is a key priority for Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, the Minister for Health put in place a maximum permissible waiting time for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. Additional funding of €51m has been provided this year to ensure that these maximum waiting times are achieved.
In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maximum waiting time of 99.6% for IP/DC and 92% for OPD. In order to maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15 month maximum waiting time by end December, the HSE has directed that hospitals which breached the 18 month maximum waiting time in August are to be fined. The fines will be calculated on the basis of the activity based funding cost of each procedure and are being imposed from 1 September.
The HSE, in conjunction with Hospital Groups is focused on delivering these targets through maximising use of internal capacity within and across Hospital Groups in the first instance. Hospitals have been requested to produce clearance plans in this regard. The HSE has already put in place specific measures to address waiting lists more efficiently in collaboration with acute hospitals, the Special Delivery Unit and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. These include observation of the National Waiting List Protocol (2014), adherence to relevant HSE National Clinical Programme guidelines and prioritising day-of-surgery admission where clinically appropriate.
1135. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32230/15]
View answerUnder 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
1136. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/15]
View answerUnder 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
1137. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce punitive measures on health facilities which are not meeting waiting list reduction targets; the way in which such financial measures will not impact on front-line services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32235/15]
View answerImproving waiting lists for scheduled care is a key priority for Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, the Minister for Health put in place a maximum permissible waiting time for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. Additional funding of €51m has been provided this year to ensure that these maximum waiting times are achieved.
In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maximum waiting time of 99.6% for IP/DC and 92% for OPD. In order to maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15 month maximum waiting time by end December, the HSE has directed that hospitals which breached the 18 month maximum waiting time in August are to be fined. The fines will be calculated on the basis of the activity based funding cost of each procedure and are being imposed from 1 September.
The HSE, in conjunction with Hospital Groups is focused on delivering these targets through maximising use of internal capacity within and across Hospital Groups in the first instance. Hospitals have been requested to produce clearance plans in this regard. The HSE has already put in place specific measures to address waiting lists more efficiently in collaboration with acute hospitals, the Special Delivery Unit and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. These include observation of the National Waiting List Protocol (2014), adherence to relevant HSE National Clinical Programme guidelines and prioritising day-of-surgery admission where clinically appropriate.
1138. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund whole plant medical cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32238/15]
View answerI have no plans to fund whole plant medical cannabis.
1139. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will have a medical card application processed; the reason for the excessive delay in the processing of the application; the current processing times for medical card applications being examined on a discretionary basis; if he will expedite this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32244/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
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.
1140. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will have a medical card application processed; the reason for the excessive delay in the processing of the application; the current processing times for medical card applications being examined on a discretionary basis; if he will expedite this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32245/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
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.
1141. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the steps he and his Department are taking to resolve the industrial dispute that has arisen concerning non-payment for anti-social hours, also known as twilight hours, worked by social workers in the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32247/15]
View answerThe issue of twilight payments for social care workers in the Brothers of Charity (West) and Ability West has been subject to ongoing discussions within the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) for the past year. In December 2014, an agreement was reached to implement the payment from 1 January 2015. Following a conciliation process, the LRC issued proposals on 6th July 2015 in relation to the arrears.
Arising from the LRC conciliation process, the Health Service Executive (HSE) submitted a business case to the Department of Health for additional funding. The Department is currently engaging with the HSE in order to progress the issues involved. It is hoped to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
1142. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been or will be given to the use of the post office as a means through which payment could be made for hospital charges such as accident and emergency department charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32251/15]
View answerThis proposal has been drawn to the attention of the Health Service Executive with a request that the HSE consider this matter and reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.
1143. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [32263/15]
View answerUnder 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
1144. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a matter regarding retirement forms in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32265/15]
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.
1145. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in making a decision on a medical card renewal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the urgent need for this medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32268/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
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.
1147. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding lung fibrosis patients in the context of the national patient charter in 2015-16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32282/15]
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.
1148. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding care for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32287/15]
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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
1149. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding proposed cuts to security and staffing at a location in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32288/15]
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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
