Written Answers Nos. 402-420
402. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a recent incident (details supplied) involving an ambulance travelling from Letterkenny General Hospital to Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32743/15]
View answerI am aware of a recent incident where the rear wheels of an ambulance became dislodged while a patient was being transferred from Letterkenny to Galway. I understand that the matter has been fully investigated.
The Deputy may wish to note that the National Ambulance Service (NAS) operates its fleet in line with the requirements of CEN 1789, the European Union standard for ambulances. The NAS has a fleet of over 520 vehicles which travel over twenty million km each year. Fleet management policies in place, minimise, as far as possible, the potential for vehicle failure. Daily vehicle inspections are carried out by ambulance crews, and a defect logging system is in place. Replacement of stock within the fleet runs at up to 15% a year and, in 2015, 62 new ambulances will be added to the fleet, at a cost of €7.5m. The NAS adheres to vehicle manufacturer’s specifications for service schedules and intervals. In line with current manufacturer and warranty requirements, each manufacturer’s main dealer network carries out the majority of heavy maintenance work.
In relation to this specific issue, 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.
403. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a review of a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32745/15]
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.
404. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an application for a motorised wheelchair will be considered for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32753/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service (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.
405. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding chiropodist treatments (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [32760/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
406. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of a new campaign to recruit nurses working in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to work here; the relocation packages available; the closing date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32763/15]
View answerIn July the HSE launched an International Staff Nurse/Midwife Recruitment Campaign which focused on the UK to attract staff nurses and midwives to jobs in Ireland. In this campaign there was a particular emphasis on targeting Irish nurses and midwives who have left Ireland in the recent past and want to return home.
The current relocation package is up to €1,500 in vouched removal/relocation expenses including the cost of flights. In addition, the Nursing Midwifery Board of Ireland registration costs will be paid on behalf of nurses relocating.
At present there is no closing date for this campaign, as the HSE welcomes applications from nurses and midwives who are interested in joining the HSE from abroad on an ongoing basis.
407. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive an appointment for surgery; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32768/15]
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 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.
408. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction an increase in funding and staffing at Naas General Hospital in County Kildare to facilitate the proposed increase in the number of beds available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32771/15]
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.
409. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the Saolta group's plans to roll out rapid access prostate clinics in its area; its plans over the past several years to roll out rapid access prostate clinics; if these clinics were rolled out; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32778/15]
View answerRapid access prostate clinics are available in the eight designated cancer centres. Patients undergo comprehensive assessment by cancer specialists in multidisciplinary teams. Subsequently, men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer may be offered a range of options including surveillance, surgery, prostate brachytherapy or external beam radiotherapy.
A rapid access prostate clinic is already available in Galway University Hospital and there are no plans to establish additional rapid access prostate clinics in the Saolta Group.
410. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to undertake an audit of respite services to identify gaps in existing service levels and to assess current and future needs for these services; to provide increased access to planned respite breaks for dependents of full-time carers; to develop flexible in-home respite services for carers and dependants with no access to residential respite services; to provide additional emergency respite beds when carers are unable to carry out their duties on a short-time basis, such as when a carer takes ill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32789/15]
View answerThe vision for the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
Respite care for children and adults with disabilities is provided by the HSE directly in some instances, or by agencies funded by the HSE to provide services on its behalf. In many instances respite services are part of the overall suite of services provided by voluntary service providers to people with disabilities under their service level agreements with the HSE. The HSE remains committed to working with all voluntary disability service providers to ensure that all of the resources available for specialist disability services, including respite services, are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
The HSE’s Social Care Operational Plan for 2015 aims to provide 190,000 overnight stays in centre-based respite services to almost 5,300 people. The HSE is also committed to continuing to explore methods of community respite care as an alternative to centre-based respite care, including advancing the Host Family Support Model.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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 up the matter with the HSE.
411. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his views on the feasibility of developing a national discharge summary and care plan for all persons leaving hospital care to share with their respective carers. [32790/15]
View answerIn 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.
412. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure there are no cuts to home help services, given the severe difficulties that this will cause service users and their families; what steps he will take to ensure sufficient levels of home help are made available to support carers, including the provision for more flexibility for weekend and night cover, and that the number of home help packages are sustained in an equitable divide, countrywide. [32791/15]
View answer414. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an overview of the current provision of State-funded home help services; his views that extra State-funded home helpers are needed to provide support, including the addition of provisions for a more flexible service, including more weekend and night time cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32793/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 414 together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
413. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his views on the provision of a training plan or courses for family carers similar to those provided to health care professionals in the practicalities of care such as patient moving and handling, the use of aids and appliances, nutrition and personal care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32792/15]
View answerThe National Carers’ Strategy, which was published in July 2012, is a cross-departmental strategy that sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers.
It is an objective of this Strategy to provide relevant and accessible carer training opportunities for carers.
The operational delivery of this objective falls within the remit of the HSE and the more specific issues raised by the Deputy have accordingly been referred to the Executive for direct reply to him.
415. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of concerns regarding the possible closure of local respite and nursing home services (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32794/15]
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.
416. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the national carers' strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32801/15]
View answerThe National Carers’ Strategy was published in July 2012 and sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers.
It sets out a vision to work towards and an ambitious set of National Goals and Objectives to guide policy development and service delivery to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring.
The Strategy also contains a Roadmap for Implementation with a suite of actions and associated timelines, and identifies the Government Department responsible for their implementation. It is important to note that the actions in the Roadmap for Implementation are those that can be achieved on a cost neutral basis.
The National Carers' Strategy committed to the production of an Annual Report on progress which would be published on the websites of relevant Departments. The first Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy was published in November 2013 and the second in January 2015, both of which are available on my Department's website. These Annual Reports will provide the Deputy with a list of actions that were identified in the Strategy and what progress has been made on each one since the Strategy’s publication. The third Annual Report is currently being compiled and will be published over the coming months.
In May, the Carers Association published their Family Carers Scorecard which raised concerns over the pace of implementation. Much work, however, has been done and the report acknowledged achievements such as the development of a single assessment tool for older people containing a detailed Carers Needs Assessment; the imminent release of one million euro funding from Dormant accounts for training and information provision for family carers; the hosting of an Annual Carers Forum by the Department of Social Protection and in particular the positive engagement around the structure of this forum to meet the needs of family carers.
At my Department's request, the HSE has set up a cross-divisional working group to bring forward implementation of the health aspects of the Strategy.
The Carers' Strategy is an acknowledgement by Government of the vital role performed by carers and of the contribution that they make, not only to their loved ones, but to society in general. Rather than being a set of actions that can be completed in a defined time, the Strategy should be seen as a long-term statement of intent providing the context for carers and their advocates to successfully press their case for the recognition that they deserve.
417. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will reaffirm the appointment of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, as outlined in a letter of appointment issued to that person by the Health Service Executive on 12 June 2014 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32805/15]
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.
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.
418. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in finding an alternative premises for a Health Service Executive operated training centre for persons with disabilities at a centre (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he will provide details of any proposals to lease a facility to accommodate the centre's current service users, including the duration of such an agreement; of all the refurbishments and alterations to the premises which have been requested by the Health Service Executive to make it suitable for service users; the expected timeframe as to when service users will be relocated to the new facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32829/15]
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.
419. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the specific courses that are available through his Department for parents with teenagers who are on the autism spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32925/15]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
420. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a new policy to be enforced by the Health Service Executive on 2 November 2015 concerning the banning of smoking within the confines of its properties without any consultation with its service users (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32927/15]
View answerA key recommendation from Tobacco Free Ireland is to promote tobacco free campuses for all health care facilities in consultation with key stakeholders. As the Deputy refers to Health Service Executive services and institutions I am referring the matter to the HSE for direct reply.
