Finian McGrath
Question:421. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding hospital closures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32928/15]
View answerHospital Closures
Questions (421)
Written answers
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (422, 423, 424)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:422. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current number of children on the waiting list for ear, nose and throat and speech and language therapy appointments by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32932/15]
View answerCharlie McConalogue
Question:423. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current number of children on the waiting list for ear, nose and throat appointments who are also attending speech and language therapy, by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32933/15]
View answerCharlie McConalogue
Question:424. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current number of children on the waiting list for ear, nose and throat appointments; the number of scheduled surgeries; the average waiting times; the services currently in operation at each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32935/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 to 424, inclusive, together.
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.
Disability Support Services
Questions (425)
Robert Troy
Question:425. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there are no respite beds available in Athlone and south Westmeath since the closure of the two respite beds in St. Vincent's Hospital; that there will be none available for the rest of this year; his views on whether this is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32938/15]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, it has 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (426)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:426. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied) who has been referred to Dr. Sarah Fenton's ophthalmology waiting list to have cataracts removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32944/15]
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 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (427)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:427. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is waiting to be called to a Limerick hospital to be treated for cataracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32945/15]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (428)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:428. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is waiting for an appointment in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32946/15]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (429)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:429. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is waiting to be called for treatment for cataracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32948/15]
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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (430)
Brendan Griffin
Question:430. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if State support will be backdated to the commencement of the nursing home support scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who was not made aware of the introduction of the fair deal scheme in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32953/15]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (431)
Pearse Doherty
Question:431. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, details of each ambulance operating in the State in respect of the year of registration, the county where it is based and the number of kilometres it has travelled. [32966/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times
Questions (432)
Seán Kenny
Question:432. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to install a message scroller at each accident and emergency department, indicating the current waiting times and the frequency in which the scroller will be monitored to ensure the times are validated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32969/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Consultant Recruitment
Questions (433)
Seán Kenny
Question:433. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to appoint an additional full-time upper limb orthopaedic surgeon for Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32970/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (434)
Bernard Durkan
Question:434. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if, and when, medical cards will be restored to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32975/15]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions
Questions (435)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:435. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his views on the matter of young doctors qualifying from medical universities and colleges each year and then leaving the country; the numbers qualifying in each of the past ten years, and the numbers from whatever data and estimates are available of those who emigrated; the reason this is so and what the broad reason is for same from studies conducted; the salary levels available to young doctors in years one, two and three of career jobs; the plans to keep these doctors here; if data is available on the level of loans taken out by medical students when studying and if repayments of these is a factor in decisions to emigrate; if consideration has been given to a mandatory three to four years stay in this country after graduation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32987/15]
View answerWritten answers
A number of our NCHDs and consultants go abroad as part of their training, and some following completion of their training, to gain experience and expertise prior to taking up posts in Ireland. A further cohort go abroad for a variety of other reasons, such as working conditions, life style and pay.
Let me assure the Deputy that the recruitment and retention of doctors is key to the effective functioning of the health service. In this context, the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure is a priority for my Department.
In July 2013, a Working Group, chaired by Prof Brian MacCraith, President, Dublin City University, was established to carry out the Strategic Review. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to:
- Improving graduate retention in the public health system;
- Planning for future service needs; and
- Realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.
The Working Group completed its work in June 2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations. The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system.
The Strategic Review recommendations are being implemented through a range of structures and processes across the health system. Each recommendation has an identified business owner and progress updates are sought by my Department on a regular basis. To support implementation of the recommendations, my Department has also established an Implementation Monitoring Group, comprising key stakeholders. To date, two progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations have been published on my Department’s website. These allow all stakeholders to assess the progress being made across the range of Strategic Review recommendations. At this point the focus is on the implementation of these measures, to support retention. It is not considered feasible at present to introduce a mandatory requirement to stay in Ireland post graduation.
I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy regarding both the numbers qualifying annually and the numbers emigrating. We do not have specific data on the level of loans taken out by medical students.
The initial points of the consolidated salary scales for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (basic pay only, this does not include allowance and overtime payments) are as follows:
|
Grade |
Salary |
|
Intern |
€30,257 |
|
Senior House Officer Pt 1 |
€38,839 |
|
Senior House Officer Pt 2 |
€40,998 |
|
Registrar Pt 1 |
€50,578 |
Mental Health Services
Questions (436, 437)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:436. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the Mayo mental service unit on nursing overtime from March to August 2015. [32989/15]
View answerCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:437. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if the staff in the mental health unit in Mayo General Hospital are in danger due to staffing levels. [32990/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together.
As this is a service issue these questions have 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.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (438)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:438. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the primary care centre in Westport in County Mayo. [32991/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Westport Primary Care Centre project is one of 14 to be delivered as a single PPP project.
Following a detailed tender evaluation process the National Development Finance Agency announced the Prime-Balfour Beatty consortium as the preferred tenderer in May 2015. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2016 and it is expected that the primary care centres will be delivered by early 2017. In the meantime work is continuing on the financial and legal provisions of the project contract.
Mental Health Services
Questions (439)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:439. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health in view of the commitment in the Health Service Executive's 2014 national service plan to commence work on a national mental health information system, and that to date there is no information technology system in place to provide regular information on the number of adults who use mental health services, the services they receive; the waiting lists for mental health therapies; the quality or outcomes of these services; when a national mental health information system will be operational; if it will include measurement of social outcomes such as employment, housing and education status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32992/15]
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.