Written Answers Nos. 420-429
420. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health for an update on the emergency department upgrade works at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar; when it will be completed; when the other capital development at the hospital, involving a new build, will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39351/15]
View answerWork commenced on the emergency department (ED) design in July 2013. The main contractor is on site since October 2014. The HSE is projecting that the construction works will be completed in January 2016 and that the new ED will be operational in Q1 2016. The upgrade of existing concourse area forms part of this project. In addition the following projects are included in the 2015 minor capital works for Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar:
-Medical Records off-site storage facility;
-Replacement of operating lights in 3 theatres;
-Provision of access control and automation to main entrance doors to theatre department;
-Fixtures and fittings for Willow Unit - women’s health unit;
-Relocation of the Radiology Department ultrasound room;
-Relocation of the Medical Air Plant/fit new compressor units to Endoscopy cabinets; and
-Upgrade works to CCTV System.
The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs. Any future investment at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar must be considered within the context of the establishment of hospital groups, within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, and also within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves. Following the announcement in late September of the health capital envelope of €3,061 million for the multi-annual period 2016-2021, the HSE has undertaken preliminary work on the draft Capital Plan. This Plan requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
421. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the circumstances by which he will consider extending the list of qualifying illnesses for the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39354/15]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended), under which the HSE may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.
Regulations were made in 1971, 1973, and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
422. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on the services and clinics available to assist persons born with, and persons with, the condition known as neurofibromatosis type 1 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39361/15]
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.
423. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason no extra hours were allocated to the personal assistant service for people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39365/15]
View answerIn 2015, the HSE has sought to maximise the provision of health and personal social services, including personal assistant services, for people with a disability, within available resources. In the 2015 HSE National Service Plan, the HSE's priority is to provide 1.3 million hours of personal assistant services to adults with a physical or sensory disability.
Any increases in demand for personal assistant services due to demographic pressures and changing needs must be met within the level of resources available. Work is currently underway in preparing the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2016. As discussions are ongoing in this regard, the Minister for Health is not in a position to comment on the service levels including personal assistant hours in 2016.
424. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the operation of the Roscommon medical assessment unit to a seven-day service in line with other level 2 hospitals; why this service is only available as a five-day service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39368/15]
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.
425. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health the incentives, including funding, that are available to encourage a qualified nurse (details supplied) to return to Ireland and take up a position here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39373/15]
View answerThere are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. These include the retention of 2015 degree programme graduates, offering full time permanent contracts, and a national and international recruitment campaign. In addition the conversion of agency usage to permanent staffing in line with agreed processes is being pursued.
A nurse registered in Ireland, is not required to complete a return to practice course in order to reactivate a registration with NMBI following a period overseas. To reactivate a registration in Ireland the nurse is required to send a letter to NMBI and pay the appropriate fee.
An employer has discretion to require a nurse to complete a "return to practice" course if the nurse has been out of practice. NMBI recommend that this is completed by nurses who are out of practice for over 5 years. The completion of a return to practice programme currently is not a mandatory or legal requirement to obtain registration with NMBI.
If the nurse is applying for initial registration they may, if a shortfall have been identified in their education programme, be required to complete a period of adaptation and assessment which must be successfully completed prior to registration. This programme is a minimum of a six weeks.
426. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the registration of physiotherapists under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. [39375/15]
View answerThe profession of physiotherapist is one of the 14 professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
The Physiotherapists Registration Board was established by statutory instrument in October 2013 and its members appointed the following May. The Board is currently finalising the bye-laws necessary to establish its register and will be engaging in a public consultation process in this regard in the near future with a view to establishing its register and accepting applications for registration early next year.
The Act provides for a 2-year transitional or "grand-parenting" period which commences on the establishment of the register and during which existing practitioners may register on the basis of specified qualifications. After that period only registrants, who will be subject to the Act's regulatory regime, will be entitled to use the relevant specified professional title.
427. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a discretionary medical card will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has recently been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39376/15]
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.
428. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the tender process undertaken by the Health Service Executive for the procurement of rooftop helipads for Cork University Hospital and for Galway University Hospital; the value of each contract; the name and business address of the successful company in each case; the status of each project; if there was consultation with interested parties before the tender process commenced; if so, the names of the companies, their areas of expertise and the cost of the advice; if he is satisfied with the executive's actions regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39384/15]
View answerWith regard to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
429. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who is in considerable continuous pain and who was referred several weeks ago, will be scheduled for an appointment to see a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Merlin Park hospital in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39393/15]
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.
