Written Answers Nos. 435-456
436. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support the efforts being made to maintain services at Bansha Medical Centre in County Tipperary; if he will instigate greater efforts to retain rural general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42735/15]
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.
437. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of new nursing staff recruited, the number of nursing staff who left, the total number of nursing staff, and the net increase or decrease in the number of nursing staff, in each hospital (details supplied) from 1 January to 30 September 2015, in tabular form [42737/15]
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.
438. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend nationwide the programme set up with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service that allows persons in Cork and Dublin to have up to four free venesections a year, given that not all sufferers can travel to Cork or Dublin for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42739/15]
View answerThe IBTS currently provides a haemochromatosis service at three centres, two in Dublin and one in Cork. The service is provided free of charge and, where patients meet all the normal blood donation criteria, they can become blood donors.
Where a regular donor (someone who has donated within the previous two years) is diagnosed with haemochromatosis, they can continue to donate and have their venesections performed by the IBTS in their own locality up to four times per year.
The HSE and the IBTS are currently working in partnership to develop the most appropriate model of care for the extension of a haemochromatosis service to the rest of the country.
439. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will abolish the charges for ongoing treatment as inpatients in hospitals on hemochromatosis sufferers, given that the treatment takes less than 25 minutes, the sufferers are not admitted to hospital and, accordingly, they should be treated as outpatients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42741/15]
View answer440. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is charged as an inpatient every time the person receives a venesection, despite the procedure taking less than 30 minutes and not requiring a doctor. [42751/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 440 together.
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. As provided for by the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations (S.I. No. 543 of 2008), the current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €75 per night, subject to a maximum of €750 in any twelve consecutive months.
These Regulations also underpin charges for persons admitted to hospital as a day case, i.e. the public in-patient charge also applies to in-patient day cases. On this basis, where venesection is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies.
442. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will review an application for a discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42766/15]
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.
443. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with persons (details supplied) to discuss a family matter. [42781/15]
View answer449. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if there will be accountability for the events that led to an incident in a hospital (details supplied). [42818/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 449 together.
At the outset I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the family involved in this case. The Deputy will appreciate that I have a limited role in individual cases and do not have access to individual patient files or personal information. I am informed that the HSE and the Coombe Hospital have been in contact with this family on an on-going basis over a number of years and has apologised to them for the death of their child 23 years ago.
I understand that, in 2012, the Coombe Hospital initiated a systems review to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of this infant in 1992.
This review, which was undertaken in line with HSE Incident Management Policy and Guidelines, concluded that there were deficiencies in care, which contributed to the child’s death.
It is important that we learn from these adverse incidents, as the single most important obligation for any health service is patient safety and improving the quality of care. That is why this Government is committed to improving the quality and safety of Ireland’s maternity services.
A National Women’s and Infant Health Programme will be established by the HSE to drive improvement and standardise care across all 19 maternity units. The Maternity Strategy currently under development will provide the policy to direct and underpin the work of the programme. Developing the strategy will help us identify how we can improve the quality and safety of care provided to pregnant women and their babies. There was also an additional €2 million provided to the HSE in 2015, to improve maternity services. This funding provided for the appointment of additional staff including obstetricians, midwives and other staff.
We will build on these improvements through the provision of further additional resources for maternity services in 2016, the detail of which will be set out in the HSE’s National Service Plan.
I have previously written to the family of this child expressing my sincerest condolences. However, as you can appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene on an individual case.
444. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, given that this application is with a deciding officer for the past three weeks and no decision has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42784/15]
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.
445. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if Crosscare has indicated to the Health Service Executive that it requires another agency to take over the delivery of the meals-on-wheels services in Dublin south inner city on its behalf, as a permanent measure. [42785/15]
View answer446. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he has an alternative to the current temporary providers of meals-on-wheels in Dublin south inner city; when the Health Service Executive is going to establish a permanent provider of meals-on-wheels in this area. [42786/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 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.
447. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health when an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be carried out; if he is aware of delays in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42803/15]
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.
448. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be re-instated for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16. [42812/15]
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.
450. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42830/15]
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.
451. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) to expedite a very urgent appointment in a hospital, given that the urgency of this case requires him to directly intervene and not to send it to the Health Service Executive for a response, and given the performance of the executive on this matter to date. [42835/15]
View answerSection 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 specifically precludes me from directing the HSE to prioritise a treatment for any individual. In these circumstances, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot intervene on the lines suggested.
I should also draw the Deputy's attention to the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014. This policy sets out the processes that hospitals are required to implement in order to manage waiting lists. The policy seeks 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.
452. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 417 of 29 September 2015, regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and the reply issued by the Health Service Executive dated 19 October 2015, if he is aware that the person was given the contract for employment as chef grade 1 in the knowledge of the executive that the person was short by two months to qualify under the regulations; how can the executive now break the contract with the person given that it was agreed before a witness and with the executive having full knowledge of the circumstances of the case; if the executive will now confirm the person in the position as chef grade 1 and avoid an unnecessary human resources dispute involving an employee who has an excellent work record with the executive for over 35 years; if he will also note that replies from the executive do not issue in 15 days. [42845/15]
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.
453. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 10 November 2015, if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath, and if, given the exceptional circumstances, he will grant additional special needs assistant hours to allow this person to attend pre-school on a full-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42849/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. While certain flexibilities had been built in to the Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures children and young people's policy framework contained a commitment to develop a plan to facilitate the full participation of such children in the ECCE Programme. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has lead responsibility for the implementation of this commitment and has concluded an intensive process of deliberation and consultation on the matter in conjunction with the Departments of Health and Education and Skills and has brought forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme.
As part of Budget 2016, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced the necessary funding to implement the new model of ECCE supports for children with a disability. The new model will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention. Funding of €15m has been provided to phase these supports in during 2016. Full year costs for these supports are estimated to be €33m from 2017 onwards. This model of supports was launched on 18th November last by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with my full support and the support of my Government colleague Jan O'Sullivan T.D., Minister for Education and Skills.
Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Building on additional investment in recent years, funding of €8m is being provided to the HSE in 2016 to expand, inter alia, the provision of Speech and Language Therapy in primary care and the further development of early intervention therapy services under the Progressing Disabilities Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability in mainstream pre-school settings as part of the rollout of the new inclusive preschools model.
It should be noted that while the Health Service Executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the ECCE scheme, it has, to date, worked at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability service providers to address individual needs as they arise. This has been done, for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited cases at local level, disability services have also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing assistant supports where possible and where resources are available. The provision of such pre-school assistant supports should not be confused with Special Needs Assistants who are funded by the Department of Education and Skills to support children with special educational needs in primary and post-primary school settings.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the individual case he has raised. 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.
454. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he has responded to CORU on the first part in the two-part consultation process, which is required under section 4(2) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, regarding the regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors. [42855/15]
View answerPsychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, by regulation, designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is appropriate and in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.
In accordance with the Act, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council has been consulted on the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists. Its detailed report on the matter is being examined carefully in my Department with a view to deciding the next steps in the coming months. These steps will, I envisage, include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies involved and other interested parties.
455. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide sufficient funding to facilitate persons with scoliosis who are categorised by their consultants as urgent cases needing immediate surgery; if he will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has already suffered irreparable damage due to the inordinate delay in having this operation carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42862/15]
View answerThe Government is clear that long waiting times for scoliosis surgery both in Crumlin and in Galway are unacceptable. As Minister for Health, I am determined that these waiting times are to be addressed as a priority, with the focus on additional resources and capacity.
Scoliosis in children and young people is predominantly managed at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. Additional funding was allocated in 2015 for additional consultant posts including two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. Capital funding has also been provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further.
In the interim, patients from Crumlin are being transferred to other hospitals where capacity is available and where that is clinically appropriate. These include Temple Street, Cappagh, Tallaght and the Blackrock Clinic. External capacity has also been identified at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore in the UK.
These measures in total have more than doubled capacity for this surgery for patients on the Crumlin waiting list in 2015.
Additional consultant orthopaedic surgeons have also been appointed at Galway University Hospital to support the spinal service there. In the short term, Galway is planning to assign five dedicated beds to support this service and when the new ward block at Galway is completed, this will increase to eight dedicated beds.
The HSE is continuing to work with the Children’s Hospital Group, Saolta Hospital Group and the individual hospitals to identify all options to increase capacity further to improve access times for surgery.
As the specific issues raised are 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.
456. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the details of the agreement and arrangement between Letterkenny University Hospital in County Donegal, the Health Service Executive and the private clinic in Ballykelly in County Derry in relation to public patients from County Donegal accessing health care and services at Ballykelly, especially in relation to magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scans and computed tomography, CT, scans. [42865/15]
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.
