Written Answers Nos. 142-160
142. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting, the average waiting time and the number of persons who have waited in excess of the Health Service Executive's 13-week target for endoscopy and colonoscopy diagnostic testing and services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda in County Louth; the staffing levels for the provision of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44449/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
143. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times and the number of persons who have waited in excess of the Health Service Executive's 13-week target for diagnostic testing, such as endoscopies and colonoscopies; and the staffing level for providing these services by region and hospital group in tabular form. [44450/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
144. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the details of the gastrointestinal endoscopy initiative, which includes colonoscopies undertaken by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, including when this commenced, the consultation that took place and with whom, the number of persons who were identified as waiting over 12 months, the number who have now been treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44451/15]
View answerThe NTPF has recently commenced a GI Endoscopy Initiative which it aims to complete before the end of the year. The Initiative will target those waiting over 12 months now or before the end of December 2015 for a routine endoscope. While these patients are largely confined to a small number of hospitals, the Initiative aims to offer an external appointment to all patients waiting more than 12 months.
The NTPF initiative commenced on 30 September 2015 after consultation with the HSE and Department of Health to facilitate the treatment of patients waiting more than 12 months for a Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy or Proctoscopy procedure. A total of 2,652 patients were identified in this category. At 3 December 2015 a total of 558 patients remain to be treated.
The HSE has in place a weekly monitoring system to ensure all patients referred for an urgent colonoscopy are seen within a 28 day target time. A policy of zero tolerance applies to any breaches.
From its 2015 allocation, an amount of €1.1m has been identified by the National Treatment Purchase Fund Board to facilitate the treatment, in private hospitals, of public patients listed as waiting for more than 12 months for a gastroscopy, colonoscopy or proctoscopy procedure.
The following private hospitals have agreed to participate in this initiative:
Aut Even
Barringtons
Blackrock Clinic
Bon Secours
Clane Hospital
Galway Clinic
Hermitage
Mater Private
North West Independent Hospital
St. Francis
Whitfield Clinic
3Fivetwo Healthcare
145. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to recent media reports (details supplied) the measures he will take to ensure parity of access for persons without private health insurance awaiting tests to detect bowel cancer to ensure the strict Health Service Executive target of no person waiting more than 13 weeks for what is a vital diagnostic test is met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44452/15]
View answerIt is important to be note that the HSE has in place a weekly monitoring system to ensure all patients referred for an urgent colonoscopy are seen within a 28 day target time. A policy of zero tolerance applies to any breaches.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund Board has recently commenced a GI Endoscopy Initiative, approved by the Department, which aims to complete before the end of the year. The initiative is targeting those waiting over 12 months now or before the end of December 2015 for a routine endoscope. While these waiters are largely confined to a smaller number of hospitals, the initiative aims to offer an external appointment to all patients waiting more than 12 months for a routine Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy or Proctoscopy procedure.
My Department will continue to monitor HSE performance against the national targets for urgent and routine scopes.
146. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels of radiographers and gastroenterologists and the vacancies in endoscopy services by region and hospital group. [44453/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
147. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital expenditure on primary care centres and convalescent facilities for 2016. [44464/15]
View answerFollowing the announcement in late September of the health capital envelope of €3,061 million for the multi-annual period 2016-2021, the HSE has recently submitted its draft Capital Plan. This Plan requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, in advance of the approval process it is not possible to indicate the estimated capital expenditure on primary care and convalescent facilities for 2016.
148. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health why a decision has been taken to refuse access to respite care for users of a service from other regions who have in the past used the service; his views on the case of a person (details supplied) from County Cork who previously accessed the Cheshire home service in Newbridge in County Kildare but who has now been refused access. [44474/15]
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 he 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.
149. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise funding for phase 2 of the current developments at St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44494/15]
View answerSt Luke’s Hospital (SLH) Kilkenny has had a major €21m capital investment recently resulting in the development of the Susie Long Day Services Unit, Emergency Department /Acute Medical Assessment Unit, Hepatology Dept, Oncology Unit, Concourse and Education and Library Centre. The new development provides SLH with much needed additional capacity and will support the hospital in meeting the needs of Carlow, Kilkenny and surrounding counties.
Any future capital development in SLH must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, and also within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs. Proposed developments must also be considered in the context of the establishment of hospital groups. 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.
In relation to the specific query on phase two of the current development at SLH, I have asked HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
150. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health how the funding of €16.9 million, €8.9 million revenue and €8 million capital provided in July 2015 to support acute hospitals over the winter period was allocated by hospital group and by individual hospital. [44498/15]
View answerAdditional funding of €16.9m (€8.9m revenue and €8m capital) was provided in July to support acute hospitals over the winter period. This ‘winter capacity’ funding is being applied to a range of initiatives including additional bed capacity. In preparation for the 2015/16 winter period, hospital groups have provided comprehensive winter resilience plans to the HSE, outlining how they will implement an integrated approach across primary, community, social and acute services to manage winter pressures. This approach is intended both to avoid unnecessary admissions to acute hospitals and to expedite discharges from hospital efficiently.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with details of the allocation of the €16.9m. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
151. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health how the so-called winter capacity funding to support acute hospitals has been used to date; the initiatives that were funded by hospital group and by individual hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44499/15]
View answerLast December I convened the ED Taskforce to assist in dealing with the challenges presented by ED overcrowding. Significant progress has been made to date on the ED Taskforce Plan implementation.
Additional funding of €16.9m (€8.9m revenue and €8m capital) was provided in July to support acute hospitals over the winter period. This ‘winter capacity’ funding is being applied to a range of initiatives including additional bed capacity. In preparation for the 2015/16 winter period, hospital groups have provided comprehensive winter resilience plans to the HSE, outlining how they will implement an integrated approach across primary, community, social and acute services to manage winter pressures. This approach is intended both to avoid unnecessary admissions to acute hospitals and to expedite discharges from hospital efficiently.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
152. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 26 November 2015, the locations of the 135 hospital beds which were closed for refurbishment or for infection control purposes during 2015 to date; where the 91 re-opened beds are located; if hospitals will be allocated additional staffing resources to manage patient care in these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44500/15]
View answerAs of October 2015, a total of 154 hospital beds were closed for refurbishment or for infection control purposes. 91 of these beds had reopened by 30 November and the HSE has confirmed that a total of 111 beds had been reopened by 4 Dec 2015. Further detail on the location of these beds is provided in the following table:
|
- |
Beds Closed |
Beds Open on |
Beds Open on |
|
Hospital |
Oct-15 |
30/11/2015 |
04/12/2015 |
|
Galway |
17 |
0 |
0 |
|
Beaumont |
33 |
6 |
21 |
|
UL |
29 |
23 |
23 |
|
Naas |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
St James's |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Tullamore |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
St. John’s |
20 |
12 |
12 |
|
Cork UH |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
Total |
154 |
91 |
111 |
153. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 26 November 2015, the locations of the 301 beds which are due to be added to support the acute hospital system over the winter period; the progress that has been made across the locations noted as being identified, including Limerick, Drogheda, Galway and north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44501/15]
View answerAdditional funding of €16.9m (€8.9m revenue and €8m capital) was provided in July to support acute hospitals over the winter period. This ‘winter capacity’ funding is being applied to a range of initiatives including additional bed capacity. In preparation for the 2015/16 winter period, hospital groups have provided comprehensive winter resilience plans to the HSE, outlining how they will implement an integrated approach across primary, community, social and acute services to manage winter pressures. This approach is intended both to avoid unnecessary admissions to acute hospitals and to expedite discharges from hospital efficiently.
The HSE has provided details of the location of the 301 winter capacity beds and number of beds open to date, as set out in the following table:
|
Hospital |
Total Proposed July 2015 |
Total No. Beds open on 30/11/15 |
Total No. Beds open on 4/12/15 |
|
RCSI |
44 |
8 |
44 |
|
OLOL Drogheda |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Louth |
12 |
0 |
12 |
|
Connolly |
24 |
0 |
24 |
|
IRELAND EAST |
79 |
25 |
59 |
|
SVUH |
22 |
0 |
22 |
|
Loughlinstown |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
Navan |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
Kilkenny |
12 |
0 |
12 |
|
Wexford |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
Cappagh |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
DUBLIN MIDLANDS |
16 |
12 |
12 |
|
Tallaght |
16 |
12 |
12 |
|
UL |
27 |
22 |
22 |
|
Limerick |
27 |
22 |
22 |
|
SOUTH SOUTH WEST |
48 |
20 |
20 |
|
CUH |
30 |
20 |
20 |
|
St. Mary’s Orthopaedic, Mercy University Hospital |
18 |
0 |
0 |
|
SAOLTA |
59 |
19 |
19 |
|
Merlin Park |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Galway |
30 |
0 |
0 |
|
Letterkenny |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
Portiuncula |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL GROUP |
28 |
0 |
0 |
|
CUH Temple Street |
14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tallaght (Childrens) |
14 |
0 |
0 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
301 |
106 |
176 |
154. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Sláinte cén polasaí atá aige i leith seirbhísí sláinte ar na hoileáin amach ón gcósta; cad atá déanta aige maidir leis an bpolasaí sin a chur i bhfeidhm; cad iad na socruithe atá déanta aige lena chinntiú go mbeidh altra lánaimseartha cónaithe ar Oileán Chléire, Co. Chorcaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44503/15]
View answerIarradh ar Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte (HSE) an t-ábhar seo a scrúdú agus freagra a sholáthar don Teachta a luaithe is féidir. Muna bhfuil freagra ón HSE faighte ag an Teachta laistigh de 15 lá oibre déan teagmháil le do thoil le mo Oifig Phríobháideach agus déanfaidh siadsan fiosrúcháin leo faoin scéal.
155. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the referral of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44505/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
156. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be assisted with care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44506/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
157. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health why lottery funding was refused to an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44513/15]
View answerMy Department received an application for National Lottery funding from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. Applications for National Lottery grants far exceed the resources available. The lottery fund for 2015 has recently been allocated and, unfortunately on this occasion, it was not possible to assist in this particular case. The organisation has been notified of the outcome of its application.
I would encourage this Organisation to apply again in the 2016 round of grants.
158. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44517/15]
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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
159. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) has been informed that there is a two-year waiting time to access the Health Service Executive's support services, by which time the person will be in mainstream school and will fall to the end of the executive's waiting list and will not have access to the vital supports needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44520/15]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy. If she has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
160. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will grant medical cards to the 9,000 children who do not have them but who do qualify for a domiciliary care allowance, given that these children met the qualifying criteria and as such are deemed to have a disability so severe that they require care and attention substantially in excess of other children of the same age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44523/15]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the HSE, unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Where deemed appropriate in particular circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card even though an applicant's means exceed the prescribed threshold. Where a person does not qualify for a medical card, they may be provided with a GP Visit Card, appropriate therapy or other community supports or drugs.
The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) payment is made by the Minister for Social Protection to carers in respect of a child at home under 16 years of age with a severe disability, where it has been determined that the child requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. Eligibility for the DCA is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind necessitating the degree of extra care and attention required. As such it is not possible to say if a particular child or any particular medical condition or disability will qualify for a payment under the DCA scheme.
The Deputy will be aware that the report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility, known as the Keane Report, recommended that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card and that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions for medical card eligibility. Nonetheless, it is clear that there are people – including children - with medical needs and it is important that they should be able to access necessary assistance in a straight forward manner.
Consequently, the Clinical Advisory Group on medical card eligibility was established by the HSE to develop a framework for assessment and measurement of the burden of disease and appropriate operational guidelines for the medical card scheme. However, the Clinical Advisory Group has not recommended that children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance should automatically qualify for a medical card. In advance of the Group completing its work, there are no proposals to issue automatic medical cards to one particular group.
The Government is committed to making the medical card system as responsive as possible to the circumstances of people with significant medical needs. As a result of a range of improvements, the HSE is exercising greater discretion. Consequently, the number of discretionary medical cards has increased by about 84% - from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to nearly 96,000 at the beginning of November this year.
Ultimately, the proper way to address this issue is to develop a system of universal health care, which is at the centre of Government health policy. Otherwise, whenever there are qualifying rules, there will always be a person who is above the means test, does not have the selected disease, or is not in receipt of the specific social welfare payment.
