Written Answers Nos. 453-465
454. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the Health Service Executive's review of orthodontic services; the number of tenders received by the executive; the number of contracts that will be awarded; and when successful applicants will be notified. [46122/15]
View answerA national procurement process is currently underway to provide treatment for certain categories of misalignment by a panel of independent practitioners under contract to the HSE over the next three years, with consideration of an extension to four years. This initiative will especially focus on those waiting for four years or longer. Tenders are currently being evaluated and contracts will be awarded in the coming weeks. As this tender process is still ongoing, the HSE can make no further comment at this time.
455. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of home care hours for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [46143/15]
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.
456. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Killkenny; and the action he will take to address this matter. [46149/15]
View answerAs 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.
457. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a 24-7 catherisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford. [46159/15]
View answerServices at the Regional Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (cath lab) at University Hospital Waterford are led by three Consultant Interventional Cardiologists and their teams. This service is developing in line with best practice and the national clinical programme for acute coronary care.
The cath lab in UHW performs approximately 40 invasive cardiovascular procedures each week and offers a comprehensive range of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic services. This includes the insertion of stents, pacemakers and implantable defibrillators.
Primary PCI is undertaken with STEMI heart attacks which are about 20% of all heart attacks. It is done in a cath lab by an experienced cardiologist. The cath lab in UHW is open five days a week from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Patients who require Primary PCI outside these hours are transferred to Cork University Hospital or to a Dublin hospital. However it is important to note that 24 hour, 7 day a week consultant medical cover for cardiac patients is provided in UHW.
I am aware that UHW is committed to the progressive extension of the current PPCI service. However, the reality is that any extension to the service will require significant investment, both capital and revenue. 24 hour emergency PPCI cover requires, as a minimum, two cath labs on site. It also requires a minimum of 6 interventional cardiologists. As for any complex acute hospital service, a key criterion for deciding whether a 24 hour PPCI service should be provided, is whether there is sufficient volume of appropriate patient activity to ensure the safe provision of the service. Without sufficient volume of service, staff will not be in a position to maintain their skills and in those circumstances, it will not be possible to provide a safe service.
Funding for new developments is limited and it is of critical importance that the available funds are targeted appropriately. UHW is a constituent hospital of the South South West Hospital Group. The priority to be afforded to the expansion of the PPCI service in Waterford must first be considered from a hospital group perspective and in relation to the planning for the cardiology needs of the Group population. The development must then be considered in a national context, and in the light of competing demands for scarce resources.
This proposal remains to be considered and prioritised by the HSE. In this regard, 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.
458. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a palliative care centre at University Hospital Waterford. [46160/15]
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.
459. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and medical professionals employed at University Hospital Waterford. [46161/15]
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.
460. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre in Dungarvan in County Waterford. [46162/15]
View answerThe Dungarvan Primary Care Centre 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.
461. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the protocols and guidelines in place to govern the admittance into a residential psychiatric facility for voluntary and for involuntary patients; if the ability of a family to care for a loved one with mental health problems is taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46184/15]
View answerThe Mental Health Act 2001 sets out the procedures and safeguards regarding the admission and treatment of persons to approved centres particularly insofar as involuntary patients are concerned. It also seeks to protect the rights of everyone using the mental health services.
Details relating to the admittance of persons to residential psychiatric facilities are set out in the Mental Health Commission’s ‘Code of Practice on Admission, Transfer and Discharge to and from an Approved Centre’. This code of practice requires that residents should be actively involved in the admission process and in the development of individual care and treatment plans. The code also states that the resident’s family/carer and/or chosen advocate should be involved in the admission process and in the development of the care and treatment plan with the resident’s consent. Where the resident has no advocate, one can be made available.
In addition, the National Standards for Mental Health Services are set out in another Mental Health Commission document ‘Quality Framework Mental Health Services in Ireland’. Theme six of this framework relates to ‘Family/chosen advocate involvement and support’ and goes on to state that families/chosen advocate should receive information about what services are available, how they work and how to access them, especially in a crisis. Families/chosen advocates should also receive support from the mental health team through an assigned member of staff. The level of support required is provided based on identified need.
Following the publication of an Expert Group review of the Mental Health Act 2001, a major reform of current mental health legislation is underway to reflect the recommendations of the Expert Group. A number of the recommendations of the Expert Group will further strengthen and enhance the protections of both voluntary and involuntary patients for the admittance to residential psychiatric facilities as well as increasing the powers of the Mental Health Commission to make standards in respect of all mental health services. In addition, the Expert Group recommended that the revised legislation should proactively encourage and support patients to involve family and/or carers in the admission process and in the development of care and treatment plans with the patient's consent. The Group also recommended that all relevant professional bodies involved in mental health care should ensure their codes of practice guidelines for practitioners reflect the need to involve families and/or carers in the development of care and treatment plans with the patient's consent.
462. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the decision by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council not to accept applications for paramedic employment posts from paramedics who have successfully completed the international paramedic programme through the Emergency Services Training Institute in conjunction with Crowder College of Missouri in the United States of America; if he is aware that paramedics trained on this programme can apply for posts in the British National Health Service; if he will ensure that such qualified personnel are not denied the opportunity to work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46201/15]
View answerThe Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent national certification and registration body for emergency medical technicians in Ireland, including paramedics and advanced paramedics.
PHECC provides recognition of training institutions for provision of specific training courses. It may also provide recognition of professional qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care obtained from institutions other than recognised institutions, at a level of competence determined by the Council.
PHECC has appropriate procedures for considering recognition of qualifications other than from approved institutions. Any individual wishing to register as a paramedic in Ireland should therefore contact PHECC in the first instance.
463. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when funding will be allocated for the refurbishment of a nursing home (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/15]
View answerI recently announced an additional €200 million capital allocation for refurbishment or replacement of social care facilities for older persons to allow such facilities to comply with relevant National Standards by 2021. The HSE is formulating its plans for the application of this funding, and once these plans are ready they will be discussed in detail with the Health Information and Quality Authority. The HSE will also support relevant voluntary providers with which it has service level agreements in submitting individual plans. In advance of that process it is not possible to comment on any individual facility.
465. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health why a child (details supplied) in County Kildare is the only child in a class who is not able to access occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, given the clear demonstrated need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46216/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE 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.
