Tuesday, 26 Jan 2016

Written Answers Nos. 318-334

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (318)

Niall Collins

Question:

318. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health to assist in arranging an urgent appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [2809/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Hospital Staff

Questions (319)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

319. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatrics palliative care consultants employed by the Health Service Executive; the number of similar consultants employed for the treatment of adults; if an additional paediatrics palliative care consultant will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy 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.

Home Care Packages Provision

Questions (320)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

320. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 is being refused additional home care package hours despite being moved into independent living in 2014; his policy on supporting persons with disabilities in independent living; and if it is adequate to provide a person with the same level of home care hours when living with a family as when living independently. [2814/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Nursing Education

Questions (321)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

321. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the degree and training programmes available for those wishing to qualify as palliative care nurses; where such courses are offered and the number of places available, by awarding institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2817/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I would like to advise the Deputy that Post-Graduate Diploma Courses in Palliative Care Nursing are offered by the following educational institutions:

- National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG);

- Trinity College Dublin (TCD);

- University College Cork (UCC);

- University College Dublin (UCD);

- University of Limerick (UL).

In addition, TCD, UCD and UL also provide a Master's Course in Palliative Care Nursing. The requirements for such courses are a matter for the individual educational institutions who also determine the number of places offered in association with the clinical service providers.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (322)

Billy Timmins

Question:

322. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2818/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 directly. If the Deputy not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (323)

Martin Ferris

Question:

323. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will have required surgery carried out at Kerry General Hospital. [2828/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (324)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

324. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the status of surgery for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2831/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (325)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

325. 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. [2834/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (326)

Tom Fleming

Question:

326. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health to expedite a request by a consultant endocrinologist, at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8 for funding for a 640 G insulin pump for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2847/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (327)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

327. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for surgery in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2852/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Health Services

Questions (328)

Jim Daly

Question:

328. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for a reply to be issued to correspondence (details supplied) which was sent to the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2862/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has 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.

Health Services Funding

Questions (329)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

329. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will increase funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2870/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (330)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

330. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2882/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Hospital Complaints Procedures

Questions (331)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

331. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to investigate a case in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2884/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

With regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, entitled “Your Service Your Say”, details of which are on the HSE website, at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/.

In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred.

If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out as follows:

HSE Director of Advocacy, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Tel [phone].

Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. Tel [phone]. Email: [e-mail].

In relation to the specific case raised, 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 please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.

Health Services Provision

Questions (332)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

332. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the length of Health Service Executive waiting lists for dermatology services, by county, by region and countrywide; the number of dermatologists employed by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2887/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I 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 please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter with them.

Health Services Staff

Questions (333)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

333. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a retirement pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I 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 please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter with them.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (334)

James Bannon

Question:

334. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health when an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Longford will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.