Written Answers Nos. 144-149
144. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to support St. Joseph's Association for the Intellectually Disabled in Portrane, County Dublin, in its campaign against the chronic shortage of nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3367/16]
View answerThere is an international nursing and medical manpower shortage, leading to difficulties in recruiting nurses, doctors and consultants. This difficulty is being experienced by other English speaking countries including the UK, Australia, and Canada. Notwithstanding this, the HSE Census returns for the end of November 2015 show that we have over 880 more nurses employed in the public health services than a year ago.
Recruitment of additional nurses is the subject of considerable ongoing activity by the HSE and voluntary hospitals. Recruitment campaigns are underway in Ireland and abroad. This includes recent and ongoing national and local interviewing of General Nurses, Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Registered Children's Nurses and Midwives.
A number of measures have been put in place to support recruitment of nurses from abroad. In 2015 the HSE initiated a targeted international recruitment drive. This focused initially on Irish trained nurses who left for the UK during the moratorium and has now been expanded to countries further afield. It also facilitated seven adaptation programmes and made 405 places available to the nursing home sector for overseas nurses. Further adaptation courses are being provided in 2016 for nurses who are required to complete a course prior to registration. The NMBI have approved, on a pilot basis until June 2016, a new aptitude test with the RCSI as an alternative method to assess candidates for registration. Nurses are currently being advised of the availability of this test. The first theory test for 22 people took place on the 5 December 2015 with the practice tests on the 12/13 December and repeats on the 7 January 2016. All candidates were successful between the 2 practical tests. Further tests are planned by RCSI in January, February and March, with 67 prospective nurses having expressed an interest in taking the test.
Consideration of pay rates for fourth year student nurses undertaking the 36 week clinical placement and whether the placement should attract incremental credit was provided for in a Chairman's Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement. In the context of supporting recruitment and retention, the Department of Health and the HSE with the relevant nursing unions considered these issues at the Workplace Relations Commission on 14 December, 2015. Following further engagement between the relevant parties, a Joint Document encompassing proposals on the rate of pay for the placement and on granting incremental credit for the placement was finalised on 23 December. The Joint Document was submitted to my Department for consideration. Any changes to the rate of pay and the treatment of the placement as regards incremental credit will also be subject to the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
All of the measures mentioned above will facilitate the recruitment and retention of nursing staff at all grades and disciplines within the Irish health service.
145. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters (details supplied) regarding the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3368/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country continue to have access to GP services. It is imperative that services meet patients' needs and standards for general practice service provision and in that context that existing GP services are retained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly qualified GPs. The HSE, the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation are currently engaged in a review of the General Medical Services contract and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs. This review is taking place within the context of the Framework Agreement which was signed by the above named parties in June 2014 and the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in February 2015. Among the many topics comprehended by this review process is the issue of supports for General Practice to ensure retention of doctors in remote rural and deprived urban areas.
The number of consultants has grown significantly in recent years to 2,725 WTEs. This includes an increase of 330 in the last five years, notwithstanding the economic crisis, and the Government is committed to further growth. The number of NCHDs has also increased significantly in recent years, by over a 1,000 since March 2011, and now exceeds 5,500. This increase will help to address service needs and also progression of EWTD compliance, thereby improving the working conditions of doctors.
The ability of the HSE and the health service to attract and retain high quality frontline staff shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. The MacCraith Group, established in 2013 to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures, made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and planning for future needs. The implementation of the Group's recommendations is being actively pursued and monitored. On foot of the Group's recommendation on new entrant consultants pay, improved rates incorporating incremental credit for relevant experience and qualifications have been agreed and are being implemented.
According to the most recent figures on waiting lists published at www.ntpf.ie, the waiting list for IP/DC Dermatology patients is 501 with 15 patients waiting over 1 year. For outpatients 29,504 are waiting for an appointment, with 3,451 (11.6%) waiting over 1 year.
The latest NTPF Waiting List data, published on 8 January 2016, shows that progress has been made to reduce the numbers of patients on waiting lists by end December 2015, with improvements across all waiting list categories. These figures continue to show the positive trend which was seen in November 2015. HSE figures for the end of December 2015 show progress against the 15 months maximum wait. For In-patient and Day Case waiting lists, overall performance equates to 95% achievement of the 15 month maximum permissible wait time. For outpatient waiting lists, overall performance equates to 93% achievement of the 15 month maximum permissible wait time. It should also be noted that a number of patients who have not yet had appointments have been scheduled for treatments or appointments in the coming weeks.
146. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3369/16]
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.
147. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to support a matter regarding the provision of a new primary care unit (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3370/16]
View answerThe HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
148. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to support funding for a person (details supplied) with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3379/16]
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.
