Written Answers Nos. 300-314
300. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health how he will ensure that bed capacity and staffing levels at a community hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal will be maintained; if he will alter or reduce either of these resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3979/16]
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.
303. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the extent of ambulance cover currently in operation in south County Donegal, including the average response times in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3982/16]
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.
304. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a full-time permanent consultant urologist has been appointed to Letterkenny University Hospital in County Donegal following the resignation of the former consultant urologist in 2015; the length of time that this post has been vacant; the current status of urology services at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3983/16]
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.
305. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on private rented accommodation and properties, including all administrative and clinical facilities, as part of operations at Letterkenny University Hospital in County Donegal and the rents paid by the hospital, by property and by landlord, in each of the years since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3984/16]
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.
306. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed additional nursing home beds for Drogheda and Ardee, County Louth, as announced in local media on 25 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3988/16]
View answer307. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the 26 long-stay beds in Drogheda, County Louth, as announced in the media, will be opened; if additional resources have been allocated for additional staffing for these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3989/16]
View answer308. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if the 30 nursing home beds in Ardee, County Louth, as announced by the media, have been opened; if these beds are to be utilised as long-stay beds or for respite purposes; if additional resources have been allocated for additional staffing for these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3990/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 306 to 308, inclusive, 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.
309. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new 100-bed unit in the grounds of St. Mary's Hospital on the Dublin Road in Drogheda, County Louth; what stage the design plans are at; if the appointed project group progressed this proposal; what funding has been ring-fenced for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3991/16]
View answerThe capital investment programme for community nursing homes which I and Minister Leo Varadkar recently announced includes St. Mary's Drogheda which it is proposed to complete by 2020. The HSE is continuing its work on scheduling and developing all projects. No further information in relation to specific centres is available at this stage.
310. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of beds available under the fair deal scheme, by county, from 2011 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3992/16]
View answer311. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting approval, the number approved but awaiting funding, and the expected waiting time for a person from the date of application to the approval date for funding under the nursing home support scheme in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 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.
312. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed discharges at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth; and the action he is taking to reduce this number. [3994/16]
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.
313. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the progress of the interdepartmental agency working group set up following the report reviewing the fair deal scheme which was published on 20 July 2015; the meetings that have taken place to date; if he will provide or publish an interim report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3995/16]
View answerThe Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group set up to progress the recommendations contained in the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme has held two meetings to date. The Working Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE and the Revenue Commissioners. The Group will submit a first annual report on progress to the Cabinet Committee on Health in June 2016.
314. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the regulations regarding the provision of sanitary wear, special nappies, and so on, for children under three years of age who have a digestive tract illness that necessitates frequent nappy changes; and which Government agency is responsible for the management of assistance. [3998/16]
View answerThe Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 sets out statutory procedures governing the supply, reimbursement and pricing of medicines and other items to patients under the GMS and community drug schemes. There is no specific regulation that addresses the provision of sanitary wear and special nappies for children under three years of age who have a digestive tract illness that necessitates frequent nappy changes.
Under 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.
