Thursday, 14 Apr 2016

National Children's Hospital Status

Questions (575)

Jack Chambers

Question:

575. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health when building will commence on the new children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6968/16]

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Written answers

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The new hospital will be co-located with St James's Hospital, and ultimately tri-located with the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, which will re-locate to the campus in due course. In addition to the main hospital, the project includes two satellite centres at the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals.

On 10 August 2015 the NPHDB submitted a planning application for the new hospital and satellite centres to An Bord Pleanála.

The oral hearing process began on 30 November and heard submissions from key stakeholders and interested parties, before concluding on 15 December. An Bord Pleanála will consider all of the evidence presented and I look forward to the planning decision which is expected in the coming weeks.

Subject to planning, work is scheduled to commence on site in the summer of 2016.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (576)

Jack Chambers

Question:

576. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the considerations he has given to access for ambulances at the new maternity hospital to be built at the site of Connolly Blanchardstown Hospital in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6969/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Co-locating maternity hospitals on the sites of acute hospitals is in line with international best practice, and helps ensure that mothers have immediate access to a full range of medical and support services, should the need for such services arise.

In 2015, following a review, I accepted the recommendation of my Department to relocate the Rotunda Hospital to the Connolly Hospital campus. One of the issues considered during the review was ambulance access and the campus was found to be suitable to host a maternity hospital, including from an access point of view. However, the project is still in the very early stages and further consideration will be necessary across a range of issues as the project develops. The Deputy may wish to note that the Rotunda has established a Clinical Vision and Scope Working Group to scope out the design requirements for the new hospital.

Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions

Questions (577)

Jack Chambers

Question:

577. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health to establish a working group to investigate claims of sexual harassment of junior female doctors in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6970/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I 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 on the matter with them.

Hospital Food

Questions (578)

Jack Chambers

Question:

578. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if vending machines in hospitals contravene a healthy food initiative; if he will increase the cost of goods sold in vending machines in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6971/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Questions (579)

Jack Chambers

Question:

579. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health to include tuberculosis under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6972/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.

Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.

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.

Hospitals Discharges

Questions (580)

Jack Chambers

Question:

580. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the details of all delayed discharge patients who no longer need to be in hospital but who do not have appropriate accommodation and so must remain in hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6973/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (581)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

581. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's policy on the use of ArtAssist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6974/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.

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.

Disability Support Services

Questions (582)

Robert Troy

Question:

582. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the schemes and supports in place for young adults with a disability when they reach 18 years of age and finish in the education system, by location, and by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6987/16]

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Written answers

Minister for 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 Staff Recruitment

Questions (583)

John McGuinness

Question:

583. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of the staffing requirement for all grades and professionals relative to the new building at Saint Luke's General Hospital, County Kilkenny; if the full complement of staff is now recruited to enable all services to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6993/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Health Services

Questions (584)

John McGuinness

Question:

584. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the full range of services urgently required by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be provided, the reason for the delay, especially with regard to psychology services; if there is a waiting list; if so, his plans to deal with same; if he will provide the full professional assistance required by the person during school hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6996/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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 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.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Questions (585)

Robert Troy

Question:

585. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to expedite a date for surgery for a person (details supplied). [7013/16]

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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 HSE, 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 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.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Questions (586)

Robert Troy

Question:

586. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to expedite a date for surgery for a person (details supplied). [7014/16]

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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 HSE, 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 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.

Respite Care Services Provision

Questions (587)

Brendan Smith

Question:

587. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his proposals to increase the number of respite beds in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (588, 589, 615)

Brendan Smith

Question:

588. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposal to upgrade accommodation at a care centre (details supplied) in County Cavan; the number of beds operational in that centre at present; the number that will be operational after the upgrading works have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7022/16]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

589. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of a proposal to upgrade accommodation at a centre (details supplied) in County Cavan; the number of beds operational in that centre at present; the number that will be operational after the upgrading works have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7023/16]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

615. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the full complement of beds will be in use at a centre (details supplied), when additional staff will be recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7234/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 588, 589 and 615 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.

Question No. 589 answered with Question No. 588.