Written Answers Nos. 314-328
314. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a case (details supplied) where a person was placed on a public waiting list for a tonsillectomy operation and after a two-year wait was transferred to a private waiting list in November 2015; if the matter will be investigated and arrangements made for this operation to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8330/16]
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.
315. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is awaiting an appointment for an ultrasound will receive confirmation of a date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8333/16]
View answerUnder 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
316. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the level of funding for mental health services in the Louth-Meath area, being €104 per head of population, which is below the national average of €152 per head of population; the Health Service Executive's funding plans in the period 2016 to 2018 to bring Louth-Meath services up to the national average of €152; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8339/16]
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.
317. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the policies and programmes on prevention and education relating to drugs and alcohol for young persons; if there is dedicated staff in his Department and the Health Service Executive on this matter; and if there have been evaluations of these programmes. [8356/16]
View answerThe overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. Periodic reviews of progress across the five pillars of the Strategy are carried out through the Oversight Forum on Drugs, which is chaired by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. The 2015 progress report on the National Drugs Strategy was recently posted on my Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.
Prevention and Education programmes constitute a significant part of the Government's response to the drug problem, particularly among young persons. Substance use education in schools is provided in the context of Social Personal and Health Education. The Department of Education and Skills's Inspectorate continues to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of substance use policies in schools through the whole-school evaluation process and the inspectorate system. Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces operate a range of education and prevention programmes, which aim to promote healthier lifestyle choices among young people and other vulnerable groups at risk of problem drug use. In addition, young people at risk of drug misuse can access diversionary programmes, facilities and services and family support.
There are dedicated staff in my Department and in the Health Service Executive working on social inclusion, health and wellbeing and drugs policy and services. The HSE has appointed a Policy Priority National Lead for Alcohol, who is responsible for developing a new resource on Alcohol Misuse for Senior Cycle students. Responding to Excessive Alcohol Consumption at Third-level (REACT) project, which is currently underway, aims to develop a National Accreditation and Award System for 3rd level institutions, recognising and rewarding an institution’s efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm among its students. This programme involves collaboration between my Department, the HSE, the Union of Students of Ireland and the Irish Student Health Association. The HSE also funds a number of voluntary agencies that work in the area of reduction of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm among young people.
Finally, my Department has commenced work on the development of a new Strategy for the period after 2016. This process will involve a comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the public on the current national drugs policy and future priorities. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been set up to oversee the development of the new Strategy and focus groups are being established to advise the Committee on priorities for the next Strategy in relation to supply reduction, continuum of care, education and prevention and evidence and best practice.
318. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health in relation to the Magdalen ex gratia scheme, if the recommended reimbursement guidelines for United States of America residents were approved by the Minister for State, Deputy Lynch, in December 2015; and the number of women availing of the guidelines. [8358/16]
View answerThe Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015, inter alia, provided for a range of primary and community health services to be made available to Magdalen women by the HSE without charge in Ireland. In connection with Magdalen woman living abroad, the Minister for Primary Care, Social Care (Disabilities & Older People) and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch, in December 2015 approved a set of recommended reimbursement arrangements to be put in place by the HSE for health and social services abroad.
The Minister requested that the HSE put the administrative arrangements in place based on those recommended guidelines and the HSE has advised that it will revert when the necessary arrangements are put in place. Given the circumstances, I understand that the HSE intends to deal with each case on an individual basis.
319. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if there is a target or preferred length of time for persons who are due to leave hospital and are availing of home care packages to return home upon discharge; and the number of persons who exceed these targets and remain in hospital, by length of time and by hospital, in tabular form. [8362/16]
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.
320. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse cutbacks put in place regarding chiropody for elderly persons over 65 years of age; if he is aware that these cutbacks to three appointments per annum are not sufficient for many persons who suffer with diabetes and arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8363/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been 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.
321. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment can be scheduled for a person (details supplied). [8364/16]
View answerUnder 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he aware of the case of a person (details provided) who is currently a patient in University Hospital Waterford; the action the hospital is taking to ensure that their treatment is delivered as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8369/16]
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.
323. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department, the Health Service Executive and University Hospital Waterford are taking to deliver 24-7 emergency cardiac cover at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8370/16]
View answerIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, 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.
324. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if radiology posts at University Hospital Waterford have been filled; if the temporary limit on GP X-ray referrals has been lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8371/16]
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.
325. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the capital funding which has been allocated to University Hospital Waterford in 2016; the future capital funding for the hospital which has been agreed; the purpose for the capital funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/16]
View answer326. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the State funding provided to University Hospital from 2007 to 2015 and to date in 2016; if he will provide a breakdown in terms of capital and revenue spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8373/16]
View answer327. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the moneys spent by University Hospital Waterford on agency staff for the years 2011 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8374/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 327, inclusive, together.
With regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
328. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health his views on the six-bed children's respite facility provided to the Health Service Executive in Lordship, County Louth, by a charity (details supplied); if he will clarify with the director general of the Health Service Executive the funding plans in place for 2016 to 2018, inclusive, to open the additional two beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8381/16]
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.
