Written Answers Nos. 186 - 197
186. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the alternative avenues of funding applicable to a residential home (details supplied), apart from the national lottery grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15229/16]
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.
187. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if the recently announced freeze on new home care packages for the elderly affect those supported by home care packages who need increased hours of home care support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15246/16]
View answer188. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health when the recently announced freeze on new home care packages for the elderly will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15247/16]
View answer189. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if he considered the impact on the independence of the elderly prior to the recent decision to freeze new home care packages for the elderly; the rationale for continuing the freeze given this impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15248/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 189, inclusive, together.
In 2016, the Health Service Executive has a core provision of €324m for home support. An additional €20m has been allocated, on a once-off basis, to maintain the increase in service levels during 2015 to 10.4 million home help hours, 15,450 home care packages, 130 intensive home care packages and 313 transitional care beds.
There has been no reduction in 2016 of the resources available for the provision of home care services. The HSE has advised that home supports will be provided in accordance with the Service Plan and is profiling its activity to best reflect the pattern of demand that is expected to arise across the course of the year. The HSE’s objective for Q1 2016, in line with the Winter Planning for ED Taskforce, was to target home care to have as much impact as possible on delayed discharges.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to increasing funding for home care packages and home help year on year. I am pleased to say that yesterday’s announcement, by my colleague the Minister for Health, of the Government’s approval of a revised estimate for the Department of Health of €500m will include increased resources for home care services.
190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding stroke services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15254/16]
View answerThe National Clinical Programme for Stroke (NCPS) commenced in 2010. The vision is to design standardised models of integrated care pathways for the delivery of clinical care to embed sustained quality clinical operational management. Overall, the NCPS aims to improve quality, access and cost-effectiveness of stroke services.
The findings of the National Stroke Audit 2015 provide a snapshot of the acute stroke service. The audit’s purpose was to assess current practice against both national and international guidelines. Twenty-seven sites participated in both the organisational and clinical audit, with each of the participating sites managing at least 20 new patients with stroke per annum.
In relation to the Deputy's query regarding University Hospital Kerry, 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.
193. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding nursing homes (details supplied). [15265/16]
View answer195. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if it is appropriate for health service managers to relocate nursing home residents against their will and without the consent of their families. [15291/16]
View answer196. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the extent to which health service managers take into account the impact on the health of nursing home residents when they are being transferred to other residential units without their consent. [15292/16]
View answer197. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if health service managers are planning to have single gender residential units. [15293/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 195 to 197, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people and disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions 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.
194. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is not having their contract, which is set to expire in three weeks, renewed; if a replacement consultant is being appointed, and if the hospital can cope with the loss of such a specialised consultant. [15277/16]
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.
