Michael Healy-Rae
Question:391. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of A Vision for Change (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18076/16]
View answerMental Health Policy
Questions (391)
Written answers
In January 2006, the Government adopted the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy 'A Vision for Change' as the basis for the future development of mental health services in Ireland. It advocated:
- A holistic view of mental illness and an integrated multidisciplinary approach to addressing the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental health problems;
- A move away from traditional institution-based care to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service;
- A person-centred treatment approach which addresses each of these elements through an integrated care plan, reflecting best practice, evolved and agreed with both service users and their carers;
- The aiming of interventions at maximising recovery from mental illness, building on the resources within service users and within their immediate social networks, to allow them to achieve meaningful integration and participation in community life; and
- The organisation, nationally, of mental health services in catchment areas for populations of between 250,000 and 400,000, with specialist expertise provided by community mental health teams – expanded multidisciplinary teams of clinicians who work together to service the needs of service users across the life span.
During the implementation of Vision, there has been a move away from traditional psychiatric institutions, which have mostly been closed. A range of community mental health teams have been developed for adults and children and adolescents. Additional funding provided between 2012 and 2016 has also enabled development of specialised areas of the mental health services, including the area of Forensic Mental Health with work commencing on a new hospital in Portrane this year.
'A Vision for Change' has guided national mental health policy for the past 10 years and its term comes to an end this year. The Department is currently finalising a request for tender for a review and analysis of international evidence and best practice in the development of mental health services, including a review of current delivery of services in Ireland. This review will provide evidence to determine the policy direction for a revision of 'A Vision for Change'. The review will also have regard to both human rights and health and well-being objectives.
Health Services Staff Remuneration
Questions (392)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:392. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the cooks report of 2000 and the suggested pay rise that was never received (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18077/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 the matter with them.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (393)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:393. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the general practitioner service in Rathmore, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18084/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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 the Executive.
Hospital Services
Questions (394)
John Brassil
Question:394. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to expedite an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18089/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Nursing Home Services
Questions (395)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:395. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of regulation of nursing homes run by religious organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18090/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent statutory authority established to drive high quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. Since 2009 all nursing homes whether public or private are registered and inspected by HIQA. This includes a number of nursing homes operated by religious organisations. However, HIQA's remit does not extend to the regulation of residential centres catering for elderly members of religious orders. Under Section 2 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, premises in which the majority of the persons being maintained are members of a religious order or priests of any religion are offered an exemption to registration.
Psychological Services
Questions (396)
James Browne
Question:396. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the chronic waiting lists for child psychology services in County Wexford where there is now a two-year plus waiting list caused mainly by staffing issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18091/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (397)
Joan Collins
Question:397. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health why the required services have not been provided in the case of a person (details supplied). [18097/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with 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 question relates to an individual case, 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 Waiting Lists
Questions (398)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:398. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his immediate plans to deal with the 517 children who are currently waiting up to 18 months to see one of the two existing consultants who cater for the entire country in advance of the publication of the national clinical programme for rheumatology’s recommendation that 3.9 additional paediatric consultants be appointed in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18099/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 Mortality Rates
Questions (399, 450)
Róisín Shortall
Question:399. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking on foot of the findings in his Department's report, National Healthcare Quality Reporting System, in respect of those hospitals that have higher-than-expected death rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18116/16]
View answer
Billy Kelleher
Question:450. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to respond to the second annual report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System; the actions he will take to address the higher-than-normal deaths in certain hospitals; the discussions he has had with the Health Service Executive regarding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18520/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 450 together.
The purpose of the annual National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS) Report is to use easily accessible information to develop a better understanding of whole health system performance. The NHQRS was established to provide a broad overall picture of the quality of our health services. It is intended to demonstrate to individual hospitals and other health service providers the importance of examining their own data in order to improve the services they provide. It must however, be understood that the performance and quality of a service cannot be measured by one indicator alone. This is why the NHQRS presents an analysis of a range of indicators that reflect different parts of the services and allows progress and priorities in the health system to be identified. The NHQRS will help to inform many improvements in service outcomes for patients.
The information will inform my priorities as Minister for Health, it will provide intelligence and information for the 10 Year Plan for Health and I hope the Health Committee will avail of the opportunity to be briefed on this. It will also inform my Department's Statement of Strategy.
The Second annual NHQRS Report was published last Thursday 16th June. It is very encouraging to see improvements in many areas, for example in the areas of immunisation, uptake of cancer screening and survival rates for patients with breast and colorectal cancer which are improving at a rate faster than most other European countries in the OECD. One example of how this information will be used is to ensure that the cancer indicators feed into the new Cancer Strategy currently being drawn up by my Department. Similarly, the figures for stroke patients, indicate over 80% are admitted to hospitals with a designated stroke unit which, again, is to the forefront of other OECD countries.
I recognise that there are areas identified where further room for improvement exists. In particular, considerable variation can be seen between counties in rates of hospitalisation for common chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes and heart failure. Identifying this variation is a first step to addressing the reasons why this variation exists and to improving it. For example, the information on COPD is already informing requirements in Primary Care and the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) COPD Guideline being developed by the HSE Clinical Programme for the management of this disease.
General Register Office
Questions (400)
Jackie Cahill
Question:400. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 6 April 2016, why the position of registrar for births, deaths and marriages at the civil registration department in Thurles, County Tipperary, is now not being filled by the Health Service Executive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18118/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 the matter with them.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (401)
Jackie Cahill
Question:401. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18125/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
Health Services
Questions (402)
Niamh Smyth
Question:402. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); his views on what can be done to make sure persons get seen in primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18126/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Health Services
Questions (403, 410)
Niamh Smyth
Question:403. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); his views on what can be done to make sure persons get seen in primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18131/16]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:410. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); his views on what can be done to make sure persons get seen in primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18175/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 410 together.
As 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (404)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:404. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when he will schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18134/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Suicide Incidence
Questions (405)
Tom Neville
Question:405. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths by suicide in Health Service Executive hospitals and private hospitals for the period 2006 to 2015, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18136/16]
View answerWritten answers
Any deaths that occur within approved centres such as Health Service Executive hospitals and private hospitals are recorded, and approved centres are required to notify the Mental Health Commission of the death of any resident. Along with the overall number of deaths reported, which are published in the Mental Health Commission annual reports, the number of sudden and unexplained deaths is also noted. A ‘sudden and unexplained death’ refers to an unexpected death that may have been a suicide or that has occurred in suspicious circumstances as a result of violence or misadventure on the part of others or from any cause other than natural illness or disease. However, as death by suicide may only be determined by a Coroner’s inquest, it is not possible for the Mental Health Commission to report on how many of the sudden and unexplained deaths reported were due to suicide.
Health Services
Questions (406)
Mick Barry
Question:406. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be offered an appointment at the earliest of opportunity. [18137/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (407)
Tom Neville
Question:407. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if alternative arrangements can be made for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18142/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (408)
Mary Butler
Question:408. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when he will provide an operation for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18150/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Pension Provisions
Questions (409)
Clare Daly
Question:409. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to a parliamentary question to make available a copy of the business case submitted by the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, in regard to the pensions in the CRC pension and death benefits plan when that business case is received by him. [18160/16]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has confirmed that it is still working with the CRC to develop a viable alternative pension arrangement for the employees concerned but that as yet a detailed business case has not been submitted by the CRC. The HSE and the CRC most recently met on Monday 20th June to discuss options to progress this issue.
As I have already indicated, when a detailed proposal is received by my Department it will be examined as a matter of urgency. The HSE has indicated that it expects to receive a detailed business case this week.
I do not intend to make the business case available while it is under consideration by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.