Written Answers Nos. 410-429
411. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the status of the review being carried out into gynaecology and ante-natal services at Dungloe Community Hospital; if the review has been initiated and when it is expected to be formally completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18177/16]
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.
412. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health service staff recruited into County Mayo in 2016 to date by month and by number of staff recruited into adult mental health services and child mental health services, in tabular form. [18200/16]
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.
413. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the required staff numbers as per A Vision for Change for County Mayo and the western region for both adult mental health staff and child mental health staff. [18201/16]
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.
414. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant mental health staff posts in both County Mayo and the western region in child mental health services and adult mental health services. [18202/16]
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.
415. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons receiving mental health services in County Mayo and the western region. [18203/16]
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.
416. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if there are children under 18 years of age receiving treatment in adult mental health services. [18204/16]
View answerIt is the policy of the HSE to provide an age appropriate mental health service. A significant majority of young people are now being treated by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team. A total of 29 Child and Adolescent service users have been admitted to adult mental health units up to the end of April this year. There have been some difficulties in recruiting and retaining Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services staff, particularly consultant psychiatrists. Due to these operational staff recruitment and retention challenges at local level, a number of referrals in the 16-18 year age group are dealt with by local Adult Teams under appropriate CAMHS procedures. The Executive is addressing this issue on an on-going basis.
There are 67 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Teams and extra services for special service needs have also been introduced in recent years. The HSE is committed to addressing the service needs of the 16-18 age cohort by expanding the staffing and range of CAMHS team coverage, supported by prioritisation of funding from the additional mental health funding allocation in 2016, as outlined in the HSE Mental Health Operational Plan 2016.
Progress on this issue has been significant overall in recent years, demonstrated by the fact that the number of such admissions in 2008 was 247, reducing to 95 last year. This is despite a background of increasing demands on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services generally. There are a number of reasons why such admissions are made. These include distance from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services facility, timing of admissions, potential medical issues, potential substance misuse, family concerns and the overall safety of the young person, their family and other service users. The HSE monitors this situation closely with a view to limiting inappropriate admissions as much as possible.
417. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the reason for the lack of reports from the National Maternity Hospital and the Rotunda Hospital, given the recommendation by the Health Information and Quality Authority following its investigation of Portlaoise hospital that monthly safety statements be published by each of the maternity hospitals; if he will require all maternity hospitals to publish reports; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18211/16]
View answerAmong the recommendations arising from the Chief Medical Officer's "HSE Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise Perinatal Deaths, Report to the Minister for Health" of February 2014, and the Health Information and Quality Authority's "Report of the investigation into the safety, quality and standards of services provided by the Health Service Executive to patients in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise" of May 2015, was that the HSE put in place arrangements for the publication of a full Maternity Patient Safety Statement (MPSS) for each maternity service. This commenced in December 2015.
The Maternity Patient Safety Statements provide individual institutions with a set of basic measures that can help inform assurances around the safety and quality of maternity services. They are a welcome addition to our patient safety assurance systems and the Department commends the participation of the maternity services in this regard. The Department expects that each individual maternity hospital will make arrangements to publish a full Maternity Patient Safety Statement on their websites and it is my understanding that full reports have been produced by all 19 maternity services for the month of March. Maternity Patient Safety Statements for the month of April are due to be published shortly.
418. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the list of the current conditions covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18228/16]
View answerThe 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.
419. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a subsidised asthma medication for persons under 18 years of age in the absence of asthma being recognised under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18229/16]
View answerAs you are aware, asthma is not one of the 16 conditions covered under the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, or to introduce a separate scheme providing subsidised asthma medication.
However, under the Drugs 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 Health Service Executive (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.
420. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of adults being funded by the Health Service Executive in 2015 to receive specialist care in facilities outside the State; if he will provide details in respect of each of those adults on the type of care being provided (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18246/16]
View answerThe HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
421. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the average cost of the kilometerage reimbursement scheme incurred in respect of employees of the Health Service Executive in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form. [18248/16]
View answerI 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.
422. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the status of a charge general practitioners impose on regular blood tests in respect of patients who are suffering from a long-term illness and who are registered under the medical card scheme; if it is standard practice to impose a charge of €20 on each blood test; and if he is aware of the case of persons (details supplied) where the general practitioners imposed a charge of €30. [18250/16]
View answerPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
In relation to the specific case mentioned, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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.
423. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of applications with the Health Service Executive for an assessment of need under the Disability Act; the number it has not completed within the six-month period; and the average expected waiting time from the receipt of an application to the completion of the assessment. [18252/16]
View answerThe 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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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 up the matter with the HSE.
424. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his efforts to make medical appliances such as FreeStyle Libre and insulin pumps more affordable and available for persons with type 1 diabetes in order to facilitate greater management of the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18257/16]
View answerInsulin pump therapy to children under 5 years of age with type 1 diabetes is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Children get access to insulin pumps at national regional pump centres. The centres were developed as a result of greater efficiencies achieved with the purchase of insulin pumps. I have arranged for the Deputy's question on such medical appliances to be referred to the HSE 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.
425. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the lack of an organised service for stroke or mini-stroke patients at University Hospital Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18308/16]
View answerWhile there is no dedicated stroke unit at University Hospital Kerry stroke patients can receive treatment within the hospital. As the establishment of a dedicated stroke unit in the hospital is an operational 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.
426. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health why local Health Service Executive officials have not met with persons (details supplied) since September 2015 despite stating publicly that they would be willing to do so; if he will order an independent review into the handling of this case; if members of HSE senior management will meet with the family concerned as a matter of urgency to discuss the concerns in relation to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18309/16]
View answer427. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health why the recommendations from the disabilities appeals office have not been implemented in the case of a person (details supplied); if he will ensure that these recommendations are implemented as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18310/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together.
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.
428. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of an article (details supplied) written by a doctor in St. James's Hospital in Dublin 8 outlining serious concerns over the proposed locating of the National Children's Hospital at the St. James's campus; and if he will address these concerns. [18318/16]
View answerThe Government decision to co-locate the new children's hospital with St James's was announced on 6 November 2012. Satellite centres of the hospital, providing urgent and outpatient care, are to be built on the campuses of Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals. The decision was clinically led, and was made in the best interests of children, with clinical considerations paramount in the decision. As announced in June 2015, the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital will relocate to the campus in time, achieving tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services. Tri-location has benefits for children, adolescents, newborns and mothers. In all cases, the benefits of tri-location are maximised where the adult hospital provides the broadest possible range of clinical sub-specialties and expertise, which are readily accessible for paediatric and maternity patients on the shared campus. St James’s Hospital has the broadest range of national specialties of all acute hospitals, as well as strong and well established research and education infrastructure, making it the hospital that best meets the criteria to be the adult co-location partner.
The primary concerns about the location raised in the article referred to by the Deputy are access by car and by helicopter. I can reassure the Deputy that these issues have been carefully addressed in the design and plans for this hospital. The design has recognised the need of most parents to access the hospital by car and ample parking has been provided for families based on current and projected future demand, with three times the current available parking at the existing three children’s hospitals in Dublin. The elevated helipad proposed for the new children's hospital will have direct and rapid access to the Critical Care, Theatre and Emergency Departments within the hospital and has been designed in close consultation with the Air Corps and Department of Defence which provides the Emergency Aeromedical Service.
Over the three and a half years since the Government decided on the location for this hospital, extensive work has been completed including preparation of a design brief, procurement of a design team, design development including consultation with patients, families and staff and submission of a planning application. The decision of An Bord Pleanála on April 28 last to grant planning permission for the hospital, satellite centres and related buildings is a huge and very welcome milestone for the project. I am delighted that the first phase of construction can now commence.
429. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when additional beds at Kenmare Community Hospital, County Kerry, will be opened (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18325/16]
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.
