Brendan Griffin
Question:216. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20415/16]
View answerAlcohol Sales Legislation
Questions (216)
Written answers
The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill remains a priority for this Government. The Bill is part of a suite of measures agreed on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. The Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and the introduction of the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas on 8 December 2015. The Bill completed Second Stage in the Seanad on 17 December 2015 and I expect that it will commence Committee Stage early in the next term.
Autism Support Services
Questions (217)
David Cullinane
Question:217. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the impending disbandment of the specialist, cross-functional autism spectrum disorder team in Waterford city; the reasons behind this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20416/16]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly 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 up the matter with the HSE.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Questions (218)
Róisín Shortall
Question:218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a situation where persons who are in nursing homes under the nursing homes support scheme, fair deal, are being charged additional flat social charges beyond the agreed contribution, regardless of their means as assessed as part of the contribution; his views on the impact that this has on families and persons with already limited means; if he will act to ensure that persons are not charged unfairly beyond the contribution they are already making as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20418/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
- Laundry service.
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, e.g. social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). An operator should not seek payment from residents for items which are covered by the NHSS, the medical card or any other existing scheme.
Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.
Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns about additional charges should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaints procedure of the private nursing home concerned.
The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, published in July 2015, looked at the issue of additional costs in private nursing homes and made the following recommendations:
- Nursing homes should have a published fee schedule showing all the costs associated with being a resident.
- Consideration should be given to introducing a new provision under the scheme to prohibit the levying of additional charges for any service or facility from which residents can not readily opt out without penalty while remaining as residents of that facility, or in which they cannot participate because of their level of dependency.
- Consideration should be given to including in the price contracts with facilities, details of what additional charges are proposed, of the opt-out arrangements that exist for residents and confirmation that residents will not be charged for extra services that they cannot participate in because of their dependency or lack of capacity.
An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. A specific date has not been set for the Group to conclude its work, but it is in the process of reporting on its progress to date to the Cabinet Committee on Health. This will be done shortly, in line with the Committee's own scheduling requirements.
Health Services
Questions (219)
Brendan Griffin
Question:219. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details provided); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/16]
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.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (220)
Darragh O'Brien
Question:220. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health why there are no primary care psychology services for children in north County Dublin and why no child has been seen by Swords Mater child and adolescent mental health services from the routine waiting list in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20422/16]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (221)
Thomas Byrne
Question:221. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of proposals by the Health Service Executive to relocate administrative positions based in Kells, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20425/16]
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 (222)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [20160/16]
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.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Questions (223)
Catherine Murphy
Question:223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current funding to the Nursing and Midwifery Board; the current staff complement; the proportion by which each category has changed over the past five years; his plans to provide additional resources to assist the board in tackling the large backlog of registration applications; the numbers of applications in the current backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20173/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is a self funding independent body with the responsibility to ensure that it has the financial capacity to undertake all its legal obligations. The NMBI's income from 2012 to 2016 is as set out below and is funded largely by the annual retention fee:
- 2012: 6.9m;
- 2013: 6.7m;
- 2014: 8.7m;
- 2015: 8.3m (estimate);
- 2016: 8.8m (estimate).
On 28 May 2015, the Minister for Health approved the proposal for the provision of interim funding for the NMBI through a process undertaken as part of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. It was agreed to maintain the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) of nurses at €100 for the duration of the Agreement (2015-2018). Maintaining the ARF at €100 rather than the required €150 leaves a significant shortfall in the budget of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). This shortfall has implications for the full implementation of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (NMA 2011). The Department of Health agreed to provide appropriate capital funding while working with the Board to ensure its financial plans are realistic and cost effective. The Department also undertook to provide, if required, upfront Exchequer funding of developmental costs, once properly justified and validated, until the expiry of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The funding from the Exchequer is therefore contingent on the Board implementing a cost containment plan agreed with the Department of Health.
The number of staff in the NMBI currently stands at 51.3 WTE (comprising 22.6 permanent; 11.7 contract and 17 agency). Since end July 2015, the Department has sanctioned the filling of 25 posts, the majority of which are existing posts that became vacant when staff left the organisation. The information in relation to the staff changes over the last 5 years is an operational matter and as such, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred that aspect of the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
With regard to registration, there were 1,947 open cases on 31 May 2016. In this regard, many of the applications received are incomplete whereby documents remain outstanding and therefore the matter cannot be progressed to review/assessment stage until these are received. In addition, many applicants do not fully complete their application form fully therefore leading to delays in progressing an application through the system.
Summary details regarding number of nurse/midwife registrations is provided in the following table.
|
Date |
Received |
Registered |
Adaptation/assessment/aptitude decisions issued |
files closed |
|
2015 |
2534 |
1039 |
625 |
1494 |
|
1/1/16– 31/5/16 |
1650 |
593 |
681 |
244 |
Please note that the Board has taken a decision to close files in respect of applicants who did not submit the required documentation within one year – this period was reduced to a six month timeframe for applications submitted on or after 1st March 2016.
The NMBI fully recognises the challenges being experienced by health service employers in the public and the private sector and NMBI is meeting and liaising with employers to address the registration issues. NMBI is also liaising with a large number of recruitment agencies on a daily and weekly basis to support the recruitment and registration process. Senior NMBI staff are also endeavouring to explore the best ways of improving the efficiency of the existing process, whilst still maintaining the standards of education and professional competence required to enable registration. A new streamlined application form and information booklet was also launched earlier this year.
Various measures including enhanced website functionality, additional staff appointments and ongoing process improvement work by NMBI staff is assisting in making headway in the management of the increasing volumes of applications received by NMBI to facilitate new nurses and midwives entering the Irish health system as quickly as possible without compromising standards. At the end of 2015, the timeframe for assessment of applications once all required documentation had been submitted was 90 days. As of 31st May 2016, this had been reduced to 45 days.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Questions (224)
Catherine Murphy
Question:224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times for processing registration applications at the Nursing and Midwifery Board, in weeks; the representations he has received about tackling the delays which exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20174/16]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to advise the Deputy that I and my predecessor, Leo Varadkar have received 86 representations in relation to nurse registration issues in 2015 and 13 representations to date in 2016.
Officials of my Department have contacted the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) in relation to the Deputy's Question. The response from the NMBI is set out below.
Once all relevant documentation on a nurse or midwife's application is received the file is assessed by the NMBI. At the end of 2015, the timeframe for assessment of applications once all required documentation had been submitted was a maximum of 90 days. As of 31 May 2016, this had been reduced to a maximum of 45 days. Currently, there are no EU applications awaiting assessment.
It should be noted that most applicants from non-EU countries are not eligible for direct registration with the NMBI as their education programmes do not meet NMBI requirements and standards for such programmes. The usual outcome for such applications is a ‘decision letter’. This specifies that the applicant must successfully complete an Aptitude Test or a period of Adaptation and Assessment as a prerequisite to registration. Once an applicant get the decision letter, he/she must apply for the Aptitude Test or the period of Adaptation and Assessment. Once successfully completed, they then progress to registration by the NMBI.
The NMBI fully recognises the challenges being experienced by health service employers in the public and the private sector. The NMBI is meeting and liaising with employers on a regular basis to address the registration issues. The NMBI is also liaising with a large number of recruitment agencies on a daily and weekly basis to support the recruitment and registration process. Feedback from recruitment agencies in recent months has been very positive and recognises the improvements that have been made by NMBI. Senior NMBI staff are also endeavouring to explore the best ways of improving the efficiency of the existing process, whilst still maintaining the standards of education and professional competence required to enable registration. A new streamlined application form and information booklet was also launched earlier this year.
Various measures including enhanced website functionality, additional staff appointments and ongoing process improvement work by NMBI staff is assisting in making headway in the management of the increasing volumes of applications received by NMBI to facilitate new nurses and midwives entering the Irish health system as quickly as possible without compromising standards.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (225)
Seán Crowe
Question:225. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to relocate the south Kildare child and adolescent mental health services team from Athy to Kildare town; when this move is expected to be finalised; if there any impediments to the move; if so, his plans to address them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20188/16]
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.
Mental Health Services Data
Questions (226)
Seán Crowe
Question:226. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of admissions, by town, to the south Kildare child and adolescent mental health services. [20189/16]
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.
Accident and Emergency Departments
Questions (227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 233)
Lisa Chambers
Question:227. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the 20% increase in the number of persons presenting at the emergency department of Mayo University Hospital in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20192/16]
View answerLisa Chambers
Question:228. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Health Service Executive has confirmed that attendance at Mayo University Hospital emergency department is almost double what the facility was built to deal with (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20193/16]
View answerLisa Chambers
Question:229. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to resolve the problems at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20194/16]
View answerLisa Chambers
Question:230. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made by the Health Service Executive to reduce the pressure at Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20195/16]
View answerLisa Chambers
Question:231. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the factors the Health Service Executive management has claimed are contributing to the overcrowding at Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20196/16]
View answerLisa Chambers
Question:233. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans for both the present and future of Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 231, inclusive, and 233 together.
Pressures on EDs have been rising, as the population is both growing and ageing. ED attendances have been significantly higher this year, particularly in the peak winter period of Quarter 1. To date, the HSE has reported an average increase in ED attendances of nearly 6% compared with the same period last year.
However, overall this year so far, we have seen a decrease of just over 7% in the number of patients who have had to wait on a trolley, in comparison with the same period in 2015.
While ED attendances at Mayo University Hospital have been almost 10% higher year to date, we have seen a decrease of approximately 8% in the number of patients waiting on trolleys, in comparison with the same period in 2015.
Patient experience times at end May 2016 show that nationally 71% of patients complete their episode of care in ED within 6 hours and 85% within 9 hours of registration. In this regard Mayo University Hospital is performing better than average with 75% within 6 hours and 91% within 9 Hours.
The ED at Mayo Hospital was originally designed for 20,000 presentations per year; however, in 2015, Mayo saw 35,515 people. The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to progress a new ED facility for University Hospital Galway, which will reduce pressure on EDs across the Saolta Group, including at Mayo University Hospital.
In January of this year the Primary Care Centre in Castlebar commenced participation in the Primary Care Ultrasound Project, which will increase access to diagnostic facilities in the Mayo region, and reduce pressure on Mayo University Hospital.
Several national initiatives such as: the ongoing work of the ED Taskforce and SDU; the 2016-2018 Winter Initiative, the national review of bed capacity; and the review of the hours of service of Medical Assessment Units, are intended to alleviate ED pressures at all hospitals, including Mayo.