Written Answers Nos. 232 - 245
232. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if reductions in community care supports will be restored due to the fact that the Health Service Executive has claimed that such reductions are negatively impacting on delayed discharge from Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20197/16]
View answerThe HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016 provides for a target of 10.4 million Home Help Hours to support about 47,800 people. It also provides for 15,450 Home Care Packages and 130 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs. A further 60 clients with dementia will be supported with co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
Home support services across the country are being stretched by demands from more people, and for more hours at times outside of core hours, in the evenings and at weekends, all of which cost more. Activity in the first quarter of 2016 was ahead of the same period last year as efforts continued to alleviate pressure on the acute hospital system.
I am delighted that the Government has been able to respond to this demand by providing an extra €40 million for home care in 2016. This will ensure that the home support services provided in 2015 are maintained and that the rate of service allocation can be maintained during the summer months. €10 million of this money has been ring fenced for home care as part of the new winter initiative. The targets for 2016 will be reviewed in light of these additional resources.
234. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health to outline the services available in County Louth for persons with spinal cord injuries; the community rehabilitation provision that exists in County Louth; the rehabilitation service that exist here for persons with spinal cord injuries who are on ventilation treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20199/16]
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.
With regard to Neuro-rehabilitation services, the Programme for Partnership Government places a particular focus on publishing a plan for advancing Neuro-rehabilitation services in the community. Currently a steering group led by the Health Service Executive Social Care Division has drafted an implementation framework for the National Policy & Strategy for Neuro-rehabilitation services, which will guide and oversee the reconfiguration and development of Neuro-rehabilitation structures and services at national and local level.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
235. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/16]
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 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.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if respite care will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20203/16]
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 (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, the Deputy can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
237. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health to set down the number of persons diagnosed with sarcoma here on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20207/16]
View answer238. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health to set down the number of sarcoma specialists employed in the health service here; his plans to extend this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20208/16]
View answer239. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health to explain the way in which sarcoma services in St. Vincent's University Hospital are funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20209/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 239, inclusive, together.
Approximately 220 cases of sarcoma are diagnosed in Ireland every year. These include bone and soft tissue sarcomas.
Sarcoma can occur in many parts of the body and so it is treated by a variety of medical professionals, across surgery, medical oncology and radiation oncology services. Thus, many consultants and other medical personnel are involved in the treatment of patients with sarcoma, but none are working specifically as designated sarcoma specialists. It is intended to increase, in line with available resources, the number of consultant medical oncologists working in the eight designated cancer centres to meet demand.
Funding for the sarcoma service in St. Vincent's University Hospital comes from the general budget allocation for the hospital.
240. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for equipment from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20213/16]
View answerAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. 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.
241. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health to outline the provisions available for persons under 65 years of age to access a home care package in the case of exceptional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20219/16]
View answer242. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health to outline the supports that exist for persons with locked in syndrome or related conditions; the way in which the care of such persons at home is managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20220/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 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.
In the 2016 National Service Plan, the Health Service Executive's (HSE's) priority is to protect the level of services provided in 2015 and to provide 1.3 million hours of Personal Assistant services and 2.6 million hours of Home Support to over 2,000 adults with a disability.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
243. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health to outline his views on the reason the national recruitment service national social worker professionally qualified panel removed a person (details supplied) from the panel because the person turned down a position because of an inability to take it up at that particular time for personal reasons; and if the person can now be reinstated to the panel. [20221/16]
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.
244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20229/16]
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 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.
245. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to relocate the regional orthodontic unit, located at University Hospital Waterford; if this is linked with the potential development of a second catheterisation laboratory; if the relocation of the orthodontic unit is necessary for the construction of the second catheterisation laboratory; the timeframes for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20236/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Programme for a Partnership Government, an independent clinical review of the need for a second cardiac catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford is underway and is expected to be concluded shortly. No decisions will be made pending the finalisation of that review.
