Written Answers Nos. 439-451
439. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason this scheduled operation was cancelled suddenly; if he will ensure this operation is performed without any further delay to prevent further distress for the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34430/16]
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.
In relation to the specific case raised regarding scheduling of this procedure, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
440. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the factors that led to the need for an additional €1 million in funding for Wicklow Hospice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34431/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
441. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the national men's health policy expired in 2013, his plans on presenting a new policy and, if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34445/16]
View answer442. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement the Baker review; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34446/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.
Following publication of the Men's Health Policy (2008-2013), an independent report was commissioned by the HSE under Peter Baker to review the National Policy. Subsequent to this the HSE has developed and completed an Action Plan. The HSE has established a Group under the Health and Wellbeing Programme and is currently progressing its implementation.
443. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to update Healthy Ireland to take account of the Baker review recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34447/16]
View answerHealthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 was approved by Government in February 2013. It sets out a vision and four over-arching goals to improve the health and wellbeing for the entire population of Ireland over the coming generation. Implementation of the Framework over the period to 2025 will take account of emerging evidence, research, international best practice and national policy developments.
I am happy to update the Deputy on current implementation of Healthy Ireland. Key current priorities include:
Implementation of the National Physical Activity Plan
Get Ireland Active – the National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland which was developed in partnership with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and a range of key stakeholders including the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, was launched in January 2016.
Implementation during 2016 is concentrating on development of a communications campaign (led by the Department of Health) and supporting physical education in schools (Department of Education and Skills and PDST) amongst other initiatives.
National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020
The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. The Strategy is being delivered in partnership between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills.
A Clinical Lead for Sexual Health Services has been appointed and a strategy implementation group has been established to deliver the actions and goals of the strategy. A 2017-2020 action plan is currently being developed.
Healthy Ireland Survey
The annual Healthy Ireland Survey was commissioned to enhance data collection and monitoring capacity to track progress in achieving targets to evaluate the success of Healthy Ireland. The first Healthy Ireland Survey Report was published in October 2015, with the report on the second wave published in October 2016. Survey results give an up-to-date picture of the heath of the population.
Data collection for Wave 3 of the study is now underway.
Alignment of Education and Health Services
The Health and Wellbeing Programme and the Department of Education and Skills, in partnership with the HSE and PDST (Professional Development Service for Teachers), are working to strengthening collaboration, streamline and simplify current structures for the promotion of health and wellbeing in schools and to develop a more comprehensive service alignment to support the delivery of SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education) and to extend the Health Promoting Schools initiative more widely in schools.
The Department of Education and Skills has announced the introduction of Wellbeing as a compulsory area of learning (encompassing the subjects SPHE, PE and CSPE) from September 2017 in the new Junior Cycle Framework. A particular focus for the Department of Health and the HSE is to ensure that the health service is fully supporting health and wellbeing in school settings around the country.
Healthy Workplaces Framework
My Department, with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is leading a subgroup to develop a National Healthy Workplace Framework. This work primarily involves development of a framework to encourage and support the development of Health and Wellbeing programmes in all places of employment. The objective is to support employers to develop individual, practical plans identifying how they will protect and promote the physical, mental and social wellbeing of their employees, within the context of their own size, sector, location, number of employees, etc.
In addition, the workplace wellbeing element of the Health and Wellbeing (Calorie posting and workplace wellbeing) Bill which is in development will require all public sector workplaces to have and report on a healthy workplace policy.
'Warmth and Wellbeing' Pilot Project
The Warmth and Wellbeing initiative is a new pilot scheme commencing in 2016, available in Dublin 12 and 24. It aims to establish if the provision of extensive energy efficiency upgrades to homes can have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of the people living in the homes.
The Health and Wellbeing Programme is supporting this project which is being led by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and is a key action in the recently published Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty. The pilot will involve carrying out deep energy efficiency improvements to the homes of people with living with Asthma or COPD and who are in receipt of the fuel allowances and measuring the benefits to health and wellbeing.
Healthy Cities and Counties
Building on the work of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, my Department and the National Healthy Cities and Counties Network of Ireland are working to develop a structure and provide supports to implement Healthy Ireland at local level. The Network aims to encourage best practice in promoting lifelong health, provide a forum through which local issues can influence national policy, and provide a voice for Ireland within the WHO Network of European Healthy Cities.
Work in 2016 focused on raising awareness and encouraging counties to join. The Network will be officially launched on 29 November 2016; five counties (Cork, Galway, Waterford, Mayo and South Dublin) will receive accreditation at the event and be named Healthy Counties.
Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework
The development of the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework is nearing completion and a first version is due for publication in 2016. The Outcomes Framework will provide evidence to support an objective assessment of the impacts of Healthy Ireland and to help partners in wider government and society to prioritise their actions towards improving health and wellbeing.
444. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of new nursing staff recruited in each hospital (details supplied) this year to the end of October 2016, in tabular form; the number of nursing staff that left each hospital this year to the end of October 2016; the total number of nursing staff in each hospital in July 2016; and the net increase and decrease in nursing staff in each hospital this year to the end of October 2016 [34451/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
445. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the numbers waiting for orthodontic treatment at the end of September 2016, based on local health office and area and indicating the numbers of those aged 16 years and under and those aged more than 16 years, in tabular form. [34453/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
446. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will cover the costs of an MRI scan for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is unable to afford the private fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34458/16]
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 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.
447. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the start date in 2017 that he plans for the provision of medical cards to all children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; his views on the lack of clarity for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/16]
View answer448. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the required legislation to provide medical cards to all children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; if it will be introduced before the end of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34462/16]
View answer449. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide projected individual monthly costs for 2017 and allocated numbers of cards for the provision of medical cards to all children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance used for the purposes of his Department's budgetary planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34464/16]
View answer540. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when his Department intends to meet its commitment to ensure that, in cases where domiciliary care allowance is being paid, children have the right to an automatic medical card; when this will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34802/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447 to 449, inclusive, and 540 together.
I will be bringing a Memorandum to Government very shortly seeking permission for the preparation of the legislation to give effect to this measure. This new legislation will effectively mean that all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will automatically qualify for a medical card and, therefore, no longer be subject to the medical cards means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. It is my objective to have this legislation prepared and brought before the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. In addition to the preparation of the legislation, I have asked the HSE, so that the proposal can be implemented in a smooth and efficient manner, to commence the process of planning for the requirements of the scheme and how the cards will issue.
It is estimated that approximately 9,000 children in respect of whom a DCA payment is currently being made are not in receipt of a medical card. The full year cost of providing these children, and the additional children expected to qualify for a DCA payment by end 2017, with a medical card is approximately €16m. The cost which will be incurred on a monthly basis will ultimately depend on the number of children encompassed by the measure whose parents or guardians apply for a medical card, as well as the profile of service usage they incur. The 2017 Budget allocation for the measure is €10m and it is my intention that medical cards for these children will be provided as early as is possible, commensurate with the funding which has been allocated by the Oireachtas.
450. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre for Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34469/16]
View answerAs this 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.
451. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of additional home help hours additional to those provided in the previous month that have been provided on a county by county basis in each month since June 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34471/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
