Michael Healy-Rae
Question:533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34754/16]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (533)
Written 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (534)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:534. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34755/16]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (535)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:535. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34756/16]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (536)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:536. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34757/16]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (537)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:537. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied). [34758/16]
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.
Home Care Packages Provision
Questions (538)
Declan Breathnach
Question:538. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will restore a home care package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34759/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (539)
Gerry Adams
Question:539. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the significant issues and subsequent delays in providing the BCG vaccine; when the last round of the BCG vaccinations were given to children; his plans to have the vaccine remain as part of the childhood immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34801/16]
View answerWritten answers
There is currently a worldwide shortage of BCG vaccine. In 2015 the United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF) estimated a worldwide shortage of 65 million doses of BCG. The vaccine has not been available in Ireland since the end of April 2015. The manufacturer has had difficulties in the production of the BCG vaccine. The manufacturer has informed the HSE there will be no supply of BCG until 2017. Consequently, BCG vaccination clinics in HSE Clinics and Maternity hospitals have been postponed until new stock arrives.
There is only one licensed supplier of BCG vaccine to Ireland and to other countries within the EU. Since this problem became apparent, the HSE National Immunisation Office has been in regular contact with the manufacturer of BCG vaccine to ascertain when the vaccine might be available. The HSE has also asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which licenses and regulates all human medicines in Ireland, to source an alternate supplier of the BCG vaccine. Efforts have been made to find a company who can provide the vaccine for use in Ireland which satisfies all the HPRA requirements on safety and efficacy. To date no suitable alternative BCG product has been found. Therefore the HSE has been unable to procure the BCG vaccine from any other source and still awaits the product from the HPRA licensed supplier of the vaccine.
The supplier has indicated that supplies of the vaccine are not expected to be delivered into Ireland until early 2017. When there is confirmation of the date of new supply a decision will be made, guided by the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, on who should be prioritised to receive the vaccine.
Question No. 540 answered with Question No. 447.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (541)
Carol Nolan
Question:541. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will increase funding to an organisation (details supplied) in order to allow it to continue to provide services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34806/16]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Autism Support Services
Questions (542)
Carol Nolan
Question:542. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of the actions undertaken by his Department after a recent meeting with Laois Offaly Families for Autism, LOFFA, in order to address current issues with services for children with autism spectrum disorder in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34808/16]
View answerWritten answers
Minister Flanagan and I met with Jude O'Neill, Head of Social Care from CHO area 8 as well as LOFFA representatives on the 27 October 2016. Jude committed to meeting with LOFFA representatives at the earliest opportunity to discuss in detail the concerns raised. The meeting is scheduled to take place on 16 November 2016 in Tullamore.
Following the meeting, it is intended to put in place an action plan that will resolve all outstanding issues.
Emergency Services Provision
Questions (543)
Carol Nolan
Question:543. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has conducted an impact assessment of the decision to remove accident and emergency provision in Nenagh hospital; if his Department plans to review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34809/16]
View answerWritten answers
There are no plans to reopen the Emergency Department (ED) at Nenagh Hospital.
The Smaller Hospitals Framework, published in 2013, defines the role of Ireland’s smaller hospitals. It outlines the need for smaller hospitals and larger hospitals to work together within hospital groups; the reorganisation of hospitals into more efficient and accountable hospital groups will ensure that all hospitals play a vital role in service delivery. The Deputy can be assured that I am strongly committed to developing the role of smaller hospitals so that they play a key role in the provision of services to local communities.
Nenagh Hospital is a constituent hospital in the University of Limerick Hospitals Group. In that context, the Nenagh Local Injury Unit provides care to patients with minor injuries and plays a significant role to divert patients from the ED in University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The Deputy will be aware that a new larger ED is under development at UHL. I can confirm that increased funding will be available to the UL Hospitals Group in 2017 to facilitate the opening of this new ED. The detail of the additional funding will be set out in the National Service Plan 2017 which will be finalised shortly.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (544)
Carol Nolan
Question:544. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the spend on agency staff at Nenagh hospital over each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34810/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Psychological Assessments Waiting Times
Questions (545)
Carol Nolan
Question:545. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for assessments and appointments with child psychologists in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34811/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Psychological Assessments Waiting Times
Questions (546)
Carol Nolan
Question:546. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children that are currently waiting an appointment with a child psychologist in counties Tipperary, Laois and Offaly respectively; the number of these that have been waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34812/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.