Written Answers Nos. 560-573
560. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will make additional resources available to St. Christopher's services, County Longford to ensure that they can reverse a decision of a number of years ago to reduce respite services from seven nights a week to five (details supplied). [34934/16]
View answer561. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will review the level of funding that is made payable to St. Christopher's services, County Longford to take account of the carry over deficit they have and the recent improvements they have made to comply with HIQA inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34935/16]
View answer562. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is fair and equitable that section 38 organisations and the HSE are in a position to pay staff increments, while smaller services such as St. Christopher's in Longford are not in view of the stringent financial position they are in (details supplied); his plans to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34936/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 560 to 562, inclusive, 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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
563. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the volume of calls received by the ambulance service in respect of each division (details supplied) in County Donegal for each month in 2016 to date, in tabular form; the origin of calls made, that is the operational area from which calls were received, and the respective station from which an ambulance was subsequently dispatched in response in each case; if calls were classified as being emergency or non-emergency or intermediate cases in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34942/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
564. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed as ambulance crew by the ambulance service by county, in tabular form; the rate of turnover of personnel across the service, and on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34943/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
565. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of instances whereby intermediate care vehicles have been dispatched in response to emergency calls received by the ambulance service in County Donegal in 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34944/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
566. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will provide details of the HSE procurement process that was undertaken prior to selecting and employing the review team that carried out the recent review of the Roscommon mental health services in view of the issues highlighted in the south of the country regarding a case (details supplied) and the HSE non-adherence to its own procurement policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34945/16]
View answer567. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will provide details of the selection process that was used and who was involved in the selection and employment of the review team who undertook the review of Roscommon mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34946/16]
View answer568. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will explain the reason there has been a deviation from the terms of reference in relation to the length of time it has taken to complete the review of Roscommon mental health services; the cost of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34947/16]
View answer569. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the additional costs that were incurred as a result of the extended period of time allowed for the review of the Roscommon mental health services (details supplied); if these costs will be taken from the budget for existing services; the legal costs and expenses outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34948/16]
View answer570. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the report of the review on Roscommon mental health services will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34949/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 566 to 570, inclusive, together.
As this is a service issue these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
571. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will clarify the review that is being undertaken to deal with matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34950/16]
View answerThe Mental Health Commission is charged with inspecting every approved mental health centre at least once a year and producing a report on this inspection. The Commission has now published its report on the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. It found that this hospital was non-compliant in terms of Individual Care Plans and the administration of medicines.
To deal with these issues, the hospital has convened a multi-disciplinary working group to develop a new Individual Care Plan template and appointed a pharmacist to oversee the administration of medicines.
The report also found that there were issues in relation to the admission of children and the use of seclusion in the hospital.
The hospital has taken the following corrective actions:
- A Policy on the Use of Seclusion has been updated to include provision for the frequency of training and identifies appropriately qualified persons to deliver that training.
- There will be a daily review of seclusion orders by second Consultant Psychiatrist.
- Seclusion training will be provided for all staff.
- All children will be admitted to a single room with 1:1 nursing care.
Having ensured that any immediate safety concerns have been addressed the HSE is now working at all levels within the Mental Health Division on a programme of work to ensure that the services offered in Portlaoise are not only safe, but of the highest possible quality. There is daily and weekly monitoring of this work at regional and national levels respectively. I am satisfied that the hospital concerned is making progress in relation to the issues raised in the reports.
The Department will, however, continue to closely monitor the issues raised in the Mental Health Commission report, in conjunction with the HSE, to ensure that the necessary corrective actions have been taken.
572. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time adult residential care places that were provided in County Wexford in each of the years from 2008 to date in 2016. [34952/16]
View answer573. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of service users that are currently on the waiting list to access full-time adult residential care places in County Wexford. [34953/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 573 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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
