Written Answers Nos. 192-206
192. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when a new theatre at Crumlin hospital will be fully open to deal with operations urgently required by persons with scoliosis; and the reason scoliosis patients have had their appointments cancelled and have been informed that it will be a further 12 months before the appointment is rescheduled. [36701/16]
View answerThe new orthopaedic theatre in Crumlin will provide for additional scoliosis activity in 2017 dependent on the recruitment of additional theatre nurses. While the hospital continues to recruit nursing staff successfully, balancing this with attrition rates, maternity leave and sick leave continues to present a challenge. However, the Children’s Hospital Group is exhausting every recruitment and retention avenue available to it, including international recruitment, and is proactively working on nurse recruitment to support the opening of the new theatre.
Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address service pressures, with most recently additional funding of €2 million provided under the HSE winter initiative specifically for scoliosis patients. The Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery are achieved. I recently met with a number of scoliosis advocacy groups to discuss their concerns, following which the Children’s Hospital Group has begun a process of engagement with the advocacy groups on developing a partnership approach with the hospitals and consultants to the design and planning of services for children with scoliosis.
193. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to solve the parking issues that will occur if the plans for the site for the new children's hospital goes ahead at the St. James's site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36704/16]
View answerAs approved by an Bord Pleanála, the plans for the new children's hospital provide for 1,000 car parking spaces, of which 675 will be dedicated for use by families, three times the number currently available at the three Dublin children's hospitals combined. Parents will be able to reserve their space ahead of arriving at the hospital.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital has confirmed that this level of parking provision will facilitate 100% car parking provision for inpatient, daycase and emergency attendances, and 65 car parking provision for outpatient attendances. The car parking stock and appointment schedules will be actively managed to ensure that all patients wishing to avail of parking will be facilitated. In addition, a condition of the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála is that a minimum of 20 spaces be marked and designated as 'parent and child' spaces and reserved for parents of children with specific needs (equipment etc.) and there will also be 27 specific car parking spaces provided for emergency drop-off parking.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
194. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a replacement scheme for the motorised transport grant; when this will be available; the assistance his Department will provide to persons in the short term who require such conversions carried out to vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36712/16]
View answerConscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013. The Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments which support choice and independence. In that regard, monthly payments of €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Programme for Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. I can confirm that work on the policy proposals in this regard is at an advanced stage and I anticipate that this will be brought to Government shortly.
The proposals seek to ensure that there is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation; there is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme; resources are targeted at those with greatest needs; and the Scheme is capable of being costed and is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
As for other supports provided for transport for people with disabilities, the Revenue Commissioners operate a tax relief scheme for the purchase of adapted vehicles for drivers and passengers with disabilities. This scheme, which falls under the remit of the Minister for Finance, provides relief from Value Added Tax and Vehicle Registration Tax up to a certain limit, on the purchase of an adapted care for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. It provides for payment of a fuel grant, an exemption from motor tax and an exemption from toll bridge charges. Further details regarding this scheme are available at www.revenue.ie.
195. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list for each local authority area in tabular form; the number waiting less than four months; the number waiting four to 12 months; and the number waiting more than 12 months. [36726/16]
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.
196. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on the speech and language therapy treatment waiting list for each local authority area in tabular form; the number waiting less than four months; the number waiting four to12 months; and the number waiting more than 12 months. [36727/16]
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.
197. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a piece of medical equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36728/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
198. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding mental health nurses working in the sector wishing to transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36729/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
199. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be immediately admitted to have a procedure carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36741/16]
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.
200. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be provided with an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36742/16]
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.
201. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure required by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36743/16]
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.
202. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position of vaccination contracts for general practitioners here (details supplied). [36756/16]
View answerI can confirm that parents of all babies born on, or after 1 October 2016, will be able to have their children vaccinated by their family doctor against Meningococcal B (Men B) and Rotavirus as part of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme (PCIP) from 1 December next. This follows consultation under the Framework Agreement between the Irish Medical Organisation, the Department of Health and the HSE.
Budget 2016 included additional funding for the introduction of these vaccines to the PCIP. Earlier this year the HSE National Immunisation Office commenced arrangements for simultaneous introduction of both vaccines. The HSE has been working with GPs and other health professions for a number of months to prepare for the introduction of the new vaccines. This work has included providing training to over 3,000 vaccinators, distributing vaccines to GP practices, and the providing information on the new vaccines to parents and professionals. The first doses of these vaccines are given at two months of age, which means that the first babies are due to begin receiving these vaccines from the beginning of December.
Finally, I encourage the parents to protect their children’s health by ensuring they receive all of their vaccines, including Men B and Rotavirus, administered under the PCIP.
203. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the procedures and protocols in place when making service level agreements in the health services; if it is the director general of the Health Service Executive, HSE, that directly signs off on such expenditure or if it is another official; and if so, the details of same. [36757/16]
View answerAs set out in the HSE's Code of Governance (October 2015) the HSE has a Governance Framework in place which incorporates national standardised documentation, and guidance documents, that enables it to contractually underpin the grant-funding to service providers for the provision of health and personal social care on its behalf. This Framework seeks to ensure the standard and consistent application of good governance principles, which are robust and effective, to ensure that both the HSE and the providers of services meet their respective obligations. Both the Governance documentation and the operating procedures of the HSE detail the requirements for performance review, including submission and review of financial statements and periodic performance review meetings with the providers on a proportionate basis. The Governance Framework is reviewed and updated as required.
In relation to whether it is the Director General or another official who signs off on service level agreements, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36758/16]
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.
205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36769/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
206. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to alleviate the traffic accessibility problems that are a cause for concern if the site for the new children's hospital goes ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36770/16]
View answerThe campus at St. James’s hospital benefits from a full suite of transport options including private car, national rail, LUAS, bus, bicycle, pedestrian and taxi. Notwithstanding the public transport accessibility of the site, the need of most parents to access the hospital by car is recognised, and ample parking has been provided for families based on current and projected future demand.
The planning application to build the new children’s hospital on the St. James’s Campus included a traffic management and traffic mobility plan for the construction and operational phase which was endorsed by the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council. A 10-day oral hearing took place in December 2015 in which traffic evidence was presented in detail and allowed for cross questioning by those who had concerns. Planning permission was granted in April 2016 without change to the proposed traffic and mobility plan.
An Bord Pleanála's inspector's report, which includes assessment and recommendations in relation to traffic impact at construction and operational stages, can be found at http://www.pleanala.ie/documents/reports/PA0/RPA0043.pdf
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
