Written Answers Nos. 376 - 397
376. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if WHO ICD classification criteria were adhered to on the death certificates of persons who died of septicaemia in University Hospital Limerick and in particular if the causative microorganism was recorded on the death certificates. [40738/16]
View answer377. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if HIQA has been requested to review the circumstances of deaths from septicaemia in University Hospital Limerick. [40739/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.
From January 2015, Ireland has adopted the Eighth Edition of the ICD (International Classification of Disease)10-AM classification which includes a revised Australian coding standard ACS 0110 for sepsis (A40, A41, A02.1, A22.7, A26.7, A32.7, A42.7, B37.7, T81.42, R65.0), severe sepsis (R65.1) and septic shock (R57.2). This is a new coding system being introduced internationally in relation to sepsis and Ireland is, for the first time, able to systematically track its rates of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. The first annual National Sepsis Outcomes Report for Ireland using this data was launched on December 8 2016. This report is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/sepsis/SEPSIS-REPORTS.PDF.
The implementation of clinical guidelines can improve health outcomes for patients, reduce variation in practice and improve the quality of clinical decisions. National Clinical Guidelines endorsed by the Minister for Health are mandated for implementation in the Irish health system. Implementation is monitored through the HSE Performance Assurance Reports, compliance with HIQA's National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and increased alignment with the clinical indemnity scheme. Key performance indicators to measure the implementation and impact of National Clinical Guidelines have been developed.
The service matters raised by the Deputy in relation to University Hospital Limerick have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
378. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a refusal of a medical card will be reviewed in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40766/16]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
379. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue as a matter of urgency in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40769/16]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
380. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40863/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it would normally be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. However in this case there are insufficient details such as a name and address to enable the HSE to investigate the matter.
381. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his views on the changes to consultant contracts that have occurred in 2016; the number of consultants that have changed from contract A to B and from B to C; his further views on any impact on the services provided to public patients; if an assessment is being done on the loss of income to the public hospitals as a result of consultant contract changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40864/16]
View answerThe functions of Comhairle na nOspidéal, established under the Health Act of 1970, in relation to regulating the number and type of consultant posts, were transferred to the HSE when it was established. These functions, together with medical education and training and medical workforce planning, are now centralised in National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) in the HSE.
In the period from 31 December 2015 to 30 September 2016, the consultant establishment increased from 2,891 to 2,980 across all contract types. This reflected the processing of applications made to the Consultants Division within the NDTP, the provisions of the Consultant Contract 2008 that provide for consultants to apply for changes in contract type, and the process for approving posts or reclassifying them as Type C posts. The number of Type A Contracts increased from 532 to 547; the number of Type B Contracts increased from 1,626 to 1,684; and the number of Type C Contracts increased from 82 to 106. The increase in consultant numbers across contract types should not result in a loss of income to the public hospitals.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the numbers of consultants that have changed from contract A to B and from B to C.
382. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself on the number of elective gynaecological procedures being carried out on a daily basis in the Cork University Maternity Hospital; if productivity could be increased; the actions that have been taken to do this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40865/16]
View answerI fully recognise the need to ensure that patients have timely access to health services. My Department works closely with the HSE, and the NTPF, to implement measures to reduce waiting times. At my request, the HSE developed an action plan to reduce, by year end, the number of patients waiting 18 months or more for an inpatient/day case procedure.
I am aware of the high demand for gynaecology services at Cork University Hospital. The South/South West Hospital Group has confirmed their commitment to maternity and gynaecology services, as demonstrated by the establishment of a group clinical directorate for these services. In addition, the HSE has advised that Cork University Hospital is undertaking a number of initiatives to address both inpatient and outpatient waiting times for gynaecology services. With regard to elective procedures, my Department has been assured that, in order to address the current waiting times, the hospital will maximise the use of of existing theatre and other gynaecology resources within the hospital, including rostering, as well as those in other hospitals across the South/South West Hospital Group.
In relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
383. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the current average processing times for applications received by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland from those who wish to practise as nurses or midwives here; the efforts being made to reduce these times; his plans to reduce the fee payable by applicants in respect of registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40898/16]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.
If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 10 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
384. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied). [40899/16]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
385. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided in the HSE's capital programme 2017 towards the provision of additional facilities for the emergency department at Cavan General Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40930/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, funding for any future developments at Cavan General Hospital is dependent on the overall priorities for future service development in the RCSI Hospital Group and the costing and timing of the projects, the availability of resources in the context of many other demands across the country and the future capital envelope for the health service.
The HSE has recently submitted its Capital Plan for 2017. This Plan is currently being reviewed by my Department and requires my approval with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
386. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand orthopaedic services in the north east with particular reference to the delays experienced by patients in counties Cavan and Monaghan in accessing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40931/16]
View answerThis Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased this year with a 4% increase in inpatient and day case activity nationally to end October compared with the same period last year, the important issue for patients is how long they wait.
In August, I asked the HSE to develop a Waiting List Action Plan for 2016 to reduce by year end the number of patients waiting over 18 months on the Inpatient Daycase Waiting List. Since then, approximately 8,000 patients have come off the waiting list nationally. Additional funding of €11.25m has been allocated under the Winter Initiative in order to support patient treatment under this Action Plan. Of this, €7 million has been allocated to a targeted waiting list programme for Orthopaedics and Scoliosis with over 600 patients benefiting. Already 570 orthopaedic and scoliosis patients have been treated or are scheduled for treatment through this initiative.
Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest-waiting patients. €20m is being allocated to the NTPF in 2017, rising to €55m in 2018.
Approval has been granted to the NTPF on the basis of a proposal which outlines the use of the first tranche of funding, in the region of €5m, for an initiative focusing on daycase procedures. The NTPF and HSE are currently engaging regarding a proposal for the use of the remaining €10m. Certain specialties will be considered in this context, including orthopaedics.
387. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the funding allocation for the north east drugs task force in view of the increase in the number of persons accessing services that are funded through the task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40932/16]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, operational and financial responsibility for the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force was transferred to the Health Service Executive. Therefore, this service matter has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
388. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the national maternity strategy; the total funding that is to be provided for the strategy; the funding being provided in 2016; and the outputs and services being provided by the funding being provided in 2016. [40944/16]
View answerThe National Women and Infants Health Programme will lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services, across primary, community and acute care, strengthening such services by bringing together work that is currently undertaken across a number of divisions. Work to establish the Programme Leadership Team continues and I understand that an interim Programme Director has been appointed and will start in January.
In leading the implementation of Ireland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 - the Programme will draw up a detailed action plan that will inform the full implementation of the Strategy on a phased basis; this work will include the identification of both capital and revenue funding requirements which will in turn inform the annual Estimates process over the lifetime of the Strategy.
Pending the establishment of the Programme, work to facilitate the implementation of the Strategy is ongoing. €3 million development funding provided for maternity services in 2016 has been allocated in line with the Strategy, and includes funding for additional staff, including 100 midwives, for the development of specialist bereavement teams and for the implementation of the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System. I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly to provide further detail on these initiatives.
In addition, Professor Michael Turner, National Lead for the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinical Programme has been appointed as chair of the Guideline Development Group which will develop National Clinical Guidelines for intrapartum care through the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee.
389. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards to be provided in 2016; and the likely full year costs in 2016 if the projection is not met. [40945/16]
View answerThe HSE’s National Service Plan 2016 was prepared on the basis of an assumption that, in the course of the year, medical card numbers would reduce from 1,725,767 to 1,675,767. This full level of reduction was not experienced and the National Service Plan 2017, which was published yesterday, indicates an assumed end-2016 figure of 1,697,081 medical cards. The additional funding provided in the Revised Estimate for my Department, which was passed by the House on 7 July 2016, took account of the trend in medical card numbers experienced during the first half of the year.
390. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage occupancy rate in public residential care units for the most recent calendar month available and for the previous eleven months, in tabular form. [40946/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
391. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of community health care organisations which have established home care waiting lists on a standardised basis. [40947/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
392. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of serious reportable events currently being notified within 24 hours to a designated officer. [40948/16]
View answer393. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of mandatory investigations commenced within 48 hours of the event occurring. [40949/16]
View answer394. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of mandatory investigations currently completed within four months of notification of the event occurring. [40950/16]
View answer395. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of reportable events in 2016 which have been reported within 30 days of occurrence to the designated officer. [40951/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 392 to 395, inclusive, together.
Serious Reportable Events (SREs) are serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur if the available preventative measures have been implemented by healthcare providers. Some SREs may not be preventable but require examination to assess if safety can be improved.
The requirement to report on SREs through the National Incident Management System (NIMS) administered by the State Claims Agency was introduced by the HSE in March 2014 and the final list of SREs was published in January 2015.
Since January 2015 the number of SREs reported has been published as part of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) monthly Performance Reports. This is being led by the Quality Assurance and Verification Division which was established in the HSE in late 2014.
A legal mandate for reporting of SREs is provided for in the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill. The General Scheme of the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill was published on 10 November 2015. This Bill was before the Joint Committee yesterday for pre-legislative scrutiny.
As the specific questions put down by the Deputy are service matters the questions have been referred out to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
396. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions in each public and voluntary hospital in categories (details supplied). [40952/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
397. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of clinical status 1 ECHO incidents responded to by first responders in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less for each ambulance station in each month in the year to November 2015; and the percentage of clinical status 1 DELTA incidents responded to by a patient-carrying vehicle in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less. [40953/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
