Written Answers Nos. 894-913
894. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the medical school which is the academic partner of the Children's hospital group; the detail of the relationship between the Dublin Midlands hospital group and the Children's hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41254/16]
View answerThe Children’s Hospital Group has academic relationships with all the universities and academic institutions providing paediatric education and research. This is unique due to the hospital’s national profile as the provider of all national paediatric specialities, some of which are on an all-island basis. The Children’s Hospital Group has a good working relationship with the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and meets with their management team on mutual issues.
895. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the detail of the exact delineation of the site for the national children's hospital and the arrangement for the overlapping underground services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41255/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
896. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dublin Midlands hospital group and the Children's hospital group do not exist in legislation (details supplied); his views on whether it is appropriate that construction contracts are being signed in the absence of such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41256/16]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. Construction contracts are the responsibility of the NPHDB and not the Children's Hospital Group or the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
The Children’s Hospital Group Board, acting as client for the new children’s hospital capital project, has responsibility for overseeing the integration of the three existing children’s hospitals into one organisation well before transitioning to the new children’s hospital. My Department is currently finalising the work on the General Scheme of a Bill to establish a single entity, bringing together three existing hospitals, to govern and manage the new hospital, and I intend to bring this to Government as soon as possible.
897. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the Coast Guard's large Sikorsky helicopters will be able to land on the site of the proposed national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41257/16]
View answerThere will be an elevated helipad at the new children's hospital, which will have direct and rapid access to the critical care, theatre and emergency departments within the hospital. This enhanced direct and rapid access will improve clinical outcomes for the sickest children and young people.
The Air Corps is the primary provider of paediatric helicopter services to the National Ambulance Service. Air Corps helicopters comprising Augusta Westland AW139 can land on a raised landing site or the roof of a building which is designed and certified for such operations. The Irish Coast Guard provides reserve support to the National Ambulance Service, when required, through its Sikorsky S92 search and rescue fleet primarily for search and rescue missions. The Sikorsky S92 helicopters are not licensed to land on helipads and, for access to the St. James's Campus, would land in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham from which patients would be transferred in an ambulance by road, which is current practice.
The majority of patient transfers to the three Dublin children’s hospitals are completed by road. In any major emergency rescue in a rural area, a Sikorsky Helicopter will bring the patient to the nearest regional hospital for stabilisation resulting in an appropriately planned transfer to the new children’s hospital.
898. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of new and additional general practitioner training places which will come onstream in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41260/16]
View answerThe Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing the number of GP training places to 259 places annually. In July 2016, the GP training intake increased from 157 to 172 places and the HSE's 2017 National Service Plan envisages a further increase, to 187 places this year. I am anxious to achieve further increases in future years in order to ensure that the future manpower needs of general practice can be met.
899. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a surgery for a person (details supplied). [41261/16]
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 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.
900. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an MRI appointment will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41262/16]
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.
901. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41273/16]
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.
902. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41280/16]
View answerThe 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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
905. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of patients outsourced and the location at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41283/16]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
906. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41284/16]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
907. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting times at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, broken down by year, by specialty and the wait time bands of up to three months, six months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, two years and over two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41285/16]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for the collection, collation and publication of Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists. Waiting list information is published on the NTPF website at the end of each month. The information is presented in different report formats, i.e. by National/Trend, by Hospital/Group, and by Specialty on www.ntpf.ie.
In relation to the specific query raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
908. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on trolleys at University Hospital Kerry in each of the months of 2015, broken down by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41286/16]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
909. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the operating budget for University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41287/16]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
910. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the capital budget or total capital spend at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41288/16]
View answer917. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the capital projects agreed and funded at University Hospital Kerry; if he will provide details and an overview of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41295/16]
View answer918. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the cost of each capital project funded by the HSE and-or his Department at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41296/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 910, 917 and 918 together.
My Department has not funded any capital project at University Hospital Kerry. As the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to the approved projects it has funded at University Hospital Kerry for each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017.
912. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of beds operational at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41290/16]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
913. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient hospital cancellations at University Hospital Kerry in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41291/16]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
