John Curran
Question:462. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the fair deal nursing home scheme to include home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3814/17]
View answerCare of the Elderly
Questions (462)
Written answers
As Minister for Mental Health and Older People my priority is to ensue that our older people get the best care possible.
Government policy is to promote care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible and long-term nursing care should be a last resort after home support and other community based supports have been exhausted. However, the main statutory scheme for older people at present is the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, which provides for a system of financial support for those assessed as needing long-term nursing home care.
The development of a new home care scheme is a priority for me, as Minister. The Department has commenced an examination of options to bring greater national consistency to the regulation and financing of home care. This work began in 2016 with a review by the Health Research Board of how home care is regulated and funded in comparable jurisdictions, commissioned by the Department. The review will be finalised and published shortly and will be used to inform the development of policy proposals for the regulation and funding of these services.
The development of a regulatory and funding model for home care services is a complex undertaking involving very significant legislative, operational and financial resources. It is considered that the best option for the future may be a statutory scheme specifically designed for home care. The Department's intention is that regulation of the home care sector will be done in parallel.
In addition, a public consultation process will be launched in the coming months to allow stakeholders, including older people, their families and healthcare workers to express their views regarding a new homecare scheme.
The development of a home care scheme is a priority for me, as Minister, and I can assure the Deputy it will be progressed as a matter of urgency.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (463)
John Curran
Question:463. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if, further to an assessment and diagnosis by the HSE, he will provide the number of children currently awaiting the services of an occupational therapist, by area, in tabular form; the number of these children who are waiting for more than six months, more than one year and more than two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3815/17]
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 (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Dental Services
Questions (464)
John Curran
Question:464. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the four dental vacancies in a clinic (details supplied) have been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (465)
Clare Daly
Question:465. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric social admissions being admitted to hospital for non-medical reasons, for example, while awaiting a place at a unit appropriate to the child's needs, to each of the Dublin hospitals in each of the years from 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the total cost per annum of social admissions to each of the Dublin hospitals in this date range; the length of time each child was admitted as a social admission; the average cost per day of a paediatric social admission in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3822/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the queries raised by the Deputy, as these are services issues, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (466)
Joe Carey
Question:466. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide for persons who suffer from macular degeneration and who would previously have used the product, MacuShield, under the discretionary hardship arrangement for those that are eligible for medical card facilities in view of the withdrawal of the product from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3830/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Maternity Services
Questions (467)
Niamh Smyth
Question:467. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide statistics in relation to maternity units (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3832/17]
View answerWritten answers
There are a number of data sources available in relation to maternity care which the Deputy may find useful. These include:
1. The Irish Maternity Indicator System (IMIS) http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/hospitals/IMISnationalreport14.pdf;
2. The National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre (NPEC) https://www.ucc.ie/en/npec/publications/; and
3. The Maternity Patient Safety Statement (MPSS) http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/3/maternity/MPSS/MPSS.html.
In relation to the particular query raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (468)
Brendan Griffin
Question:468. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a hip operation will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/17]
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 (469)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:469. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3834/17]
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.
Health Services
Questions (470)
Niamh Smyth
Question:470. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3838/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (471)
John McGuinness
Question:471. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the provision of a child adolescent psychiatrist in St. Luke's hospital for emergency admissions at night in view of the increase in demand for such services [3842/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (472)
Pearse Doherty
Question:472. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the current staffing vacancies which have yet to be filled at the oncology department at Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form, including all vacancies at the hospital for which post holders are ordinarily responsible or involved in the administering of chemotherapy treatments to patients; the date on which each such post became vacant; the temporary cover in place for the duration of the vacancy, in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3852/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Staff Data
Questions (473)
Pearse Doherty
Question:473. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the periods of leave and or time off work taken by staff at the oncology department at Letterkenny University Hospital during 2016 and in 2017 to date, in tabular form, including all such leave periods taken by post holders who are ordinarily responsible for or involved in the administering of chemotherapy treatments to patients; the dates on which each period of leave occurred; the duration of each in addition to in instances in which the period of leave has yet to conclude; the anticipated return date of the post holder; the temporary cover in place for the duration of the period of leave in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3853/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.