Written Answers Nos. 604-614
604. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the status of the oncology department staffing at University Hospital Letterkenny; the impact the staffing will have on patient care in the future months both for existing patients and new referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4586/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
605. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is available for a person (details supplied) to have a full residential placement when they turn 18 years of age in June 2017 as recommended by their social workers and psychiatrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4604/17]
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.
606. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the funding which is available for a service (details supplied) especially in view of the increasing demands for its services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4613/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
607. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the HPRA report on the regulation of cannabis for medicinal use will be made available to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4658/17]
View answerI expect to receive the HPRA’s report in the coming days. While I will need some time to consider the report I expect that it will be published relatively quickly.
I would reiterate that, in the meantime, while cannabis is very strictly controlled in Ireland, it is open for an Irish registered doctor to apply for a licence for cannabis-based preparations for an individual, named-patient under their care. Such applications will be considered on a case by case basis. It should be remembered that the appropriateness of any particular treatment is a matter between the patient and their doctor. I believe it is clearly understood at this stage by all concerned that I, as Minister for Health, have no role in the patient-doctor relationship and any involvement or interference in that regard by myself or my Department would be wholly inappropriate.
608. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate emergency funding of €1.2 billion to urgently address the deficits in hospital beds, medical staffing and primary care services in the health service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4661/17]
View answerOn Budget Day 2017, the Oireachtas approved gross expenditure of €14.606 billion for the health services, which is the highest ever, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to investing the gains from a recovering economy in a better health service.
The allocation of additional funding to the Health Services is a matter for Government.
609. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that persons suffering from mental health problems are given full access to emergency services on a 24-7 basis in all areas and that children under 18 years of age with mental health problems are not discriminated against in receiving age-appropriate emergency department and inpatient services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4662/17]
View answerImproving access to mental health services is a key priority for me as Minister. Significant work is underway to improve access to services outside of normal working hours. The HSE is responsible for secondary care mental health services in Ireland. These are specifically for people with moderate to severe mental health problems / illnesses such as more serious depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia or anxiety related disorders. Services are organised as age related specialty services, provided by multi-disciplinary teams, in line with A Vision For Change. The teams are Child and Adolescent, General Adult for working age adults, and Psychiatry-of-Old Age for those over 65 years, together with some sub-specialty teams, such as Rehabilitation / Recovery and Acute Hospital liaison teams. The work of these teams is supported by a network of day hospitals, and general hospital based acute in-patient units.
Data on timely access to services is collected for each team on a monthly basis. This shows 68% of children referred are seen within twelve weeks, and 74% of working age adults, and 97% of older adults within one week, illustrating improved response times to those with mental health problems. Work is underway by the HSE Mental Health Division to determine the existing level of service provision, and to examine international models of best practice on the most appropriate model of service delivery for use in the Irish context in order to enhance access to seven day services. In addition, the HSE is progressing a detailed plan for provision of 7 day services across all HSE mental health service areas.
Significant and detailed work is underway in this area. The current provision of HSE 24/7 mental health care involves various inter-linked components involving, for example, access via Community Mental Health teams during normal working hours (i.e. 9am-5pm Monday to Friday). During this period, access may also be made through Emergency Departments, involving as necessary the existing Liaison Psychiatric Service for hospitals, or alternative arrangements at local level pending further development of a liaison service in some CHO areas. There is Consultant Psychiatric-led cover in place in hospital Emergency Departments, in respect of the hours 5pm to 9am Monday to Friday, and for the weekend period. Finally, the National Clinical Programme for the Assessment and Management of Self-Harm was initiated by the HSE in 2014, and is being developed on an on-going basis. Overall, the HSE indicate that weekend access for each Saturday and Sunday is provided in 9 of the 17 mental health areas, with a further 7 areas having partial cover.
The HSE has prioritised the provision of improved Out-of-Hours liaison and seven day responses for mental health as a key priority under its agreed Service Plan 2017. Services, in respect of both adults and those under age 18, are being developed in the light of significant new investment being made available for mental health, balanced against an acknowledged difficulty for the Executive in securing suitably qualified and experienced staff for this care programme. My objective, and that of the HSE, is to improve all aspects of mental health care nationally for children and adults, including better access outside of normal working hours, or via Emergency Departments.
610. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to open up more minor injury units in order to alleviate the overcrowding in accident and emergency departments. [4411/17]
View answerIn September 2016, the HSE launched the ‘Winter Initiative Plan 2016-2017’ which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. This Initiative was developed to manage the expected winter surge in demand for hospital care in an integrated way across Primary, Acute and Social Care. On 5 January, in response to significant pressures in our EDs in the New Year, a series of enhanced measures were added to this initiative.
As part of the measures detailed in the Winter Initiative, the Smithfield Clinic which provides minor injury care in the catchment area of the Mater University Hospital was funded to expand its service with the aim of treating up to an additional 100 patients each week. This has been in place since 1st November 2016. A review of the five day week expanded service and determination of inclusion of weekend service will be undertaken shortly.
There are currently 11 Minor Injury Clinics operating nationwide, and as the Deputy will be aware, Minor Injury Units are for the treatment of broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns that are unlikely to need admission to hospital. In cases where an injury is more serious than originally thought, the patient is transferred to the hub ED linked to the Clinic for further assessment and treatment.
The HSE has recently launched an information campaign, including social media, to promote and further inform the public of the services available through these clinics and their locations.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to a review of Medical Assessment Units, Urgent Care Centres and Minor Injury Clinics. Preliminary scoping work on this review is being carried out.
611. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that in any forthcoming review by his Department, a school (details supplied) will not see any reduction in the vital services available to the children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2002/17]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
612. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the targets in place for the staff levels in child and adolescent mental health service teams in CHO 5 in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4689/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
613. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if the HSE endorses hare coursing, which has been banned in many jurisdictions (details supplied); and his views on whether public moneys should be withdrawn for this project. [4259/17]
View answerNeither the Minister for Health, nor the HSE, endorses Hare coursing.
I understand that the Deputy's question relates to a recent media query received by the HSE in relation to a mental health facility in the west of Ireland, and that the HSE has refuted the claims made. While the centre in question does not and has never run hare coursing activity for its service users the Executive cannot understandably comment on activities of staff or service users during their own personal time. The Executive indicates also that the support of service clients, in the context of promoting positive mental health and recovery generally, does not constitute an endorsement of approval of this activity. No service users, as part of any recovery process, were brought to or encouraged by the HSE to attend any such events. The Executive indicate that hare coursing has never been funded by the HSE locally, nor would it be appropriate from the point of view of a social care provider.
614. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of staff under the aegis of his Department in the clerical officer, staff officer or equivalent grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4938/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the table:
|
Grade |
Number of Staff |
|
Clerical Officer |
63 |
|
Staff Officer |
7 |
|
Executive Officer & Equivalent |
57 |
