Tuesday, 11 Apr 2017

Written Answers Nos. 478-494

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (478)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

478. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person in (details supplied) County Kerry will receive a date for a spinal operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (479, 482, 497)

Imelda Munster

Question:

479. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the amount the HSE spends on private agencies for hiring home help carers; if he will provide a breakdown of these payments for counties Louth and Meath. [17486/17]

Imelda Munster

Question:

482. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will define home help provision; and the detail of items included and excluded, respectively, under the personal care only policy. [17509/17]

Imelda Munster

Question:

497. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if agencies are paid by the HSE per hour or per patient in terms of home help care; the amount the HSE pays the agency per hour or per patient; and the amount the home help carer receives in respect of these payments. [17586/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 479, 482 and 497 together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Questions (480)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

480. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if there is a gender pay gap in the rates of pay made between male and female carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17499/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

General Practitioner Services Provision

Questions (481)

Niall Collins

Question:

481. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE or ShannonDoc to respond to a data request (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17505/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Question No. 482 answered with Question No. 479.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (483)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

483. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be provided with a hospital appointment. [17510/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (484)

Seán Fleming

Question:

484. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the staffing situation regarding a children's eye clinic at a location (details supplied); if children from County Laois will be treated in other nearby locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17513/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (485)

Micheál Martin

Question:

485. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the extent of the staff shortages in the CAMHS services in Cork; the efforts being made to resolve this; the interim measures he and HSE officials are putting in place to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17542/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (486)

Micheál Martin

Question:

486. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the detail of the shortages in CAMHS across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17543/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Medical Aids and Appliances Expenditure

Questions (487)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

487. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be released to ease the waiting list of more than 200 persons who are waiting on walking aids with a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17552/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (488)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

488. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be provided with additional foot orthotics to assist with alignment resulting from cerebral palsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17553/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (489)

James Browne

Question:

489. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if works will commence on an extension for a health centre in Clonroche, County Wexford in view of the fact planning permission was granted more than one year ago. [17554/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Health Services Provision

Questions (490)

Mary Butler

Question:

490. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the supports that are available to persons with polio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17563/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Infectious Disease Incidence

Questions (491)

Mary Butler

Question:

491. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have polio here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17564/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (492)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

492. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will address waiting times for persons who potentially may be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease to see a neurologist regarding changes to medication and diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17569/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the fact that there are long waiting times for people with Parkinson's disease in seeing a neurologist. This is largely due to the limited number of consultant Neurologists in Ireland.

The National Clinical Programme for Neurology (NCPN) Model of Care document recommends an increase in the number of consultant neurologists, nurse specialists, including clinical nurse specialists in Parkinson's disease, and other Health Care professionals which would address waiting time issues. The programme also proposed implementation of these recommendations over a period of 5 years. This will significantly improve the access for all Neurology patients including people with Parkinson's disease.

The model of care for neurology was launched by the Director General of the HSE on the 27th September 2016 and the HSE is now working towards its implementation.

Disability Support Services Provision

Questions (493)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

493. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 12,000 persons are living with Parkinson's disease here; the reason there are only five specialist nurses to deal with the condition; his plans to increase services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17571/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Voluntary Sector Funding

Questions (494)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

494. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason an association (details supplied) does not receive State funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17577/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) funds a range of health and personal social services to enable each person with a disability, including those with Parkinson's Disease, to achieve their full potential and maximise independence. The services and supports incorporate hospital, primary care and community services. Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers and include therapy services, assisted living services and respite and residential services. These services must be delivered within the budget allocated to the HSE from the Exchequer.

The HSE liaises with the Parkinson's Association of Ireland through its membership of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, which is a national umbrella organisation for voluntary groups, professionals and interested parties representing the views and concerns of those whose lives are affected by neurological conditions. The HSE also provides funding of over €1.5 million to the Disability Federation of Ireland, of which the Parkinson's Association is a member organisation. The role of the Disability Federation of Ireland is to support organisations working with people with disabilities and to represent those organisations to the HSE, Government departments and other state agencies.

The Deputy may wish to note that my colleague, the Minister for Health, has a meeting arranged with the Parkinson's Association of Ireland later this month. As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be referred to the HSE for a more detailed reply.