Written Answers Nos. 93-104
93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to outline the degree to which he has noted the recent report of the Citizens' Assembly; his plans to respond to the recommendations following study by the Oireachtas committee; when he expects that appropriate action will follow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20709/17]
View answerThe Government established a Citizens’ Assembly, in line with its Programme for Partnership Government commitment, to consider a number of matters including constitutional reform. The establishment and terms of reference of the Assembly were approved by a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas in July of last year. Judge Mary Laffoy, a Justice of the Supreme Court, chaired the Assembly which is made up of ninety-nine citizens randomly chosen from the population.
The Assembly is required to first consider the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Article 40.3.3), and has held a series of meetings to do so between 15 October 2016 and 23 April 2017. During this time the Assembly gathered facts in relation to the issue, listened to experts in the medical, legal, and ethical field and to advocates’ views on the topic.
The Assembly made their recommendations on the issue through a balloted process at their final weekend meeting on 22 and 23 April. The report of the Citizens’ Assembly setting out its recommendations is now being prepared and is due to be submitted to the Oireachtas by the end of June. The Assembly’s recommendations will be acted upon by a Special Oireachtas Committee, which will be asked to report to the Oireachtas within three months of its first public meeting.
My Department is monitoring developments in the area closely, to assess any necessary policy or legal changes that may arise.
94. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the current levels of respite care and residential care provided by Wexford HSE disability services are adequate; if other services are available to families struggling to cope with insufficient respite and residential care shortages; the steps he will take to provide additional respite care and residential care in the Wexford area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20739/17]
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 Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
95. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health to set down the status of the Saolta group's urology strategy for the north west; to indicate when a consultant urologist will be appointed to Letterkenny General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20625/17]
View answerFollowing the retirement of the Letterkenny University Hospital Consultant urologist in March 2015, the Letterkenny University Hospital has experienced challenges in meeting demand for urology services.
Currently, a visiting urologist from University Hospital Galway provides out-patient urology services, while a part-time locum consultant provides in-patient and elective day surgery.
The Saolta University Health Care Group advises that it intends to recruit an Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Letterkenny University Hospital to support the delivery of urology services at the Hospital.
In addition, Saolta also advises that it is currently developing a comprehensive Clinical Strategy for the group as a whole. As part of this Clinical Strategy, Saolta will operate a ‘hub and spoke’ urology service model with a sub-hub in the North West.
This service model will provide the majority of urology care locally, as a component of a Group-wide department. This will facilitate referral to the cancer centre in Galway for operative cancer care, with longer term local follow-up and surveillance.
Letterkenny University Hospital has been innovative in terms of staff recruitment; an attractive recruitment pack for NCHDs has been recognised by the HSE. The Hospital has also invested in the development of educational partnerships and facilities, such as the Medical Academy, thereby enhancing NCHD recruitment.
New consultant surgeons specialising in colorectal and general surgery, and a consultant anaesthetist have been recruited recently. A number of consultant posts are currently going through the recruitment process, including a Consultant Respiratory Physician and Consultant Breast Radiologist.
96. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE does not collect data on theatre use; if his attention has been further drawn to the number of hours for each operating theatre that are unused; the reason this data are not collected; if he will start a process of data collection to reflect this in view of its importance for waiting lists, bed capacity and acute hospital use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20209/17]
View answerOn an annual basis, my Department collates data on major operating theatre numbers in all public acute hospitals, for submission to the OECD. Theatre numbers for the years 2011-2016 (as of end December each year) are set out in the following table. The data show that theatre capacity has increased incrementally since 2011. A small number of minor theatres also exist, but these are excluded from the data.
While the HSE has not carried out a comprehensive operating theatre modelling exercise or review, it has advised that, from available information, a significant gap does not exist in terms of operating theatre infrastructure but that challenges with regard to theatre access are most commonly related to staffing or hospital bed shortages, rather than direct limitations with regard to theatre capacity.
The HSE has advised that it has commenced a project to allow regular tracking of hospital reported unused theatre sessions in acute hospitals and the reasons therefore. The information gathered includes numbers of theatres, minor surgery rooms and endoscopy rooms managed by theatre services in the acute hospitals, and information on scheduled sessions. This initiative is currently in test phase.
The HSE is also progressing initiatives to maximise the quality and efficiency of operating theatre usage. The Productive Operating Theatre (TPOT) and Theatre Quality Improvement (TQIP) programmes are supported by the HSE and RCSI, based on the UK Productive Theatre Programme.
|
Year |
Total no. of major operating theatres |
|
2011 |
221 |
|
2012 |
222 |
|
2013 |
225 |
|
2014 |
239 |
|
2015 |
243 |
|
2016 |
245 |
97. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason for the significant regional disparities in referrals for occupational therapy first assessments for children under 18 years of age. [20749/17]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
98. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the necessary funding for St Joseph's Community Hospital, Ramelton, and Lifford Community Hospital in County Donegal receive the funding required to meet HIQA standards and, at a minimum, retain their existing bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20626/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
99. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to review legislation relating to dentists. [20774/17]
View answerThe Department of Health is currently developing new legislation to replace the Dentist Act 1985. The proposed new legislation will form part of a suite of legislative instruments to ensure greater accountability for all professionals within the healthcare service. The legislation for doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and health and social care professionals has already been modernised. The protection of the public will be the main objective of the new legislation.
A public consultation was undertaken followed by engagement with stakeholders. Key policy issues for inclusion in the new legislation have been approved and a Regulatory Impact Analysis is currently underway. The drafting of the Scheme of Bill, which is the next step in the process to develop the new legislation, has commenced.
Department officials are currently committed to drafting a priority Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the primary purpose of which is to amend all health professional regulatory Acts as a consequence of the transposition of the modernised European Union Professional Qualifications Directive (2013/55/EU) and to address a number of other issues. Work on the preparation of the Dental Bill continues to be progressed in line with competing legislative priorities.
100. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the absence of a HSE psychology service in the catchment area of Oranmore, County Galway, whereby a person (details supplied) is unable to access treatment; if anxiety management groups for persons of this age group will be offered within the HSE in County Galway in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
101. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the cost benefit analysis that has been performed by his Department for the national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19111/17]
View answerThe Definitive Business Case for the new children’s hospital, which has been prepared in accordance with the Public Spending Code, sets out a detailed financial analysis of the full costs of the new children’s hospital and satellite centres. The associated benefits of the programme are also considered in full in the Business Case. The costs and benefits are set out in a manner which reflects best practice in health care projects internationally and provides a clear basis for decision making regarding the project.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has benchmarked the post-tender construction costs of the new children's hospital against construction costs for major acute hospitals internationally. This exercise demonstrates that construction elements of the project compare favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale.
On 26 April I announced that the Government has approved the investment required to enable the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to award the construction contracts for the building of the main children’s hospital on the St James’s Hospital campus and the two Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care Centres on the Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals campuses.
The NPHDB is continuing to ensure that every stage of the project is delivered in accordance with national policy to optimal design and value for money, and along with the Children’s Hospital Group Board, continues to work closely with the HSE and my Department to deliver this much-needed world-class hospital.
102. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons under 65 years of age now account for one in every four strokes, yet home care packages are not tailored to the specific needs of persons that could be living with the side effects of strokes for decades; if he will create an entitlement to home care that is appropriate for stroke survivors of all ages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20218/17]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides home care packages which are enhanced supports, over and above existing mainstream Home Help service. These are essentially a suite of supports, which are more comprehensive than Home Help as they can include community nursing and therapy services, respite care and aids and appliances. An appropriate professional skills mix is provided to support people with a higher level of care needs. In 2014, the HSE introduced Intensive Home Care Packages (IHCPs) to facilitate timely discharge home from acute hospitals of people who require very significant interventions to an extent not previously provided as part of the Home Care Package Scheme or current community services.
Access to home care packages are provided on the basis of assessed care need, carried out by health care professionals. It is not proposed to provide access to home care packages by reference to illness type.
103. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to outline the position regarding the staffing difficulties that have meant transport of and transport timelines for priority 1 children called for heart and liver transplant to the United Kingdom cannot be guaranteed; the status of correspondence he has had with the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence; the status of all negotiations regarding this; the contingencies put in place and if there has been call to resort to use of these since this situation emerged; the position regarding those on the transplants lists if they are called but the timeframes cannot be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20208/17]
View answerA Service Level Agreement (SLA) is in place between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health/HSE in relation to the provision of air ambulance services. In accordance with the SLA, air ambulance services are provided using the duty aircraft on an as available basis. Therefore the service is, and always has been, dependent on the availability of suitable aircraft and crew.
The Department of Defence has advised my Department that the availability of aircraft is currently restricted due to a shortage of pilots and difficulties arising from the loss of Air Traffic Control personnel. I understand however, that every effort is being made to address the personnel shortages faced by the Air Corps.
The restrictions notified are particularly problematic for paediatric transplant patients who require urgent transfer to the UK when organs become available. I am assured that the HSE has taken every step possible to ensure that contingency arrangements are in place in light of the reduced Air Corp availability. The contingency plans in place, and which have been called upon since the situation emerged, include access to the Irish Coast Guard resources and private air ambulance services.
Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin has confirmed that the families involved have been apprised of the current transport challenges and every assistance possible is being given to these families. The HSE has been asked to make a financial contribution to families who are recommended to, and who choose to, relocate. My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Taoiseach, Department of Defence, the National Ambulance Service and all relevant agencies to explore all options to improve the service.
104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason children are being sent to private assessment services, such as from a particular company (details supplied); the reason after this initial assessment the HSE refuses to offer crucial follow up tests in the face of advice from the private companies it has employed to carry out initial assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20806/17]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
