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Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 45-56

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (45)

Pat Buckley

Question:

45. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of child and adolescent mental health teams, CAMHTs, operating across the State; the number of these which have a full complement of staff; the number of vacant positions; the length of time they have been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20711/17]

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Written answers

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

Question No. 46 answered with Question No. 9.

Disability Support Services

Questions (47)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

47. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the detail of the proposed amendments to the review of the capital programme for disability and intellectual disability services in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/17]

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Written 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.

Respite Care Services Provision

Questions (48)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

48. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of respite care for families in County Donegal with children who have life-limiting conditions and high complex needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20455/17]

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Written 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.

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.

General Practitioner Services Provision

Questions (49)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

49. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the worrying trend of a lack of general practitioners in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20450/17]

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Written answers

The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and also in disadvantaged urban areas, and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. I want to ensure that existing GP services are retained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly-qualified GPs.

The 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. The number of training places increased again this year with 186 places offered; however, only 177 places have been formally accepted. While it is of course disappointing that all the available places were not filled, it must be acknowledged that there has been a huge expansion in the training scheme in recent years. In 2009, there were 120 places available and in 2017 there are 186 places available. This is an increase of 55% in seven years. I am anxious to achieve further increases in the number of GP training places in future years, and to ensure that all the available places are filled, in order to meet the future manpower needs of general practice.

Further efforts undertaken in recent years to increase the number of practising GPs include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS/GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday, as well as the introduction of an enhanced supports package for rural GP practices. These steps should help to address the future demand for GPs by enticing GPs who may have ceased practising for family or other reasons back into the workforce, facilitating GPs to work past the standard retirement age and encouraging more GPs to work in rural areas.

In addition, I have repeatedly emphasised the need for a new GP services contract which will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector, and health service management have already progressed a number of significant measures through engagement with GP representatives in recent years. The next phase of engagement on a new GP contract is under way and the sustainability of general practice in rural areas will be considered in this context. The review process will also seek to introduce further measures aimed at making general practice a fulfilling and rewarding career option into the future.

Nursing Home Services

Questions (50)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

50. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes in Galway city and county with which the HSE west has entered into contracts for the provision of long-term and short-term nursing home care, that is convalescence and respite beds; the names and locations of the nursing homes; the nature and costs of the contract; the process by which the nursing homes were selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20733/17]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospitals Building Programme

Questions (51, 224)

Brendan Smith

Question:

51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to allocate funding towards improvement and extension works at the emergency department at Cavan General Hospital in view of increased attendances over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/17]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided in 2017 towards the upgrading and extension of the emergency department at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20200/17]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 224 together.

In September the HSE launched its Winter Initiative Plan which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. The Initiative concluded at the end of March.

A range of practical measures to address ED overcrowding were implemented, including 90 additional beds, aids and appliances for over 4,450 patients, around 1,000 extra homecare packages and 615 additional transitional care bed approvals.

During the Winter Initiative delayed discharges reduced from 638 in September 2016 to 434 in December and were maintained below 500 from mid-December through to end February. This had a positive impact on trolley numbers and freed-up beds for use by patients awaiting admission. Further, since the start of 2017 there have been approximately 5% less patients waiting on trolleys nationally compared to the same period last year.

Cavan ED performed well this winter and HSE data indicate that there has been an 85% decrease in the number of patients waiting on trolleys so far this year compared to the same period last year. This has been achieved through improved performance by the Hospital and a 3% decrease in attendances.

The RCSI Hospital Group has identified the need for development of the resuscitation area in Cavan Emergency Department. Any future investment in the Hospital must be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the Hospital Group and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service.

During 2017 my Department will work with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme.

Hospitals Funding

Questions (52)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

52. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be allocated to the existing cardiac catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford in order to increase the laboratory's current capacity to accommodate the estimated 450 additional procedures that will be referred there through additional diagnostic angiograms set to be provided by the mobile catherisation lab; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20729/17]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that, in his review of cath lab services in University Hospital Waterford (UHW), Dr Niall Herity recommended investment to enhance cardiac services at the hospital and to provide an additional 8 hours' cath lab activity per week to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients. At the time of the report's publication, I committed to providing the additional resources to UHW as recommended. I am pleased therefore to confirm that an additional €500,000 has been allocated to the hospital for 2017.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (53)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

53. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the reason as of the end of March 2017 more than 1,750 children were waiting more than a year for scheduled treatment in the three children's hospitals in Dublin. [20789/17]

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Written answers

Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.

In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and patients are already receiving appointments.

In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. The plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.

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 Provision

Questions (54, 88)

Gino Kenny

Question:

54. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the delays parents of autistic children are experiencing in accessing child and adult mental health services over the past 12 months; the reason children are being refused services at key developmental ages and experiencing delays that will impact on their future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20736/17]

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Gino Kenny

Question:

88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the way in which he intends to comply with the Disability Act 2005, which lays out clear timelines for the assessment of need, in view of the fact that there is currently a backlog of 4,600 children; and when he expects this backlog to be cleared. [20735/17]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 88 together.

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.

Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 20.

Hospital Services

Questions (56, 67)

Brian Stanley

Question:

56. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if, having met with various stakeholders and having had the opportunity to study the report and recommendations supplied by a person (details supplied) in December 2016, he has made a decision regarding the future of accident and emergency services in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. [20204/17]

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Brian Stanley

Question:

67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) to his Department expressing concerns about the lack of a plan for service provision at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. [20203/17]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 67 together.

My Department and the HSE are committed to securing and developing the role of Portlaoise Hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

Reports on Portlaoise Hospital in recent years point to the need for reconfiguration of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff that can safely meet their needs. The HSE has submitted a draft Action Plan to my Department and it is currently being reviewed in detail.

The most important issue in relation to any changes at Portlaoise Hospital is that patient safety and good quality outcomes must come first. Any changes to services at Portlaoise, once approved, will be undertaken in a planned and orderly manner to further improve services for patients at the hospital and will take account of existing patient flows and demands in other hospitals, as well as the need to develop particular services at Portlaoise in the context of the overall service configuration in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

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