Written Answers Nos. 198-204
198. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22261/17]
View answerUnder 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.
199. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of designated centres for disabilities registered in 2016 and to date in 2017, respectively; and of those registered, the number that were deemed HIQA-compliant. [22269/17]
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.
200. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed regulation of home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22270/17]
View answerThe Government recognises the need for effective regulation of home care services. For that reason, the Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to design a new system of regulation for these important services. This process will also determine the new standalone funding scheme that will apply to home care.
As an initial step, the Department commissioned the Health Research Board to undertake an evidence review of the home care systems that are in place in four other European countries. This review was published on 11 April. The Review will help us to learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions and will inform the debate and future consideration of approaches to formal home care financing and regulation here in Ireland.
Another important step in this process is a public consultation process which I will be launching at the end of May. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers.
201. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed HSE capital development plan and his plans to ensure that all designated centres under the HSE's remit will comply with regulations by 2021. [22271/17]
View answerThe Capital Programme announced in January 2016 provides for the replacement and refurbishment of 90 public nursing homes across the country over the next five years. This will replace existing beds where the physical environment requires substantial improvement.
Significant work has been undertaken by the HSE in determining the most appropriate scheduling of projects over the multi-annual period from 2016 to 2021, within the phased provision of funding, to achieve compliance and registration with HIQA. All healthcare infrastructure developments, including this development, must comply with DPER guidelines and EU directives and will require a lead-in time to complete the various stages. These stages include appraisal, project brief, design feasibility, detailed design, some of which may overlap, the review of costing estimates and finalisation of financing.
I am satisfied that the HSE has appropriate plans in place to ensure compliance by 2021.
202. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health following the enactment of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act on 29 April 2016, the number of persons or voluntary persons working within registered services without necessary Garda vetting; and the action that will be taken after the 31 December deadline if services then fail to secure necessary Garda vetting for all person or voluntary persons. [22272/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
203. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to the recently published HIQA 2016 overview, the steps that have been taken to address the poor practices identified including peer-to-peer abuses, inappropriate staff practices, unsafe physical environments and poor safeguarding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22273/17]
View answerHIQA is an independent body with an expanding remit for inspection and sanction. HIQA has a range of internal processes which govern how it manages services of concern, and it has adopted a stepped approach to escalation and enforcement. Its inspectors, inspector managers and other staff must:
- identify risks to residents, children and patients;
- assess the level of risk;
- plan and take regulatory actions;
- monitor the effectiveness of such actions in reducing risks.
In cases where nursing home services or residential services are considered high risk or are under consideration for cancellation and or refusal of registration, they are placed on our Regulatory Risk Register. Regulatory Risk Register meetings are convened fortnightly and consider all of the services on the register. The Regulatory Risk Register is chaired by the Director of Regulation/Chief Inspector who holds ultimate responsibility for all decisions made in respect of services that are monitored and regulated by HIQA under the Health Act.
The Review report for 2016 has been recently received and is in the process of being reviewed by relevant units in this Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
The following was received from the Department on 22 May 2017
My Dáil reply indicated that considered high risk nursing home services or those under consideration for cancellation and or refusal of registration were placed on "our" Regulatory Risk Register. This was incorrect; as HIQA is an independent body with remit for inspection of nursing homes amongst other agencies those services under consideration for cancellation and or refusal of registration are placed on HIQA's Regulatory Risk Register not that of the Department. Therefore the line should read: "In cases where nursing home services or residential services are considered high risk or are under consideration for cancellation and or refusal of registration, they are placed on HIQA's Regulatory Risk Register."
204. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the details of the number of home help hours at the end of April 2017 by county; the number of persons in each county approved for home help but awaiting hours; and his plans to address the shortage in funding that is restricting the issuing of hours [22276/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
