Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (424)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

424. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be given an urgent hospital appointment. [25405/17]

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Written answers

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.

National Cancer Strategy Implementation

Questions (425)

Seán Barrett

Question:

425. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on the outcomes of the national cancer screening service and the progress to date. [25440/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Evidence-based screening programmes are an important element of cancer control internationally. The National Screening Service (NSS) oversees the three national cancer screening programmes: BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and BowelScreen.

The implementation of national, population based screening programmes for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer was recommended by the 2006 National Cancer Strategy, A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland. In the 2014 Evaluation Panel Report on the implementation of that Strategy, the panel noted that excellent progress had been made in the area of screening in Ireland since its commencement.

To date, BreastCheck has detected over 8,500 cancers. CervicalCheck has detected 1,082 invasive cervical cancers, 41,417 high-grade abnormalities and 29,508 low-grade abnormalities. In its first three year screening round which finished in December 2015, BowelScreen detected 521 cancers and led to the removal of over 13,000 precancerous adenomas.

The objective of screening is to detect disease before it has developed to the point where it results in symptoms. Thus, these numbers represent members of our population who would not otherwise have been aware that they had cancer, or that they were at risk of developing cancer. Without the intervention of the screening programmes, many of these people may not have received the care they needed in a timely manner leading to better outcomes.

Health Services Provision

Questions (426)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

426. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding the provision of services for children's arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25441/17]

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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 him directly.

Home Care Packages Provision

Questions (427)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

427. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a home care package for a person (details supplied). [25461/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (428)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

428. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct a review of all those adversely affected by the Gardasil vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25462/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 444, 452 to 455, inclusive, 537 and 538 on 23 May 2017. I have no plans to conduct as review along the lines suggested in the Parliamentary Question as the safety and efficacy of these vaccines continues to be monitored by regulatory agencies at both national and European level.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (429)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

429. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25465/17]

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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.

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (430)

Robert Troy

Question:

430. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite surgery for a person (details supplied). [25467/17]

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Written answers

Lisa Chambers

Question:

436. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff being used by the HSE to offer home care help in County Mayo. [25475/17]

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Lisa Chambers

Question:

437. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for home help hours in County Mayo. [25476/17]

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Lisa Chambers

Question:

438. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the time it takes for a decision on a home care package in County Mayo. [25477/17]

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Lisa Chambers

Question:

439. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the time it takes to get a home care package in place once the application is approved by the HSE in County Mayo. [25478/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (440)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

440. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of child and adolescent mental health service beds currently being provided for children under 18 years of age in counties Galway, Roscommon and Mayo, respectively; and the number of beds that would be in place if the recommendations of A Vision for Change were fully implemented. [25479/17]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (441)

James Lawless

Question:

441. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay of surgery for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he will expedite an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25491/17]

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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.

Pre-Hospital Emergency Care

Questions (442)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

442. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a solution can be offered to persons (details supplied) who wish to work in the emergency services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25493/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is an independent statutory Body with responsibility for professional regulation in the area of pre-hospital emergency care including the recognition of professional qualifications.

Accordingly, my officials have asked PHECC to investigate the matter and to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (443)

Robert Troy

Question:

443. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will schedule an appointment for surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25502/17]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (444)

Barry Cowen

Question:

444. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [25505/17]

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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.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (445)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

445. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the replacement services that will be in situ for the service users of a centre (details supplied) when it closes shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25509/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.