Written Answers Nos. 468-489
468. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when the post of child psychologist within the primary care psychology services in Kildare north is expected to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25717/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
469. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25718/17]
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 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.
470. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to send an official from his Department to attend a group's (details supplied) annual conference in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25721/17]
View answerAttendance at such events would not be a matter of routine for my Department; but my Department would be interested in the outcome of such a conference.
471. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate an ambulance service in Millstreet, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25722/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
472. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the recruitment of assistant psychologists (details supplied); the way in which these posts will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25728/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
473. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that 11 beds in the Linn Dara child and adult mental health services, CAMHS, unit at Cherry Orchard hospital, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, are not closed in June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25729/17]
View answerI, and officials of the Department of Health, have maintained close contact with the HSE over recent times on maximising CAMHS service provision in the Linn Dara unit. I have met the HSE specifically about this, and visited Linn Dara last week. The HSE has confirmed that no young person is discharged from Linn Dara, unless this is deemed clinically appropriate by their mental health team. It should be clearly understood also, that nobody is discharged to allow a bed to be closed.
As is normal practice, a number of young people have been discharged from Linn Dara purely based on clinical decisions. Due to staff shortages, for a variety of reasons, some beds cannot be refilled. This, unfortunately, has left Linn Dara with just half of its 22 bed complement operational. The HSE has indicated that, for those discharged for clinical reasons, dedicated follow-on supports from the community-based CAMHS service will be provided, if deemed necessary. The Executive will also make available the CAMHS Day Service, as appropriate in individual cases, to enhance supports for young people and their families.
The core issue facing Linn Dara relates specifically to staff recruitment and retention difficulties for mental health professionals. This, unfortunately, reflects wider health system issues. The problem in this case does not relate to funding availability. Staffing cover has been augmented in recent times through methods such as staff working additional hours, overtime and engaging agency staff.
The HSE are exploring every option to maximise the operation of this service in the future. The Executive is intensifying its efforts on recruitment, and while a number of staff have been identified to join the Linn Dara service in the near future, this will take time.
The Deputy may rest assured that all efforts will continue to be made to address on-going service difficulties at Linn Dara.
474. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health his plans to review existing home care package scheme with a view to expanding delivery of the scheme beyond HSE approved providers (details supplied); the detail of the benefits persons are actually receiving from their allocated approved provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25734/17]
View answerThe Government is committed to promoting care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. In this regard, the Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to determine what type of home care scheme is best for Ireland. This process will consider the future design of both the funding and regulation systems for these crucial services.
As an initial step, the Department recently published an evidence review, undertaken by the Health Research Board, of the home care systems that are in place in four other European countries. 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 which I will be launching shortly. 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. I strongly urge all those with an interest in home care services to make a submission to the consultation.
The benefits that individuals receive from their allocated provider will differ from person to person.
475. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1058 of 2 May 2017, if he will arrange for the assessment of need to be outsourced to the private sector in view of the unacceptable delays that currently exist with the HSE service provider arrangement (details supplied) [25744/17]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
476. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the date for the sale of St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy, if the sale has not been delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25750/17]
View answerAs the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter, your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
477. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to have asthma medication included in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25753/17]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
478. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide weekend respite to a person (details supplied) on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25767/17]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
479. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on a waiting list to date in 2017 to avail of respite services operated by a charity (details supplied) in the north east County Galway area; the number of weekend respite places available in its facilities in the north east County Galway area on a monthly basis in 2017; the criteria and catchment area used to determine the way in which weekend respite places are allocated by the charity in the north east County Galway area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25768/17]
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.
480. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will supply a list of available occupation therapists by county in tabular form; the number of occupational therapists currently unavailable due to leave; the number of occupational therapists on leave that have been replaced; the reason occupational therapists on leave are not being replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25771/17]
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.
481. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Mayo awaiting occupational therapy appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25772/17]
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.
482. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will readvertise for a primary care centre in Thurles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25791/17]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
483. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and the reason no response has issued from the HSE in this regard. [25803/17]
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.
484. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the waiting time for an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25805/17]
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 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.
485. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the non-compliance with procurement regulations on the part of the HSE in recent years; the circumstances in which this took place; and the steps which were taken in order to rectify same. [25823/17]
View answer486. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the steps which were taken regarding chapter 14 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2013 which identified significant instances of non compliance in relation to procurement regulations; and the steps his department has taken to rectify same [25824/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
487. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will issue for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25846/17]
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.
488. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health his plans to initiate a HSE care programme for persons with Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25854/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to question number 418 on 23 May 2017 which explains the evidence-based treatment by most clinicians in Ireland and that it is based on that laid out in guidelines for the management of patients with Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (formerly known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis), and babesiosis published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in 2006. As testing and treatment for Lyme borreliosis is widely available in Ireland there is no requirement to initiate a HSE care programme solely for persons with Lyme disease.
489. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for orthodontic services on behalf of a person (details supplied) who has been on a waiting list for more than four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25864/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
