Written Answers Nos. 424-445
424. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to categorise coeliac disease to bring it under his Department's health and well-being area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31319/17]
View answerCoeliac Disease is a clinical condition characterised by gastrointestinal symptoms and in children sometimes by failure to grow normally. It is caused by a reaction to gluten which is found in wheat, barley and rye.
The diagnosis is usually made in a hospital setting and involves a combination of blood antibody tests and intestinal biopsies. The condition may make it difficult to absorb nutrients, minerals and fat soluble vitamins. The management of Coeliac Disease involves lifelong gluten-free diet, which leads to recovery of the intestine, improves symptoms and reduces complications. Dietician input will help to determine which foods contain gluten as well as in providing a balanced diet which is required for health and well-being.
425. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if there are alternative funding sources, domestic or European, for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31320/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
426. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the extent to which gluten-free foods available in public hospitals are available to persons suffering from coeliac disease when in hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31321/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
427. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the results of the framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix, which has been operating on a pilot basis in six hospital wards; if it has had an affect in retaining nurses and reducing agency staff; if so, the figures for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31322/17]
View answerThe pilot results demonstrate the impact and outcomes from implementation of the framework for safe nurse staffing and skill mix. In all wards, that received amended staffing, there was a reduction in the proportion of nursing hours provided by agency staff. The reductions ranged from 4.3% to 19.5%. Intention to leave was also measured during the pilot, which revealed an overall reduction in intention to leave by 6%, demonstrating a positive trend.
The Minister recently announced the extension of the pilot to a further ten wards, therefore further data akin to that outlined above, will be collected across these additional wards.
428. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will schedule an appointment for hip revision surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31327/17]
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.
429. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on discretionary medical grounds on a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31332/17]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
430. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 616 of 7 March 2017, the average response time for the ambulance service for calls from the Killarney area by month in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31335/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
431. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the aeromedical services available to persons in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31341/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
432. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of community first-responder schemes in place in the south east to treat cardiac patients; the way in which the scheme works; the service they provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31342/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
433. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if data exist on waiting times for ambulance services across the south east from 2014 to date in 2017; the range of waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31343/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
437. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there is provision in the granting of adaptation grants for persons with disabilities under SI 104 of 2014 for exceptions to be made to the maximum grant available in circumstances in which the household cannot make up the difference between the maximum grant available and the costs of much-needed adaptation of a home for a disabled child; and if there is another scheme available to persons in these circumstances that might bridge the difference. [31364/17]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy regarding home adaptation grants falls within the remit of my colleague, Mr. Eoghan Murphy T.D., Minister for Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and I have asked that Department to reply directly to the Deputy in that regard.
As the Deputy's question concerning Health Service Executive (HSE) supports available for people who require home adaptations relates to service matters, I have arranged for that element of the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
438. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors and nurses specifically dealing with spinal fusion procedures for children who are currently operating in hospitals throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31367/17]
View answer439. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors and nurses specifically dealing with spinal fusion procedures for children in each of the years 2008 to 2016, and to date in 2017, including lost staff and new hires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31368/17]
View answer440. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors and nurses specifically dealing with spinal fusion procedures for children whom it is intended to recruit in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31369/17]
View answer441. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting for spinal fusion procedures; the time they have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31370/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 438 to 441, inclusive, together.
In relation to the queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
442. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot be guaranteed when a procedure will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31371/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
443. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of staffing at an office (details supplied); his plans to increase staff at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31376/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
444. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of works planned for a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31377/17]
View answerThe Emergency Department in Cavan has been performing well and is not currently a site of concern.
The RCSI Hospital Group has identified the need for development of the resuscitation area in Cavan Emergency Department. Any future investment in Cavan General Hospital must be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the hospital groups and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service.
The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most cost effective way possible to meet current and future needs, having regard to the level of commitments and costs to completion already in place. My Department is working with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme.
The Department of Health and the HSE are also currently engaged in a process to commence winter planning for this year and to drive key improvement measures aimed at reducing trolleys and improving the patient experience in our EDs.
445. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade or expand services at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31378/17]
View answerA key part of the Government’s plan for our healthcare system is the most significant reform of our hospital service since the foundation of the State - the establishment of hospital groups operating as single cohesive units with their own governance and management. Hospital Groups enable a better configuration of hospital services with benefits relating to safety, quality, access, cost and sustainable medical staffing and every hospital in the group, large and small, statutory and voluntary, will play a vital role within the Group. Hospitals working together in a Group will be able to support each other, providing a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care, and ensuring that those who require emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals.
The Smaller Hospitals Framework focuses in particular on the future role of smaller hospitals and outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within these smaller hospitals. It also outlines the potential to expand the services delivered in smaller hospitals.
As a Model 2 hospital, Monaghan does not have a 24/7 Emergency Department or critical care unit. However, in line with the Framework, Monaghan Hospital has a Minor Injuries Unit located on site.
I am committed to securing and further developing the role of our smaller hospitals with the expansion of services delivered in these hospitals, especially in services such as day surgery; ambulatory care; medical services and diagnostics.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to a review of Medical Assessment Units, Urgent Care Centres and Minor Injuries Units, including the Unit at Monaghan Hospital. Work on this review is progressing in 2017.
