Written Answers Nos. 1228-1247
1228. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an initial assessment for occupational therapy in County Louth that are aged under 18 years, 18 to 65 years and over 65 years, respectively. [38426/17]
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.
1229. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an initial assessment for speech and language therapy in County Louth; and the number of persons that have been waiting for three months, six months, 12 months and in excess of 12 months for this assessment, respectively. [38427/17]
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.
1230. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an appointment for speech and language therapy in County Louth; and the number of persons that have been waiting for three months, six months, 12 months and in excess of 12 months for this assessment, respectively. [38428/17]
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.
1231. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an initial assessment for speech and language therapy in County Louth that are aged under 18 years, 18 to 65 years and over 65 years, respectively. [38429/17]
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.
1232. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an initial assessment for physiotherapy services in County Louth; and the number of persons that have been waiting for three months, six months, 12 months and in excess of 12 months for this assessment, respectively. [38430/17]
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.
1233. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an appointment for physiotherapy in County Louth; and the number of persons that have been waiting for three months, six months, 12 months and in excess of 12 months for this assessment, respectively. [38431/17]
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.
1234. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an appointment for physiotherapy in County Louth that are aged under 18 years, 18 to 65 years and over 65 years, respectively. [38432/17]
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.
1236. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans in advance of the winter season at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; the additional resources, staffing and funding that will be allocated to roll out this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38434/17]
View answerDemand in Emergency Department (ED) reaches a more intense peak during the winter period. Therefore there is a requirement for winter planning and preparedness to be undertaken, to provide assurance that safe and effective care will be provided over the winter months given the additional anticipatory pressures arising from for example Influenza, Norovirus, severe weather and holiday periods.
As such Hospital Groups, Community Health Organisations and hospitals are all currently in the process of developing integrated winter plans to cover the period October 2017 to March 2018. These plans will be submitted to the HSE for approval in the coming weeks.
In relation to the specific plan for Our Ladies of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth, as this is a service matter I am referring it for direct answer to the HSE.
1237. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses successfully recruited to Community Health Organisations, CHO, area 8 and CHO area 9 since the 2015 launch of the Bring Them Home campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38437/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1239. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a scheme for sustainable rural general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38482/17]
View answerThe 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 in all areas of the country.
An enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was introduced in May 2016. The new Rural Practice Support Framework includes improved qualifying criteria for rural support and an increase in the financial allowance from €16,216 to €20,000 per annum. Over 300 GPs now benefit from rural practice supports under this Framework. This is a significant increase on the 167 GPs who received the Rural Practice Allowance prior to the introduction of the new Framework last year.
It is acknowledged that there are many challenges in general practice. That is why 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. 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 process will also seek to introduce further measures aimed at making general practice a fulfilling and rewarding career option into the future.
1240. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the type of procedures and the number of each type of procedure which have been carried out under the national treatment purchase fund to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38483/17]
View answerReducing 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 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. These plans have been published and their implementation is ongoing. In addition, the NTPF is currently rolling out its Daycase Waiting List Initiative focused on those waiting longest for daycase treatment.
The NTPF has advised that, as of 6 September, the number of procedures undertaken through NTPF funding in 2017 are as follows:
NTPF Insourcing in Public Hospitals:
|
Procedure |
CANs issued |
Offers Accepted |
Surgery Complete |
|
Dental |
120 |
60 |
2 |
|
Cystoscopies |
655 |
10 |
|
|
Angiograms |
412 |
||
|
Cataracts |
942 |
412 |
102 |
|
Carpal Tunnel Release |
15 |
9 |
|
|
Hip Replacement |
49 |
7 |
|
|
Knee Replacement |
35 |
12 |
|
|
Knee Arthroscopy |
46 |
28 |
|
|
Inguinal Hernia |
52 |
||
|
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy |
71 |
||
|
Veins |
82 |
20 |
|
|
Gynaecology |
6 |
||
|
Urology |
11 |
||
|
Total as of 6 September 2017 |
2,496 |
558 |
104 |
NTPF Outsourcing to Private Hospitals:
|
Procedure |
CANs issued |
Offers Accepted |
Surgery Complete |
|
Cataracts |
3,356 |
1,427 |
707 |
|
Septoplasty |
89 |
50 |
20 |
|
Angiograms |
412 |
165 |
93 |
|
Lesions |
449 |
95 |
9 |
|
Cystoscopy |
272 |
43 |
20 |
|
Veins |
537 |
251 |
84 |
|
DCR (Eye Procedure) |
12 |
6 |
3 |
|
Vasectomy |
33 |
15 |
11 |
|
Entropian |
52 |
11 |
6 |
|
Ectropian |
32 |
2 |
1 |
|
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) |
51 |
||
|
Total as of 6 September 2017 |
5,295 |
2,065 |
954 |
1241. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE indemnified a pharmaceutical company against litigation in the event of vaccines causing damaging adverse reactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38484/17]
View answerThe contracts for the supply of pandemic influenza vaccine during the 2009 pandemic included clauses concerning indemnification of the manufacturers. As all of the vaccines used in the State immunisation programmes have been approved for use in the European Union by the European Medicines Agency there is no requirement for indemnity.
1242. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the reason a nursing home (details supplied) does not have a medical officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38485/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1243. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if he will include phase 3C of Naas General Hospital in his capital requests under the mid-term review of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38510/17]
View answerMy Department's mid-term review submission includes this project and many others. Funding for this project will be considered in the context of the future capital envelope for the health service and the overall priorities for future service development in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
1244. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when works will commence at Saint Patrick's Hospital, Cashel, County Tipperary, as part of the capital funding already allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38545/17]
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, including St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel. Under this Programme, it is proposed to deliver a new build community nursing home by 2021. This will replace existing beds where the physical environment requires substantial improvement.
This project is currently at appraisal stage and is proceeding according to capital planning guidelines. As the project is being delivered by means of a Public Private Partnership mechanism, which is at an early stage of the development, it is not possible to give a detailed timeline for the delivery of each stage of the project. Assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered, it is expected that the facility will be operational by Q3-Q4 2021.
1245. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours funded in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the locations in which they were funded; the average number of hours provided by location; his plans to increase funding for additional hours; the reason there is no nationwide structure and no standard approach to allocating hours; the reason the number of hours varies from location to location; if the situation is being reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38551/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1246. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38555/17]
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.
1247. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours funded in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the locations in which they were funded; the average number of hours provided by location; his plans to increase funding for additional hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38557/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
