Written Answers Nos. 439-462
439. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the latest statistics on the number of persons smoking; if he is satisfied with the reduction; the extra effort that will be made to make the State smoke free; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39424/17]
View answerThe 2016 Healthy Ireland survey indicates that 23% of the population aged 15 years and older are current smokers i.e. 19% smoke daily and 4% smoke occasionally. This compares with 2007 SLÁN data which indicated that 29% of Irish adults were smokers. Data from the 2017 Health Ireland Survey will be published in the near future.
In relation to children, rates of smoking are relatively low across all age groups in Ireland when compared to other European and North American countries. The 2014 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey indicates that 8% of children aged from 10 to 17 years currently smoke. In 2006 this percentage was 15%.
The reduction in smoking prevalence is welcome, particularly in relation to the significant reduction in the numbers of children who are smoking. These reductions are a result of the cumulative effect of tobacco control legislation, education and public health initiatives taken over the years. These initiatives have ranked Ireland 2nd out of 34 European Countries on the Tobacco Control Scale and earned my Department the 2017 World No Tobacco Day WHO Award for accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
However, smoking prevalence among adults continues to be a cause of concern. I, together with Minister Harris and my Government colleagues, remain committed to the continued implementation of the Tobacco Free Ireland policy. That policy sets an ambitious target for a smoke free Ireland, with over 60 recommendations which the Government is committed to implementing. Many of these recommendations are completed or are currently under way. Examples include the enactment of legislation to prohibit smoking in cars where children are present, the introduction of standardised packaging for tobacco products, transposition and implementation of the EU 2014 Tobacco Products Directive, the development of legislation to introduce licensing for the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes, the development of national smoking cessation guidelines, on-going media campaigns, on-going excise increases on tobacco products, enforcement on the ground of existing and new tobacco control legislation, as well as continued collaboration at EU and WHO levels in the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
I am confident that the on-going implementation of the Tobacco Free Ireland policy will continue to have a positive impact on the smoking prevalence in Ireland.
440. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be given a date for orthognathic surgery to be carried out at the national dental hospital. [39436/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
441. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to improve juvenile arthritis treatment in Cork University Hospital; when a replacement consultant will be put in place; if consideration is being given for a satellite clinic in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39446/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
442. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason funding for the World Health Organization's baby friendly health initiative has stopped; if this decision will be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39450/17]
View answerThe Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are totally committed to increasing breast feeding rates in Ireland.
National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and the recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 all emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The recent National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 re-affirmed the commitment to advance public support of breastfeeding, and includes an action to extend provision for breastfeeding breaks under employment legislation (currently available to mothers of children under 6 months).
Regarding the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative ( BFHI) issue, in 2016 the HSE commissioned a research team at TCD to undertake a review of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. One of the key findings of the Review was that there was no difference in breastfeeding rates in hospitals that had achieved the Baby Friendly designation, and those that hadn’t achieved designation. In fact, while the Initiative has been in place for 20 years, only 9 of the 19 maternity hospitals have achieved the Baby Friendly designation. This Review highlighted the need for a revised model of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
Following completion of the Review, the HSE initiated engagement with The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and other stakeholders on developing a revised model. While the HSE has made the decision to pause the existing initiative and it is not being funded for 2017.
The HSE are currently progressing the development of a revised model, working with the National Women and Infants Programme, the HSE Health and Well-being Division, the HSE Lead Midwife and other key stakeholders. The revised model will continue to support the implementation of the WHO/UNICEF 10 Steps to Successful Breast-feeding, which is the basis of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. The revised model is expected by the end of the year and will be rolled out in 2018.
A wide range of other actions are underway in implementing the HSE National Breast-feeding Action Plan 2016-2020. These include:
- Improved Governance and health service structures;
- Breast-feeding training and skills development;
- Health service policies and practices;
- Support at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum;
- Research, monitoring and evaluation.
Details of specific actions can be seen in the HSE National Breast-feeding Action Plan 2016-2020 on the HSE website breastfeeding.ie and the link
https://www.breastfeeding.ie/Uploads/breastfeeding-in-a-healthy-ireland.pdf.
444. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person can expect an appointment for orthodontic treatment from the Health Service Executive. [39452/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
445. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for surgery. [39473/17]
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.
446. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to open an injecting room at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the timeframe to open the facility; the number of persons it is expected to serve; the opening times during the day; if this will be a pilot scheme or a permanent facility; the way in which it will be funded; and the length of time it is expected to be operational. [39474/17]
View answerOn 25 August 2017, the HSE published an invitation on the Government's eTenders website for suitably qualified and experienced service providers to submit tenders to provide a medically supervised injecting centre in Dublin City Centre area on a pilot basis. Tenders must be submitted to the HSE by 25th September 2017. The HSE anticipates that the contract will be awarded by 1st November 2017. The initial contract will be for an 18-month pilot phase with an evaluation at 6 months and again at 18 months.
The provider and the proposed location will be known once the evaluation of the tender submissions is completed by end of October 2017.
As the tender process is still underway, it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual organisations who may be included in the tender process or on the actual opening hours of the Supervised Injecting Facility.
It is estimated that it will cost in the region of €1.5m a year to run the SIF. The HSE has been allocated €750,000 in 2017 to set up the facility before the end of the current year.
447. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on trollies in Wexford General Hospital in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39479/17]
View answerIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
448. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by profession, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39480/17]
View answer449. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the services available at Wexford general hospital; the additional services planned as part of the HSE service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39481/17]
View answer450. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses employed at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39482/17]
View answer451. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of all inpatient and outpatient appointments and procedures at Wexford General Hospital, by speciality and by bands (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39483/17]
View answer452. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the capital and operational funding provided to Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by funding stream, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39484/17]
View answer490. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient and outpatient hospital cancellations at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39602/17]
View answer491. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients from Wexford General Hospital outsourced to other hospitals in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39603/17]
View answer492. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the agency spend by Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39604/17]
View answer493. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total non-attendance rate for Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39605/17]
View answer494. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants employed at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39606/17]
View answer495. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient and outpatient beds open at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39607/17]
View answer496. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient and day cases treated at Wexford General Hospital in each of the years from 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39608/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 to 452, inclusive and 490 to 496, 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.
453. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the mental health services available in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39485/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
454. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres in operation here, by county and by year they were established, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39486/17]
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.
455. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of primary health care centres in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39487/17]
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.
456. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours provided in County Wexford in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39488/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter with regard to a community hospital (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39493/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
458. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be seen for assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39494/17]
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.
459. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card renewal will be complete for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39499/17]
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 HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
460. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons receiving opioid maintenance treatment; the number of years they have been receiving an opioid substitute, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39503/17]
View answerAs these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
461. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of drug and alcohol detox beds; the location of each; if they are public or private beds; the number that are for alcohol detox, drug detox or drug and alcohol detox; the waiting list for each category at each location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39504/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
462. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out in Beaumont Hospital. [39505/17]
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.
