Noel Rock
Question:165. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the early supported discharge for stroke patients in Beaumont hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47422/17]
View answerStroke Care
Questions (165)
Written answers
In response 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 (166)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:166. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47427/17]
View answerWritten 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.
Tobacco Control Measures
Questions (167)
Michael McGrath
Question:167. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his position in relation to the recently published draft Implementing Acts with regard to the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40 EU track and trace articles 15 and 16; if a submission has been made to the European Commission on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47429/17]
View answerWritten answers
Articles 15 and 16 of the Tobacco Products Directive (EU) 2014/40/EU (“the Directive”) establish an EU-wide tracking and tracing and security feature system for all unit packets of tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the Union. The aim of this system is to fight illicit trade in tobacco products which undermines the free circulation of compliant products and the overall protection provided by tobacco control legislation.
Under Article 15 of the Directive, all unit packets of tobacco products manufactured in or imported into the Union must be marked with a unique identifier (containing defined data elements) and their movements must be recorded throughout the supply chain (up to the last level before retail). Article 16 of the Directive requires that all unit packets of tobacco products which are placed on the EU market carry a tamper proof security feature composed of visible and invisible elements. The above requirements shall apply to cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco from 20 May 2019 and to tobacco products other than cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco from 20 May 2024.
Although the central requirements have been laid down in the Directive, Articles 15(11), 15(12) and 16(2) require the EU Commission to adopt secondary legislation (Commission Implementing Acts) to determine the technical details and key elements of the system, as well as to ensure aspects such as the system's interoperability.
The EU Commission has published three draft Commission Implementing Acts providing the specifications for the system and discussions on these drafts are ongoing at EU level. Ireland is represented on the relevant EU tobacco expert sub-groups. Once adopted, the Commission Implementing Acts must be transposed into Irish law.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (168)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/17]
View answerWritten 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.
In relation to the particular case raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Questions (169)
Niamh Smyth
Question:169. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to put a defibrillator in each school in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47434/17]
View answerWritten answers
The issue of defibrillators in schools is a matter for individual schools in the education sector.
Department of Health is committed to improve survival rates of those who suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest by implementing the an out hospital cardiac arrest strategy. An Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Steering group has been established. Its work will support the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Community First Responders Ireland (CFR Ireland) in their commitment to improve clinical outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.
Cardiac First Responders (CFR) Ireland, launched in 2015, is the national umbrella organisation for Community First Responders Groups. CFR Ireland works with the National Ambulance Service, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and the Centre for Emergency Medical Science UCD. Both the NAS and CFR Ireland currently support over 145 Community First Responder schemes throughout Ireland, who train community members to provide emergency care support.
Hospital Waiting Lists Data
Questions (170)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:170. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a CT scan in St James's hospital, Dublin 8. [47435/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive for a direct response
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (171)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47436/17]
View answerWritten 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.
Hospitals Building Programme
Questions (172)
James Browne
Question:172. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the national forensic mental health service hospital at Portrane, County Dublin; when the construction of the hospital is due for completion; when phase two of the construction will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47448/17]
View answerWritten answers
Planning permission for a new modern forensic mental health facility in Portrane, to replace the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum together with associated new facilities, was granted in June 2015. Site preparation works were undertaken by the HSE during 2016.
Phase 1 comprises a new 170 single bed National Forensic Mental Service (NFMHS) facility, includes a 130 bed main Hospital as well as a co-located 10 bed Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, and a 30 bed Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit (ICRU). Construction on Phase I commenced in June 2017, and this is progressing satisfactorily. The new facility will open in 2020, following Equipping and Commissioning.
Phase 2 of the National Forensic Mental Health capital project envisages new regional Intensive Care Rehabilitation Units in the HSE West and HSE South areas. These will be provided over the longer-term, as resource availability allows.
Disability Services Provision
Questions (173)
James Browne
Question:173. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the gold star disability project nationwide; his views on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47449/17]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (174)
James Browne
Question:174. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, received from the mental health budget in each of the years 2011 to 2016, and to date in 2017, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47450/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (175)
Robert Troy
Question:175. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the allocated hours of home help service will be commenced for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47451/17]
View answerWritten answers
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Disability Support Services
Questions (176)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:176. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 18 years of age with severe physical disabilities that are living in their family home in which the family is in receipt of a social housing payment support (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2016, and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47473/17]
View answerWritten answers
This is not a matter for the Department of Health.