Written Answers Nos. 958-979
958. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of stroke beds; the number and location of each; if funding is being made available in the HSE service plan for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1076/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
959. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of stroke units; if so, the number and the locations of each; if funding is being made available in the HSE service plan for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1077/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
960. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given to the expansion of thrombectomy; the actions being taken to advance the recommendations of the HIQA health technology assessment of mechanical thrombectomy; if this is part of the 2018 national service plan; his plans to fund same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1078/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
961. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to address infrastructural and equipment issues in respect of the provision of thrombectomy services in Beaumont Hospital; the level of capital expenditure required to replace the existing angiography suite and open a second angiography suite; if this is being provided for in the HSE national service plan or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1079/18]
View answerAs 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.
962. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the geographical gap in heart failure services in the South/South West hospital group area; if this has been provided for as a priority in the HSE service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1080/18]
View answerIn relation to the specific issues raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
963. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the agreed name change from home help to community health care assistant has been finalised; when it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1083/18]
View answer964. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the recommendations of the WRC regarding community health care assistants around the issues of rosters, travel time and time off have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1084/18]
View answer977. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when his Department will approve the new contracts and the name change for persons who are currently working as HSE home helps to community home care assistants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1158/18]
View answer1085. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) concerning the change of title of home care staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1785/18]
View answer1099. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend the job title of home help assistant to community health care assistant as per recommendations from the various workers' unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1951/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 963, 964, 977, 1085 and 1099 together.
I can confirm that my Department did not object to any name changes proposed for Home Helps. I understand that agreement between the parties was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission on 10 January 2018 on various issues, including a new title for the grade. A time frame for the implementation of the provisions of the agreement will be determined between the parties.
965. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the number of times the maximum capacity protocol was engaged at Letterkenny University Hospital during 2017; the way in which this compares with 2015 and 2016: the number of operations cancelled in 2017 as a result of the maximum capacity protocol being engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1085/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
966. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of each orphan medicine reimbursed here, in tabular form. [1088/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
967. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of each orphan medicine not reimbursed here, in tabular form. [1089/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
969. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for an education officer and an information officer for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1091/18]
View answer970. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding for an organisation (details supplied) to enable it to provide services for families living with dyspraxia/DCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1092/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 969 and 970 together.
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.
971. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if clinical expert opinion will be included in the decision-making process for the reimbursement of Vimizim; if consultation with local expert opinion will also be taken into account by the HSE drugs group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1093/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
972. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the current quality-adjusted life year, QALY-based system for reimbursing orphan drugs is inappropriate; his plans to engage with key stakeholders to reform the system to take into account evidence from other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1094/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
973. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure there is appropriate funding for night-time community palliative hospice care in the home for persons at end-of-life stage in order that the necessary level of care is maintained over the Christmas period and not reduced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1108/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
974. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the progress made by the Government by the end of 2017 on its commitment, following the Workplace Relations Commission negotiations with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association, INMO, in summer 2017, to increase the nursing and midwifery workforce by over 1,200 to over 37,000 before the end of 2017; the number of additional nurses recruited; the total number of nurses and midwives employed by the Government at the end of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1117/18]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the need to increase the numbers of consultants, doctors, nurses and midwives in the public health service and it remains a priority for this Government despite a backdrop of global shortages in health professionals. The Nursing Recruitment and Retention Agreement reached last year at the Workplace Relations Commission between this Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, INMO and SIPTU Nursing provided for a number of specific measures to attract and retain nursing staff.
The Agreement committed to increasing the number of nurses and midwives by 1,224 additional permanent posts in 2017. According to the most recent figures nursing and midwifery numbers at the end of November 2017 stood at 36,616 whole time equivalents. The number of nursing posts has increased by 820 in the 12 months from end November 2016 and by over 2,500 in the four years from end November 2013 to end November 2017.
In addition to increasing the number of nursing staff, management agreed to other key measures such as extensive education and personal development opportunities for nurses and midwives to upskill including 120 Advanced Nurse Practitioner training places which are now filled. The Agreement also includes 127 promotional posts for staff nurses/midwives to Clinical Nurse/Midwife Manager 1 and a pilot pre-retirement initiative has been offered as a method of retaining the expertise of experienced nursing/midwifery staff. Following discussions at the public sector pay talks in the summer last year a number of nursing allowances were restored.
I am awaiting a report with the December 2017 figures which is due at the end of this month. However, based on information to date it appears unlikely that the target of 1,224 posts will be achieved but I can assure the Deputy that the recruitment of nurses and midwives remains a key priority for 2018.
975. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1156/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
976. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 298 of 10 October 2017, when his Department will allow the HSE to record data for home help workers in the general staffing numbers of HSE employees, in view of the fact that the employment framework for the HSE has to be approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1157/18]
View answerFrom the beginning of 2018, the Department of Health has requested that Home Helps should be included by the HSE in the formal Health Services Personnel Census.
978. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1162/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
979. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of times the full capacity protocol was initiated at University Hospital Limerick in 2017 and to date in 2018. [1163/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
