Thomas P. Broughan
Question:1068. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the expected opening date for the primary care centre in Coolock, Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1647/18]
View answerPrimary Care Centres
Questions (1068)
Written answers
It is expected that Coolock primary care centre will become operational in March 2018.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (1069)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:1069. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to open the closed wards in University Hospital Kerry and provide extra nurses and front-line staff to run these wards (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1652/18]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (1070)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:1070. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to fully open all the beds in Kenmare Community Hospital and to provide adequate short-stay, long-stay and respite beds for this geographical area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/18]
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.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (1071)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:1071. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to fully open Dingle Community Hospital and to provide adequate cover for the Dingle Peninsula; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/18]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1072)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:1072. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery. [1676/18]
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 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.
Health Services
Questions (1073)
Michael McGrath
Question:1073. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of persons involved, and fee arrangements that apply, in respect of a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1684/18]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Dental Services Provision
Questions (1074)
Niamh Smyth
Question:1074. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received a primary school dental appointment; if the appointment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1692/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (1075)
Bernard Durkan
Question:1075. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when medical cards will issue in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1695/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1076)
Niamh Smyth
Question:1076. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1731/18]
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 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.
Question No. 1077 answered with Question No. 746.
Hospitals Building Programme
Questions (1078)
Mattie McGrath
Question:1078. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of construction of the patient modular unit at South Tipperary General Hospital; when it will commence operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1752/18]
View answerWritten answers
Increasing bed capacity in public acute hospitals has been and continues to be a priority in terms of addressing the causes and challenges of Emergency Department overcrowding.
I can confirm that funding has been allocated for the modular build programme to deliver capacity at South Tipperary General Hospital, which is targeted for completion in the latter quarter of 2018.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Questions (1079)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:1079. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if a free breast pump is provided to women who give birth to premature babies and who are recommended or required to breastfeed; if not, the reason therefor; if his attention has been drawn to the financial cost and strain this places on mothers at a time of distress and anxiety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1753/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (1080)
Hildegarde Naughton
Question:1080. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the inpatient capacity of University Hospital Galway; and the inpatient capacity at 1 December 2016, by the wards on which the beds are located. [1763/18]
View answerWritten 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 Waiting Lists Data
Questions (1081)
Hildegarde Naughton
Question:1081. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients on all forms of waiting lists for University Hospital Galway who have been waiting for zero to six months, six to 12 months, 12 to 24 months, 24 to 36 months and more than 36 months respectively, by specialty. [1764/18]
View answerWritten answers
The NTPF publishes the Inpatient Daycase and Outpatient waiting list figures for each hospital each month. This information is available on the website www.NTPF.ie.
The most recent waiting list figures for December 2017 indicate that there is a total of 38,404 people on the Outpatient Waiting List for Galway University Hospital, of which:
19,192 people waiting 0-6 months;
9,088 people waiting 6-12 months;
8,131 people waiting 12-24 months;
1,745 people waiting 24-36 months; and
248 people waiting more than 36 months.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1082, 1083)
Jack Chambers
Question:1082. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his views on the notice issued by management to interns at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, that they would not be paid for the care they provide as overtime between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.; his further views on whether this is fair, in view of the fact that interns are regularly asked to work during these hours; his views on this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1767/18]
View answerJack Chambers
Question:1083. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he has discussed with management the decision not to pay interns at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, for overtime work at the hospital; the steps he is taking to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1768/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1082 and 1083 together.
Where interns are required by their employer to work additional hours beyond the standard working week to deliver essential patient care they should be paid in respect of those additional hours. The HSE recently reaffirmed this in respect of Connolly Hospital and other sites.
As part of the overall policy of reducing the hours that NCHDs work and attaining compliance with the maximum 48-hours average working week specified in the European Working Time Directive, there is a focus on ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Directive in respect of interns. However where interns or other NCHDs are required to work additional hours they are entitled to be paid in respect of such attendances.
Hospitals Funding
Questions (1084)
Jack Chambers
Question:1084. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if all hospitals, including Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, have adequate budgets to meet all overtime worked by all staff as appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/18]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Question No. 1085 answered with Question No. 963.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1086)
Robert Troy
Question:1086. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled. [1786/18]
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 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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1087)
Catherine Martin
Question:1087. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide the seasonal influenza vaccine to persons employed in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1797/18]
View answerWritten answers
The decision to provide seasonal flu vaccine to persons employed in schools would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills to make. The primary focus of giving the flu vaccine is to increase vaccination rates among healthcare workers and among at risk groups (i.e. long stay residents, 65+ years, pregnant women) so as to reduce and control the incidence of flu and outbreaks in the community and healthcare settings. I encourage all those in at risk groups to get the vaccine now (if they have not already done so) as it can take up to 2 weeks to work. The vaccine will help to reduce the risk of flu, reduce hospitalisation and reduce mortality rates.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (1088)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Question:1088. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the proportion of employees in his Department, or in organisations under its remit, who are registered as disabled. [1859/18]
View answerWritten answers
Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets a legal obligation on public service bodies to meet a statutory minimum target of 3% of employees with disabilities.
The definition of a disability to be used in relation to the statutory minimum target is set out in the Disability Act 2005:
“Disability in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction in the capability of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment”
At the end of December 2016 3.75% of staff in my Department had voluntarily declared a disability in accordance with the provisions of Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (1089)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:1089. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if it is within the remit of the medical board to prevent people from changing their general practitioner, or to place a freeze on transfers to or from a general practitioner surgery. [1903/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.