Written Answers Nos. 164-177
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when funding for persons with disability will be made available for different services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2397/18]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware the Programme for Government contained a commitment to the introduction of personalised budgets for people with disabilities. I established a Task Force on Personalised Budgets on 20 September 2016, on foot of this commitment. Its remit is to make recommendations on personalised budgets models which will give people with disabilities more control in accessing health funded personal social services, giving them greater independence and choice in accessing the services which best meet their individual needs. The Task Force is focusing in the first instance on services for adults, funded by HSE Disability Services. Its report is currently being drafted and is due to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Aids and Appliances, including standing and mobility aids, are prescribed by health professionals and are provided subject to approval by HSE Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) areas following review of applications and prioritisation on the basis of clinical need and available budget. As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue I have arranged for it to be referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.
165. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the fact that Tipperary Education and Training Board, ETB, has a fund of €200,000 available from a charitable source to part fund a jigsaw project for County Tipperary but that support from the HSE to make the project a reality has not been agreed will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2398/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
166. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans for the progression of the review of the proposed dental Bill; the steps he plans to take to bring the revised legislation forward; the proposals in relation to dental hygienists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2401/18]
View answerWork is continuing in relation to the development of new legislation to replace the Dentists Act 1985. The regulation and role of dental hygienists is being examined in the context of this new legislation.
A Regulatory Impact Analysis is currently underway, and the drafting of the Scheme of Bill, which is the next step in the process to develop the new legislation, has commenced, but it is at an early stage. Department officials are currently committed to drafting a priority Regulated Health Professions (Amendment) Bill, the primary purpose of which is to amend all health professional regulatory Acts as a consequence of the transposition of the Modernised Professional Qualifications Directive (2013/55/EU), and to address a number of other issues.
While the development of new dental legislation is a priority for me, work on the preparation of the Dental Bill will be progressed in line with competing legislative priorities.
167. Deputy Peter Burke 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. [2402/18]
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 you directly.
168. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures and supports in place to inform and assist terminally ill persons to obtain an MCE1 form for a medical card in order that they can avail of the medical card guaranteed to terminally ill persons. [2403/18]
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.
169. 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. [2404/18]
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 you directly.
170. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of beds across all strands of the public hospital system in each year since 2000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2410/18]
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.
171. 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. [2417/18]
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 you directly.
172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card has not been approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2420/18]
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.
173. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the works his Department plans on carrying out in a hospital (details supplied); if the contract for works has been awarded; when work will commence; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2421/18]
View answerAs the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to the proposed capital works at Carndonagh Community Hospital, Co. Donegal.
174. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in relation to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin waiting list for a first appointment with a paediatric orthopaedic consultant; the measures that have been taken to ensure no child is at risk while waiting for their first consultation with an orthopaedic consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2425/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
175. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the amalgamation of wait lists for paediatric scoliosis across the Children's Hospital Group; when this will occur to ensure equity of access to all children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2426/18]
View answer178. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his plans for 2018 with regard to children that are waiting on scoliosis surgery and procedures [2429/18]
View answer180. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the HSE surgery target wait time for children that are clinically listed for scoliosis surgery as of 1 January 2018 [2431/18]
View answer181. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable to enter 2018 with no agreed surgical criteria for scoliosis surgery and no agreed plan [2432/18]
View answer182. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the dropping of the four month scoliosis surgery wait targets for 2018 (details supplied) [2433/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 178 and 180 to 182, inclusive, together.
I continue to support the HSE in its efforts to bring down the waiting times for and improve access to scoliosis services. Waiting list numbers on the scoliosis active waiting list dropped from 312 patients in February 2017 to 156 by 31 December 2017. This is as a result of the concerted efforts of staff and clinicians across the treating hospitals, HSE and Children's Hospital Group to increase activity within our children's hospitals, the Mater and Cappagh hospitals as well as of outsourcing initiatives developed by the HSE. 371 surgeries took place in 2017 across all treating hospitals both home and abroad, including two hospitals which were successful in an international tender run by the HSE for paediatric spinal fusion procedures. Of these 371 procedures, 28 were outsourced to Germany and the UK with a further 22 patients declining surgery abroad.
A Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive contemporary and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
€9 million investment funding has been allocated for 2018 to the HSE for the development of paediatric orthopaedic services including scoliosis. The 2018 Service Plan includes a commitment from the HSE to continue to improve access to paediatric orthopaedics, including surgery for scoliosis, in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital Group to achieve clinically appropriate waiting times. This will be underpinned by the development of a standardised pathway of care for children and adolescents with scoliosis which will be evidence-based and patient-centred. Further development of Scoliosis services will be guided by the recommendations emerging from the work of the Co-Design Group. The Co-Design Group is also working towards publishing agreed criteria for surgery which are based on clinical grounds and national and international best practice.
The HSE has confirmed that the 4-month target for accessing surgery for scoliosis will be maintained into 2018 and beyond.
176. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when the orthopaedic theatre in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin will open additional days or achieve full capacity; and the expected timeframe for same [2427/18]
View answer177. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when the two additional orthopaedic consultants for Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin will be appointed [2428/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
€9million investment funding has been allocated to the HSE for the development of paediatric orthopaedic services for 2018. The 2018 Service Plan includes a commitment from the HSE to continue to improve access to paediatric orthopaedics surgery in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital Group to achieve clinically appropriate waiting times.
