Niamh Smyth
Question:410. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3291/18]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (410)
Written 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 (411)
Seamus Healy
Question:411. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the shortage of the BCG vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3299/18]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE continues to experience on going delays with the supply of BCG vaccine. BCG vaccine stock in all areas expired at the end of April 2015 and as of today this continues to be problem for Ireland and other countries in Europe that use the this licensed BCG vaccine. Since this problem became apparent, the HSE National Immunisation Office (NIO) has been in regular contact with the manufacturer of BCG vaccine to ascertain when the vaccine might be available. There is only one licensed supplier of BCG vaccine to Ireland and this vaccine manufacturer has informed the NIO that the BCG vaccine will not be delivered into Ireland until late 2018 at the earliest. The NIO and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) have sought an alternative supply of BCG vaccine that meets safety, quality and effectiveness standards and that could be used in Ireland. To date no appropriate alternative manufacturer has been found. When there is confirmation of the date of new supply, the HSE will be guided by the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee on its administration.
Hospitals Data
Questions (412, 413, 414)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:412. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendees and return attendees in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and St. James's Hospital, in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3327/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:413. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient beds and outpatient beds for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and St. James's Hospital, in 2017 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3328/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:414. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons removed from waiting lists at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and St. James's Hospital, in 2017 in tabular form; the reason for removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3329/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 to 414, inclusive, together.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospitals Funding
Questions (415, 416, 417)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:415. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the operational budget and actual spend for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and St. James's Hospital, in 2017 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3330/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:416. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the agency spend for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and St. James's Hospital, in 2017 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3331/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:417. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the total staffing budget for Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and St. James's Hospital, in each of the years 2012 to 2017 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3332/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 to 417, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (418)
Róisín Shortall
Question:418. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the waiting time to access the early intervention team covering Dublin 11; if he will put plans in place to increase the capacity of the early intervention team to meet the growing demand for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3342/18]
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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Questions (419)
Paul Murphy
Question:419. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason the waiting time for treatment by the school-age team for a person (details supplied) will not be adjusted to take into account their successful appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3345/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has sought clarification from the Deputy and on receipt of same I will arrange for a reply to issue.
Patient Transport Provision
Questions (420)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:420. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the process for transporting persons in wheelchairs, particularly specially modified and designed wheelchairs, to and from hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3361/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (421)
Pearse Doherty
Question:421. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if travel reimbursement for home support workers is deducted when calculating income for the purpose of medical card assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3362/18]
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.
Medical Records
Questions (422)
Seán Sherlock
Question:422. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can obtain their medical records from a Dublin hospital. [3367/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
Combatting Cyberbullying
Questions (423)
Róisín Shortall
Question:423. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 38 of 28 November 2017, if the issue of loot boxes and other in-app purchases in video games with a Pan European Game Information rating of under 18 years of age can be included in the discussions his departmental officials have undertaken or will undertake on the protection of children online from a cross-governmental perspective. [3394/18]
View answerWritten answers
The protection of children online is primarily a matter for the Minister for Children in collaboration with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Minister for Justice and Equality. I also have a special and personal interest in this issue and I am in ongoing dialogue with the Taoiseach and ministerial colleagues in an effort to bring focus to this most important issue. I will forward the Deputy's request to the Minister for Children for her consideration and comments on the matter.
Departmental Bodies Data
Questions (424)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:424. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of agencies, boards or other bodies under the aegis of his Department that have been disbanded or amalgamated or whose functions were subsumed back into his Department since 2011; the number of such bodies set up by his Department since that date; the names of the bodies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3406/18]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2011, four statutory bodies were dissolved and their functions transferred to other bodies as set out in the table.
|
Body dissolved |
Body to which functions were subsumed |
|
National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery |
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland |
|
National Social Workers Qualifications Board |
Health and Social Care Professionals Council |
|
Children Acts Advisory Board |
Department of Children and Youth Affairs |
|
Drug Treatment Centre Board |
Health Service Executive |
Under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 a number of registration boards that have responsibility for registration of members for each profession named in the Act have been set up. Since 2011 the following registration boards have been established:
|
Registration Boards: |
|
Psychologists Registration Board |
|
Optical Registration Board |
|
Physiotherapists Registration Board |
|
Dietitians Registration Board |
|
Occupational Therapists Registration Board |
|
Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board |
|
Social Care Workers Registration Board |
|
Radiographers Registration Board |
|
Medical Scientists Registration Board |
On 31 October 2015 persons previously registered with The Opticians Board/Bord na Radharcmhastóirí saw their registration transfer automatically to the Optical Registration Board.
Following the signing of Commencement Order S.I. No. 385 of 2012, under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 the name of An Bord Altranais changed to Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann, or, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). This change of name reflects the recognition of midwifery as a separate and distinct profession to that of nursing.
Personal Injury Claims
Questions (425)
Michael McGrath
Question:425. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount paid out and the number of claims related to those payouts by each agency under the aegis of his Department in respect of personal injury claims in each of the years 2010 to 2017; the number of claims that were settled outside of court in each of these years; the number of payments that were as a result of a court judgment in each of these years; the nature of the claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3423/18]
View answerWritten answers
The multi-annual data sought by the Deputy is not collected by my Department.
I have referred the question about personal injury claims relating to the HSE and HIQA to the State Claims Agency for compilation as it manages general insurance claims for both agencies. My Department will forward the data received from the State Claims Agency to the Deputy.
Details of claims for other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
Ambulance Service Data
Questions (426)
Róisín Shortall
Question:426. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency ambulances serving Dublin; the average call-out time for ambulances to reach the location of the emergency; his plans to increase the number of emergency ambulances serving the city in view of the projected population growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3431/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Health Care Infrastructure Provision
Questions (427)
Dara Calleary
Question:427. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of capital projects in the health area that have undergone design stage or nearly undergone design stage and are awaiting further funding to be allocated to them before proceeding further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3458/18]
View answerWritten answers
As 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 this matter.
Community Care Provision
Questions (428)
John Brassil
Question:428. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the policy regarding accessing community health-care facilities for a person who has had an operation in a private hospital and also has a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3459/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that the HSE shall make available in-patient services for persons with full eligibility i.e. medical card holders and persons with limited eligibility. This includes the provision of in-patient services in a hospital or convalescent home.
As the HSE has operational responsibility for the provision of these services, including determining how patients are referred for access to these services, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this specific case.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (429)
Timmy Dooley
Question:429. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will have an appointment for gallstone surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3479/18]
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.