Written Answers Nos. 360-379
360. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can have an appointment and procedure scheduled and arranged under the NTPF in view of the fact they have been waiting over 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3992/18]
View answerReducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2018 allocated €55 million for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in 2018, more than double its total allocation in 2017 of €20m.
The HSE and NTPF are working together to develop coherent and synergistic Waiting List Action Plans in 2018 for inpatient/daycase and outpatient which will continue to arrange the provision of treatment for patients across a range of specialties and procedures. These initiatives will continue to focus on long-waiting patients and overall waiting list numbers.
The NTPF advise that while they have some provision to send people for dental treatment, this is only in the case of patients who are on a public hospital waiting list. 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.
361. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the loco parentis rule whereby agency nurses working HSE home care day hours cannot permit parents to leave the home unless another adult is present; if the rule will be reviewed in view of its restrictive nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4000/18]
View answer362. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if representatives from the various children's respite organisations (details supplied) have been or will be consulted as part of the upcoming primary care steering group meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4001/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together.
I understand that the HSE has undertaken significant work in the area of Paediatric Homecare Packages and is progressing a National Quality Assurance process for these packages. I am advised that there has been engagement with families on respite needs and the findings will be included in the final report. Thereafter, the HSE will review the context for ‘Loco Parentis’ in terms of Paediatric Homecare Packages.
I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply on representation on the group referred to.
363. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if individual general practitioners or general practitioner representative bodies have been or will be consulted as part of the review of the child and adolescent mental health services standard operating procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4002/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 4 April 2017, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the situation at St. Anne’s day hospital, Limerick, remains the same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4006/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when reimbursement of FreeStyle Libre will be extended to persons with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4014/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
368. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [4017/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
369. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed in which a request has been made to increase home help hours. [4020/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
370. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the HSE psychiatric health services based in Green Road, Mullingar, will move to new premises in the primary care service building at Harbour Street, Mullingar. [4026/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
371. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [4032/18]
View answerThe 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.
372. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address an issue (details supplied) regarding annual leave for health care assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4060/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
373. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a house (details supplied) in County Wexford which is adapted for disability living and lies vacant most of the week; if the HSE plans to use respite funding to open the house for respite services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4065/18]
View answer374. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to fund a respite house (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4066/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
375. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans for expanding respite services in County Wexford in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4067/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
376. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can access services in Fermoy, County Cork. [4069/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
377. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if the reimbursement scheme for the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system will be extended to adults with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4074/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
378. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the expenditure incurred by Healthy Ireland on advertising for each year since its launch; and the funding allocated for such purposes in 2018. [4077/18]
View answerFrom 2013-2017 the Department of Health incurred no expenditure in relation to advertising costs for Healthy Ireland. However, during that time interval, both the HSE and Safefood have held a number of public information, awareness, and behaviour change campaigns under the Healthy Ireland banner, for which advertising is a key element. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to those organisations for attention and direct response to the Deputy.
A new communications and citizens engagement campaign, Healthy Ireland 2018, was launched by An Taoiseach on 6th January. The aim of the campaign is to encourage people to make positive choices to improve their physical and mental health, while also providing support and information to help people make those healthier choices. The focus will be on three key areas: eating more healthily, being more active, and minding our mental well-being.
The initial phase of the campaign includes a series of radio advertisements which are now being broadcast, and the development of a new web resource gov.ie/healthyireland. The campaign will build on the progress made in directing people to the available resources.
In relation to the Healthy Ireland 2018 campaign, an initial spend was incurred in relation to advertising in 2017. The funding allocation for 2018 is still being finalised. As the Healthy Ireland 2018 campaign is being managed by the Department of An Taoiseach's Strategic Communications Unit, the Deputy is advised to contact the Department of An Taoiseach for the relevant information.
379. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff in County Mayo in the community and primary care section, including but not limited to speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other therapy services, who have taken maternity leave or long-term sick leave in the past five years; the sections and-or departments these staff worked in; the length of time that staff were absent; the corresponding number of staff who were recruited and-or appointed to provide cover for the duration of the original staff members' absences, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4080/18]
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.
