Written Answers Nos. 640-656
640. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if each of the 12 hospitals which had a foetal monitor (details supplied) in use will be reviewed individually to ascertain if safety was compromised at units over the past nine years; and if so, the details of same. [14956/18]
View answer641. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if documentary evidence is available in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018 in the 12 hospitals which had a foetal monitor in use; if procedures (details supplied) were carried out; and if so, the details of same. [14957/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
My Department was advised on the 26th January 2018 of a matter related to an Avalon fetal monitors. The HSE as a precautionary measure established a Risk Assessment Team to determine if the Avalon monitor posed a clinical risk in excess of other equivalent medical devices in use in the Irish market.
My Department has been advised that the Risk Assessment Team has concluded its examination of the fetal monitors and has submitted its report to the HSE National Director, Acute Hospitals.
642. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14958/18]
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.
643. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to find interim solutions to the overcrowding in the emergency department at University Hospital, Limerick; if modular units are under consideration; the timeframe for such units; the other measures being developed to provide access to diagnostics and other services in the community that would avoid the necessity to go to the emergency department; his further plans to expand the services in ancillary hospitals in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14961/18]
View answer884. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if a modular unit will be granted to University Hospital Limerick as a short term measure to improve bed capacity; if this will be integrated with an already rolling out modular project in order to further fast track; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15923/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 884 together.
Against a background of growing demand for unscheduled care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, Government provided €30m in 2017 and a further €40m in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments. Consequently, over 200 additional beds have been opened this winter across a range of sites, including 17 beds in University Hospital Limerick.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has undertaken a Health Service Capacity Review in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment, the findings of which conclude that by 2031 nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds will be required in the system.
In view of the current pressures on the hospital system, which particularly impact on EDs, my Department is working with the HSE to develop a plan to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened this year and into 2019 to alleviate overcrowding in our hospital EDs and improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.
As part of this process, I understand that the HSE has brought forward a range of proposals to increase bed capacity across the hospital system, which include the use of modular builds in certain sites. My Department is currently examining these proposals. No final decisions have been made at this time. However, I can assure the Deputy that this work is being undertaken with the highest priority by my Department.
Finally, a review of the Winter Initiative 2017/18 is currently being undertaken, which will inform the development of a three year unscheduled care plan, and the identification of measures to improve ED performance next winter.
644. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if patients who spend the entirety of their stay at a hospital on a trolley are subject to the €80 levy; the revenue that was raised from this levy in 2017; if the data is not available, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14962/18]
View answerThe current statutory charge for attending an Emergency Department is €100 which applies to out-patient services provided at any of the following locations: an emergency department, a casualty department, a minor injury unit or any other facility providing a similar service. There are a number of exemptions to this charge, including where a person is a medical card holder, where a person attends his or her GP and is referred to the emergency department, where attendance results in admission as an in-patient or where services are made available in respect of a prescribed disease or disability to children under 16 years of age.
Where a person is admitted to a public hospital for an in-patient service, including that provided on a day case basis, the €80 statutory public in-patient daily charge (up to a maximum of €800 in a 12 month period) will be applied from the date of admission, subject to a number of exemptions, including where a person is a Medical Card holder.
The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when they will receive a hospital appointment. [14966/18]
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.
646. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 8 March 2018, the name, title, level and division of each person within the HSE's management structure of CHO5, not restricted to the heads of service to whom these persons would report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14985/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
647. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if home supports will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14988/18]
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.
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 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.
648. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 6 February 2018, the reason students that started after 2012 are not entitled to transport to assist them getting to and from the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14989/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
649. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number by which the specialist training scheme in general practice was over or under subscribed in each of the past ten years; the number of places in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14996/18]
View answerAs GP training is currently the responsibility of the HSE, I have arranged for the question to be transferred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
650. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the health or other benefits of cigarettes versus nicotine reducing cigarettes (details supplied) or vaping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15000/18]
View answerAll products containing tobacco are harmful. Smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland, killing almost 6,000 people a year.
The primary objectives set out in the Tobacco Free Ireland (2013) policy document are to denormalise smoking and to protect children from the dangers of tobacco consumption. Tobacco Free Ireland sets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free (i.e. with a prevalence rate of less than 5%) by 2025.
Tobacco Free Ireland contains a number of recommendations to assist smokers in quitting tobacco use. One of those recommendations is to examine the evidence regarding the outcomes of the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy ('NRT') and other approaches.
The Department of Health requested HIQA to undertake a Health Technology Assessment ('HTA') of the clinical and cost effectiveness of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical smoking cessation products and services. The HTA was published in 2017 and found that all the pharmacological interventions were effective compared to no treatment and that a prescription only drug called varenicline was the most effective drug on its own. However, the HTA also found that using a combination of varenicline and NRT was the most effective pharmacological intervention and that people using this combination were over three and a half times more likely to quit than those who were in a control group and did not receive this treatment.
Group behavioural therapy, individual counselling, intensive advice and telephone support were all found to be effective behavioural interventions with group therapy found to be the most effective of these interventions. The addition of a behavioural intervention to a pharmacological intervention improved the effectiveness of the intervention.
The HTA recommended that smoking cessation services should seek to increase the uptake of varenicline, either alone or in combination with NRT, for smokers who want to use a pharmacological support.
In relation to vaping, although the HTA found that results for e-cigarettes are promising, there is currently a lack of evidence to recommend their use as a smoking cessation aid and at present no e-cigarette product is licensed as a medicinal product in Ireland. The safety of e-cigarettes is an evolving area of research; while potentially safer than smoking, evidence on its long-term safety has yet to be established. In the absence of additional evidence confirming the effectiveness of e-cigarettes, the HTA recommended that the HSE smoking cessation services should seek to increase the uptake of combination NRT treatment among those for whom varenicline is contraindicated, not tolerated or not preferred.
The results of the HTA are informing the development by the HSE, in conjunction with the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee, of national clinical guidelines. My Department will continue to monitor the emerging research on all products, so as to inform decisions around any future additional regulation in this area.
651. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic procedures in the public system that were carried out by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and their team (details supplied) at University College Hospital, Galway; the number of private orthopaedic procedures carried out by the consultant and their team in the hospital in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15006/18]
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.
652. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic procedures that were carried out by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and their team (details supplied) at a hospital in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15007/18]
View answerPublic hospital services in Ireland are provided by the HSE and are organised into seven Hospital Groups. The services delivered include inpatient scheduled care, unscheduled/emergency care, maternity services, outpatient and diagnostic services. A wide range of emergency, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services are provided in Ireland's public hospitals.
However, as the Bonsecours Hospital Galway is a private facility, the Department and the HSE do not have a remit in this area and do not hold the requested information.
653. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting and the length of time they have been waiting for an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon (details supplied) at University College Hospital, Galway in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15008/18]
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.
654. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to the various drugs and alcohol taskforce groups nationally since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15010/18]
View answer655. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the additional resources that have been provided to drugs taskforces since the additional responsibilities for alcohol has been assigned to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15011/18]
View answer656. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the additional allocation of responsibility for alcohol abuse being given to drugs and alcohol taskforces nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15012/18]
View answer659. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the allocation of funding to community based drug projects and groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15015/18]
View answer848. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the funding which has been allocated to support and enhance the capacity of local and regional drug task forces and for a forum to support the implementation of proposals in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017 – 2025, by task force and region for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15730/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 654 to 656, inclusive, and 659 and 848 together.
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and in coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities. Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In excess of €27.6m has been allocated to Task Forces by the HSE and the Department of Health for community-based drugs initiatives this year. This level of funding is consistent with the amounts provided for the last four years.
The budget allocation for the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive for 2010 to 2018 is set out in the table hereunder. Details of the allocations for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces before 2010 are not readily available.
Arising from a request from the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy a review of Task Forces was completed in 2012. One of the main changes recommended by the review was that Drug Task Forces be renamed Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and given a role in relation to tackling alcohol.
In light of their expanded role, a substance misuse measure was included in the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2014 and the Task Forces were identified as the key structures through which the measure would be implemented.
In excess of €930,000 in additional funding was recommended for disbursement to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Dormant Accounts Fund for substance misuse initiatives. The grants to Task Forces were provided from the Dormant Accounts Fund on a once-off basis to undertake a range of coordinated activities aimed at raising awareness of drug and alcohol-related harm in local communities in line with the National Drugs Strategy.
The Community Action on Alcohol Pilot Project was developed in 2014 to provide Task Forces with training on community mobilisation in order to develop coordinated strategies to change behaviour around alcohol and raise awareness of alcohol related harm. In addition, a number of Task Forces have benefitted from training provided by the Alcohol Forum for the development of local alcohol action plans.
I strongly believe that resources should be directed towards interventions that are most effective in reducing problem substance use. Measuring the effectiveness of responses to the drug problem is therefore an important objective of public policy. Towards this end, my Department will develop a performance measurement system by 2020 which will improve accountability across all sectors, including the task forces.
I intend meeting with the Chairs of the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces shortly to discuss the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, including initiatives to strengthen the capacity of task forces to support the implementation of the strategy.
|
LDATF |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 DOH |
2014 HSE |
|
Ballyfermot |
€1,533,826 |
€1,492,413 |
€1,569,489 |
€1,522,404 |
€461,150 |
€1,025,582 |
|
Ballymun |
€1,243,552 |
€1,209,976 |
€1,180,695 |
€1,145,274 |
€632,817 |
€488,098 |
|
Blanchardstown |
€1,184,200 |
€1,152,227 |
€1,124,343 |
€1,090,613 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
|
Bray |
€1,656,849 |
€1,612,114 |
€1,573,101 |
€1,525,908 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
|
Canal Communities |
€1,645,413 |
€1,600,987 |
€1,562,243 |
€1,515,376 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
|
Clondalkin |
€1,495,408 |
€1,455,032 |
€1,421,577 |
€1,428,930 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
|
Cork |
€1,662,621 |
€1,617,730 |
€1,578,581 |
€1,531,224 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
|
Dublin 12 |
€1,180,005 |
€1,148,145 |
€1,120,360 |
€1,086,749 |
€74,013 |
€990,134 |
|
Dublin NE |
€1,294,199 |
€1,259,256 |
€1,228,782 |
€988,234 |
€422,251 |
€594,836 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
€975,475 |
€949,137 |
€926,167 |
€898,382 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
|
Finglas Cabra |
€986,452 |
€959,818 |
€936,590 |
€908,492 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
|
NIC |
€2,495,777 |
€2,428,391 |
€2,369,624 |
€2,298,535 |
€576,956 |
€1,652,623 |
|
SIC |
€2,276,911 |
€2,215,434 |
€2,161,821 |
€2,096,966 |
€255,720 |
€1,788,337 |
|
Tallaght |
€1,316,913 |
€1,281,356 |
€1,250,347 |
€1,262,837 |
€452,712 |
€782,240 |
|
Total LDATF |
€20,947,601 |
€20,382,016 |
€20,003,720 |
€19,299,924 |
€5,125,444 |
€13,823,981 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RDATF |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 DOH |
2014 HSE |
|
East Coast Area |
€896,933 |
€872,716 |
€851,596 |
€584,227 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
|
Midland |
€894,739 |
€870,581 |
€849,513 |
€824,028 |
€307,810 |
€491,497 |
|
Mid-West |
€1,576,095 |
€1,533,540 |
€1,496,428 |
€1,451,535 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
|
North East |
€1,038,588 |
€1,010,546 |
€986,091 |
€956,508 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
|
North West |
€806,369 |
€784,597 |
€765,610 |
€742,642 |
€272,485 |
€447,878 |
|
North Dublin City & Co. |
€870,066 |
€846,574 |
€826,087 |
€801,304 |
€456,080 |
€321,184 |
|
South East |
€1,193,005 |
€1,160,794 |
€1,132,703 |
€1,098,722 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
|
South West |
€894,750 |
€870,592 |
€849,524 |
€824,038 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
|
Southern |
€1,089,369 |
€1,059,956 |
€1,034,305 |
€1,003,276 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
|
Western |
€740,085 |
€720,104 |
€702,677 |
€681,597 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
|
Total RDATF |
€9,999,999 |
€9,730,000 |
€9,494,534 |
€8,967,877 |
€1,482,371 |
€7,216,469 |
|
Overall Total |
€30,947,600 |
€30,112,016 |
€29,498,254 |
€28,267,801 |
€27,648,265 |
table contd.
|
LDATF |
2015 DOH |
2015 HSE |
2016 DOH |
2016 HSE |
2017 DOH |
2017 HSE |
2018 DOH |
2018 HSE |
|
Ballyfermot |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
|
Ballymun |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
|
Blanchardstown |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
|
Bray |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
|
Canal Communities |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
|
Clondalkin |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
|
Cork |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
|
Dublin 12 |
€70,997 |
€993,150 |
€70,397 |
€993,750 |
€70,397 |
€993,750 |
€70,397 |
€993,750 |
|
Dublin NE |
€422,251 |
€594,836 |
€239,971 |
€777,116 |
€239,971 |
€777,116 |
€239,971 |
€777,116 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
|
Finglas Cabra |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
|
NIC |
€494,856 |
€1,734,723 |
€394,856 |
€1,834,723 |
€394,856 |
€1,834,723 |
€394,856 |
€1,834,723 |
|
SIC |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
|
Tallaght |
€341,438 |
€893,514 |
€336,022 |
€898,930 |
€336,022 |
€898,930 |
€336,022 |
€898,930 |
|
Total LDATF |
€4,433,814 |
€14,515,611 |
€4,145,518 |
€14,803,907 |
€4,145,518 |
€14,803,907 |
€4,145,518 |
€14,803,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RDATF |
2015 DOH |
2015 HSE |
2016 DOH |
2016 HSE |
2017 DOH |
2017 HSE |
2018 DOH |
2018 HSE |
|
East Coast Area |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
|
Midland |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
|
Mid-West |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
|
North East |
€0 |
€927,813 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
|
North West |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
|
North Dublin City & Co. |
€309,778 |
€467,486 |
€266,245 |
€511,019 |
€266,245 |
€511,019 |
€266,245 |
€511,019 |
|
South East |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
|
South West |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
|
Southern |
€0 |
€973,178 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
|
Western |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
|
Total RDATF |
€1,151,223 |
€7,547,617 |
€1,107,690 |
€7,591,150 |
€1,107,690 |
€7,591,150 |
€1,107,690 |
€7,591,150 |
|
Overall Total |
€27,648,265 |
€27,648,265 |
€27,648,265 |
€27,648,265 |
