Written Answers Nos 962-978
962. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 5 December 2017, the reason it took his Department from 27 November 2017 until 5 March 2018 to provide a reply to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16382/18]
View answerOn 5 December 2017, I asked the HSE to reply directly to you in respect of the service matter raised in Parliamentary Question 312 of 5 December 2017.
I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly in relation to the query now raised.
963. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to address the issue of doctors working in hospitals as consultants who are not on the Medical Council’s specialist register as such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16384/18]
View answerUnder section 57 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE’s regulatory functions include responsibility for all Consultant appointments in the public health service in Ireland including HSE hospitals, voluntary hospitals, mental health services and other agencies; whether additional, replacement, temporary or locum.
In March 2008 the HSE amended the qualifications specified for Consultant posts to require membership of the specialist division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council. The HSE Policy in respect of all Consultant Appointments, both permanent and temporary is a requirement that they are on the Specialist Register.
The HSE issued instructions to all managers in July 2017 in relation to the management of those in posts who are not on the Specialist Register. These include putting in place a risk mitigation plan where the appointee does not hold the specified qualifications. This can include appropriate senior clinical oversight, if required. Consultants appointed prior to 2008 who do not hold specialist registration are to be supported in achieving registration.
Employers have also been asked to ensure that the contracts of temporary or locum doctors who do not hold the qualifications required for the post they occupy be ended and employment terminated. There are limited circumstances where, an experienced doctor, usually a Senior Registrar, who would not be on the Specialist Register may cover for an absent Consultant. This is in order to ensure senior medical coverage and to ensure the provision of safe quality care. The HSE has stated that this only occurs as a final option, in emergency circumstances.
Any doctor who occupies a consultant post, even if he/she is not on the specialist register would still hold a medical licence and would be on a division of the Medical Council Register. They are also fully qualified to practice medicine.
I expect the HSE to comply with statutory and policy requirements when filling consultant posts and I am satisfied that it has taken the steps necessary to do so.
964. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when work on the redevelopment of sites (details supplied) will commence; the number of beds in operation at the facilities; the number of beds to be made available in the proposed redeveloped facility; when the redevelopment is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16387/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
965. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the development of a proposed new primary care centre to serve the Laytown and Bettystown areas of County Meath; the amount spent by the HSE to date on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16390/18]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
966. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when work on the development of the new public nursing home facility at St. Brigid's Hospital, Ardee, County Louth, will commence; the number of long-term nursing beds in operation at the St. Joseph's facility, Ardee; the number of beds to be made available in the proposed new facility; when the new development is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16397/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
967. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if after implementation through the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017, a partner in a same-sex relationship and parent to a child who was born before the implementation of the Bill will retrospectively be listed as a parent on the child's birth certificate along with their partner due to the fact that Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 have not yet been implemented. [16398/18]
View answerThere are a number of interconnections between Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships 2015 and the provisions outlined in the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017. In an effort to ensure that a coherent and consistent approach is adopted in relation to the broader regulatory framework for assisted human reproduction, these interconnections and their compatibility are being examined and considered as part of the process of drafting the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. Sections 20 - 23 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 are intended as an enabling provision for the retrospective recognition of parentage in circumstances such as those described. These sections will come into effect when Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 are commenced.
A number of technical drafting issues have come to light in relation to Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. The implications of these issues are being explored by officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General and clarification on whether primary legislation is required to resolve these issues is being sought. In the event that primary legislation is required I would seek to deal with it as a matter of urgency.
968. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase staff numbers in the cross-border directive office in view of the volume of applications it is receiving; if applications can be processed more promptly and efficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16400/18]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
969. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances and crews covering Sligo town throughout the day on a 24-hour basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16401/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
970. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances and crews that cover County Sligo throughout the day on a 24-hour basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16402/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
971. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if there are different numbers of ambulances and crews available during the week and different times during the day; if so, the reason therefor; the breakdown in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16403/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
972. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the procedures which govern the handover of patients to hospitals by ambulances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16404/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
973. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the length of time a handover of a patient to hospital by an ambulance crew takes at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16405/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
974. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health when additional ambulances and crews will be made available to County Sligo and Sligo town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16406/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
975. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the geographical areas of County Sligo and Sligo town ambulances and crews cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16407/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
976. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be offered comprehensive services from CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16420/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
977. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in his Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16432/18]
View answerMy Department has one temporary clerical officer who has been engaged on a contract of two years' duration for specific work to be completed over a fixed period of time and it is not anticipated that this temporary clerical officer will be retained beyond the end of that period.
978. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the reason for excluding persons over 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes from accessing the FreeStyle Libre device which will assist in their health situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16439/18]
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.
