Written Answers Nos 423-440
423. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if a dedicated stroke specialist nurse at South Tipperary General Hospital will be appointed; the efforts that have been made to recruit for the post which has been vacant since January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21304/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
424. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if plans exist to put a high dependency unit into Mayo University Hospital; if consideration has been given to this matter in view of the clear demand for this in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21315/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
425. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children with a suspected diagnosis of autism are being told that their child will not get seen by the early interventions team for over a year after initial diagnosis and concerns from a developmental paediatrician; the reason for the lengthy delays in view of the urgency of early interventions for these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21327/18]
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.
426. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and an appointment scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21330/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
427. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if the dental clinic in Duleek, County Meath will remain open in the coming year. [21333/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
428. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if an application for a hearing aid by a person (details supplied) has been processed by the HSE. [21336/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
429. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a reply will issue to a person (details supplied). [21337/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to issue a detailed reply to the individual in question.
430. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has been advised of a date for a hearing test by the HSE. [21338/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
431. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to include persons who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy disorder as a result of the swine flu vaccine in the cases that the State Claims Agency will shortly present to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21339/18]
View answerAs of 9 May 2018, legal proceedings against the Minister, the Health Services Executive and GlaxoSmithKline Biological SA have been initiated by seventy individuals. The plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. The management of the cases transferred to the State Claims Agency (SCA) on 15 October 2013 when the Taoiseach signed the National Treasury Management Agency (Delegation of Claims Management Functions) (Amendment) Order 2013.
I have been informed by the Agency that the cases are before the courts in relation to the management of discovery in the lead case. It would not be appropriate for a Minister to interfere in the courts case management of these claims which are delegated to the SCA for management.
With regard to the broader issue, I am continuing to engage with the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Finance on what further improvements can be made to the legal framework governing the management of medical negligence cases.
432. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a home help assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21342/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
433. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of a new assessment of needs process; and the work carried out with stakeholders such as a society (details supplied) that have expressed concerns on this matter. [21346/18]
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.
434. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health his long-term plans for the Rosalie Centre, Castlerea, County Roscommon; if the centre will remain open and be restored to its full capacity of 33 residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21362/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans for the 12 persons residing in the Rosalie Centre, Castlerea, County Roscommon; his views on information circulating that they may be moved to another centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21363/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
436. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) failed to attend a meeting with the Minister of State with special responsibility for mental health and older people to discuss the future of the Rosalie Centre, Castlerea, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21364/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
437. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting times for CT scans for oncology patients as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21366/18]
View answerI am advised by the HSE and the NTPF that waiting times for diagnostics such as CT scans are not held centrally by either body.
I have requested a report from the HSE on waiting times for CT scans for oncology patients and I will provide the Deputy with details of the report as soon as it is available.
With regard to the individual patient query, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
438. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the reason the number of persons waiting for ophthalmology treatment in March 2018 in certain age brackets (details supplied) in the CHO4 area are solely from County Kerry; the reason the number of persons over 65 years of age who are waiting more than 52 weeks in the county is greater in comparison to County Cork areas; the steps being taken to address this disparity for persons in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21368/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
439. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the detail of the system for the provision of dental care in primary schools; the body which parents should contact regarding concerns of a lack of treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21369/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
440. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the concerns of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and addressed; if an alternative screening provision for repeat testing will be offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21371/18]
View answerWhile I appreciate the need to reassure women in relation to CervicalCheck, the clinical advice from the HSE and my Department is clear that there is no evidence that the clinical and technical aspects of the programme have performed outside or below the quality guidelines set for it, or below international standards.
All laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme’s standards and have ISO accreditation, certified by the relevant national authorities. The cervical screening programme has reduced the risk of women developing cervical cancer and there was a significant downward trend in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer between 2010 and 2015. Also, cervical cancers are being diagnosed at an earlier stage and five-year survival rates have improved.
Meanwhile, I have arranged that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and who following consultation with her GP determines that she wishes to have a further test, may do so without charge.
