Written Answers Nos. 212-231
212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will be examined; the reason for the delay in receiving an appointment; the status of the appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28519/18]
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.
214. 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. [28523/18]
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, since 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.
215. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the discussions that have taken place with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to setting up a centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28524/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgery appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28527/18]
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, since 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.
217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an officer (details supplied) is now in place; his plans to recruit additional staff to clear the backlog due to this position being vacant for a period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28533/18]
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.
218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a review of procedures for issuing medical cards to persons with cancer as per the programme for partnership Government has been conducted; and if so, the findings and recommendations of same. [28552/18]
View answerThe Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) was established by the Director General of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in January 2015 to provide clinical oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. Its establishment followed the completion of the work of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility.
The Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility found that it is not feasible, desirable, or ethically justifiable to list medical conditions for medical card eligibility. However, in an interim report to the HSE in 2015, the CAG recommended that all children under the age of 18 years with a diagnosis of cancer should be awarded a medical card for a period of five years. The HSE gave effect to this recommendation on 1 July 2015.
The Group was also tasked with developing guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions, so as to take account of the burden involved and the needs arising from the condition and to ensure that appropriate services are provided to people who need them. To that end the National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) in collaboration with the CAG has finalised the development of a Burden of Illness Questionnaire (BIQ).
The BIQ is now being utilized in selective circumstances where the assessing doctor in the NMCU requires more complete information to allow a comprehensive assessment of the person’s medical and social circumstances and any resulting undue financial hardship.
219. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been fully treated having been admitted to hospital four times in the past six weeks only to be discharged without having had all of the person's complex medical conditions addressed; if a query or complaint submitted on the matter to the hospital manager will be answered as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28554/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
220. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been approved and are waiting for home help services and home care packages in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28555/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of respite care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28580/18]
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.
222. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the National Treatment Purchase Fund can be utilised to alleviate waiting lists at various public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28584/18]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for collecting and validating all waiting lists for public hospitals. The most recently published NTPF figures for the end of May confirm that just under 78,600 patients are waiting for a hospital inpatient or day case procedure.
In Budget 2018, €50 million was provided to the NTPF to provide treatment for public patients this year, which more than doubled its 2017 total allocation for the NTPF.
I published the Inpatient and Day Case Action Plan in April which marked a very important milestone in delivering on the Government’s objective to tackle waiting lists. The Action Plan is a joint initiative between my Department, the NTPF and the HSE and has been developed to ensure an appropriate balance between high volume activities and offering treatment to complex long waiting patients.
Under the Plan, in 2018 the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital operations or procedures and the NTPF will deliver 22,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments. The NTPF commits to offer treatment to all patients waiting more than 9 months for treatment in a number of high volume specialities - including cataract, hip and knee replacement, tonsils and scopes.
Under the Plan, the NTPF and HSE will also invite proposals from hospitals for waiting list initiatives. The NTPF will provide funding to the solutions proposed if appropriate.
223. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which requests for specific medical and surgical procedures have dominated hospital waiting lists in the past two years; the procedures in place to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28585/18]
View answerImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and, e.g. €50 million was allocated to the NTPF in 2018 to provide treatment for patients.
Waiting list data for the past three years show that the highest waiting lists have been across the specialties of orthopaedics, ophthalmology and otolaryngology (ENT).
At the end of May this year, 56% of patients on the Inpatient / Daycase Waiting List were waiting less than 6 months, and 82% waiting less than 12 months for their procedure. This is despite the additional demands on our Acute Hospitals, which, since 2000 are carrying out four times more procedures for patients ages 65 and over and twice as many in the under 65 age group. The overall IPDC waiting list is currently the lowest it has been since October 2016 when it was 79,621.
The recently Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan launched in April, outlines the combined impact of HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) activity in 2018. The Action Plan has been developed to ensure an appropriate balance between high volume activities and offering treatment to complex long waiting patients. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.
Under the Action Plan the HSE will deliver 1.14 million elective inpatient and day case discharges and the NTPF will deliver 22,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments through both outsourcing and HSE insourcing.
The NTPF initiatives will include a number of high volume specialities and in particular 5,000 cataracts, 800 hip/knee replacements, 1,200 tonsillectomies. In addition, under the Plan, the NTPF commits to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 9 months for treatment in these high volume specialities.
Under the Plan, the NTPF and the HSE are also currently reviewing proposals from hospitals for waiting list initiatives. The NTPF will provide funding to the solutions proposed if appropriate.
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects the public hospital sector to respond to the challenges set out in the Sláintecare report; if he expects the necessary funding to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28586/18]
View answerThe Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare was established in recognition of the scale of the challenges facing the health service and was tasked with devising cross-party agreement on a long-term vision for healthcare and the direction of health policy over a 10 year period. Its report, Sláintecare, makes clear that a system-wide programme of reform, that has the full buy-in and support of all stakeholders in the health service, will be necessary to address these challenges.
The successful delivery of the ambitious reform plans envisaged in the Sláintecare report will be a significant undertaking and needs to be translated into a detailed and phased programme of work to be delivered over a ten year timeframe. In this regard, my Department is currently finalising an implementation plan in response to the Sláintecare report, with a focus on the initial three year period.
This implementation plan will give direction to all stakeholders in the system, including the acute hospital sector, on the actions that will need to be taken in the coming years.
I am also committed to investing in our acute hospital sector. The National Development Plan provides for €10.9bn to be invested in health infrastructure in the coming decade. This allocation includes a commitment to increase acute bed capacity by 2,600 and to build 3 new elective hospitals in Cork, Dublin and Galway. I believe that this investment will be essential in meeting future demand needs of our population and can also act as a catalyst for change.
The process that led to the development of the Sláintecare report has laid the foundation for consensus building and constructive engagement across all stakeholders. I intend to continue in this spirit and I look forward to working with stakeholders as we embark on this programme of reform.
225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for hip replacements at various hospitals throughout the country; the longest period of time a person has been on this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28587/18]
View answerImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the NTPF to provide treatment for patients. The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment to below 70,000 in 2018. This plan marks a very important milestone in delivering on this commitment.
In 2018 the NTPF will provide 22,000 inpatient day case procedures though both insourcing and outsourcing, while the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital operations or procedures This will mean that by the end of 2018 we will expect to see a significant reduction in the number waiting for a procedure to under 70,000 - from a peak of 86,100 in July 2017.
The Action Plan places a particular focus on hip and knee replacements, with €9.8 million allocated by the NTPF for such procedures. The plan commits to offering procedures to all patients waiting more than 9 months for a hip and/or knee replacement in 2018, if clinically suitable for treatment in an outsourced facility. The NTPF will also offer treatment for a range of other orthopaedic treatments in 2018.
While the improvements set out in the plan are significant, they are just the start, and I am committed to building on this progress with further initiatives to reduce waiting time for patients, including for those patients waiting for an outpatient appointment, within our Health System.
In relation to the specific data requested by the Deputy, a full breakdown of the waiting list for hip replacements is attached to this reply.
Waiting List Totals for Hip Replacements by Hospital by Wait Time Band as at 21/06/2018
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Grand Total |
|
|
Beaumont Hospital |
12 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
27 |
|
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
131 |
117 |
83 |
37 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
383 |
|
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
|
Connolly Hospital |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
|
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
14 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
|
Galway University Hospital |
94 |
41 |
37 |
38 |
22 |
14 |
5 |
251 |
|
Kerry General Hospital |
23 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
31 |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital |
29 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
54 |
|
Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene |
54 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
65 |
|
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
12 |
|
Mayo General Hospital |
50 |
37 |
34 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
22 |
168 |
|
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
40 |
26 |
41 |
24 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
148 |
|
National Children's Hospital at Tallaght University Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
54 |
24 |
20 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
107 |
|
Sligo Regional Hospital |
18 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
41 |
|
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
43 |
22 |
13 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
88 |
|
St. James's Hospital |
7 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
36 |
|
St. Vincent's University Hospital |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Tallaght University Hospital |
65 |
65 |
49 |
35 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
227 |
|
University Hospital Waterford |
5 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
|
Grand Total |
650 |
386 |
317 |
177 |
66 |
39 |
53 |
1688 |
|
Date |
Hospital |
Wait Time Band |
Total |
|
21/06/2018 |
Beaumont Hospital |
0-3 Months |
12 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Beaumont Hospital |
3-6 Months |
7 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Beaumont Hospital |
6-9 Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Beaumont Hospital |
12-15 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Beaumont Hospital |
18+ Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
0-3 Months |
131 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
3-6 Months |
117 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
6-9 Months |
83 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
9-12 Months |
37 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
12-15 Months |
9 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
15-18 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
18+ Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
0-3 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
3-6 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
6-9 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
9-12 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
12-15 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Children's University Hospital Temple Street |
18+ Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Connolly Hospital |
0-3 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Connolly Hospital |
3-6 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Connolly Hospital |
6-9 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Connolly Hospital |
9-12 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Connolly Hospital |
15-18 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
0-3 Months |
14 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
3-6 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
6-9 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
94 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
3-6 Months |
41 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
6-9 Months |
37 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
9-12 Months |
38 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
12-15 Months |
22 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
15-18 Months |
14 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Galway University Hospital |
18+ Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Kerry General Hospital |
0-3 Months |
23 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Kerry General Hospital |
3-6 Months |
8 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
29 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
3-6 Months |
8 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
6-9 Months |
6 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
9-12 Months |
6 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
12-15 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
15-18 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
18+ Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene |
0-3 Months |
54 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene |
3-6 Months |
8 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene |
6-9 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene |
12-15 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
4 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
6-9 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
9-12 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
15-18 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
18+ Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
0-3 Months |
50 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
3-6 Months |
37 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
6-9 Months |
34 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
9-12 Months |
12 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
12-15 Months |
7 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
15-18 Months |
6 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Mayo General Hospital |
18+ Months |
22 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
0-3 Months |
40 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
3-6 Months |
26 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
6-9 Months |
41 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
9-12 Months |
24 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
12-15 Months |
10 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
15-18 Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
18+ Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
National Children's Hospital at Tallaght University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin |
9-12 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
0-3 Months |
54 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
3-6 Months |
24 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
6-9 Months |
20 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
9-12 Months |
6 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
12-15 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Sligo Regional Hospital |
0-3 Months |
18 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Sligo Regional Hospital |
3-6 Months |
6 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Sligo Regional Hospital |
6-9 Months |
10 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Sligo Regional Hospital |
9-12 Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Sligo Regional Hospital |
12-15 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
43 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
3-6 Months |
22 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
6-9 Months |
13 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
9-12 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
12-15 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
15-18 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
18+ Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
0-3 Months |
7 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
3-6 Months |
10 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
6-9 Months |
7 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
9-12 Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
12-15 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
15-18 Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. James's Hospital |
18+ Months |
2 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. Vincent's University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
St. Vincent's University Hospital |
6-9 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
0-3 Months |
65 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
3-6 Months |
65 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
6-9 Months |
49 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
9-12 Months |
35 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
12-15 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
15-18 Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
Tallaght University Hospital |
18+ Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
University Hospital Waterford |
0-3 Months |
5 |
|
21/06/2018 |
University Hospital Waterford |
3-6 Months |
3 |
|
21/06/2018 |
University Hospital Waterford |
9-12 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
University Hospital Waterford |
15-18 Months |
1 |
|
21/06/2018 |
University Hospital Waterford |
18+ Months |
1 |
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of the next stage of development of Naas General Hospital with particular reference to upgrading the endoscopy services; if his attention has been drawn to the need for the immediate implementation of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28588/18]
View answerMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the proposed new endoscopy unit at Naas General Hospital.
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which a streamlined support service exists throughout the public hospital sector to ensure that consultants have an opportunity to carry out the maximum number of procedures and to ensure that ancillary facilities such as theatre staff, equipment and theatre space remains available and does not impede progress in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28589/18]
View answerImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.
In relation to your particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate and financial provision remains available to his Department to meet the requirements of the mental health services with particular reference to the need to ensure the maintenance of the necessary supportive structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28590/18]
View answerThe strengthening of Mental Health Services is a priority for me and for this Government. The mental health budget has risen from €711 million in 2012 to over €912 million in 2018, an increase of over €200m, or around 28%, in six years. I have already secured agreement from the Minister for Public Expenditure that the budget will increase by a further €55 Million in 2019.
This funding increase has helped to increase staffing levels, introduce new posts, improve our seven-days-a-week response and liaison services and to develop new clinical programmes.
In April 10,008 staff were employed in mental health services. Staffing levels in mental health services show an increase of approximately 193 when compared to the April 2017 figure. In excess of 2,000 new posts have been approved since 2012 up to the end of 2017, of which some 1,352 have been recruited or are in the recruitment process.
While the level of vacancies and difficulty in recruiting skilled staff continues to pose a significant challenge to service provision, particularly in CAMHS, the provision of 136 new Primary Care Psychologists (including 22 basic grade psychology posts and 114 Assistant Psychologists) aims to reduce pressure on specialist CAMHS. Another measure in this area has seen the increase of Psychiatric Nurse Undergraduates places by 130 per year by 2021/22.
In relation to improved 7/7 (seven-days-a-week) response and liaison services, the HSE is now in the final stages of recruiting the staff required to deliver 7/7 Mental Health service cover for the areas that do not currently have a service in place.
Work continues to progress on mental health Clinical Programmes such as the Eating Disorder Care Programme, Perinatal Mental Health, ADHD in Adults and Children, and Dual Diagnosis of those with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse.
While funding mental health services, which is not exclusive to my department, is an important component of achieving a reduction in suicides and improved services, simply adding more money to the budget will not improve mental health services on its own. I would welcome proposals outlining recommendations and proposed actions from any organisation, which can in turn be evaluated on outcomes and available funding.
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which adequate numbers of nurses are likely to become available throughout the public health sector over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28591/18]
View answerThe main source of supply of nurses for the public health system is from those who graduate from the undergraduate degree programme for nursing. Projections on the number of nurses due to become available are based upon previous student intake, those who complete nursing programmes and subsequently register with the NMBI.
Of the cohort of 1,570 students who commenced this programme in 2012, 1,428 registered with the NMBI in 2016. In 2017, a total of 1,598 commenced the education programme and 1,289 Irish trained nurses and midwives registered.
The number of places available on the undergraduate programme and therefore the potential supply from the education sector prior to 2016 was approximately 1,570 students. In 2016, the number of places available on the undergraduate degree programme for nursing increased from 1,570 to 1,630. This cohort are due to complete in 2020. A further increase of 130 places occurred in 2017 with a total increase of 200 places due to complete in 2021.
In general terms, the number of available places has been increasing and should have a positive impact on the number of nurses who are likely to become available to the public health sector in the coming years.
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which use of the single European market can be identified as a means of alleviating the impact of persons faced with the high cost of experimental drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28592/18]
View answerEach EU member state is responsible for the procurement of its own medicinal products. However, our membership of the single market offers an opportunity for international cooperation with other member countries to try and reduce the cost of new drugs. The challenge of securing affordable access to innovate medicines is not unique to Ireland and we have been engaging with other EU countries in an effort to identify solutions.
Ireland joined the BeNeLuxA Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy on 22 June 2018. This Agreement is in line with my objective to work with other European countries to identify workable solutions, in an increasingly challenging environment, to secure timely access for patients to new medicines in an affordable and sustainable way.
In addition to BeNeLuxA, Ireland is participating in a number of other voluntary EU forums, including the Roundtable meetings with EU Health Ministers and the Pharmaceutical Industry, High Level Pharmaceutical Policy Meetings and the Valletta Technical Committee. These platforms are currently exploring possible areas for cooperation including information sharing, horizon scanning and possible price negotiations and joint procurement. Such platforms could also lead to faster access for patients for some treatments.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which staff shortages at various levels continue to be identified as a contributory factor causing delays for persons awaiting various procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28593/18]
View answerThere are recruitment and retention difficulties in certain areas of the health service, including some consultant and nursing specialties. In these instances, the HSE utilises a range of measures, including agency, locum and other-short term arrangements to support service delivery. Following on from its first report, in which it identified recruitment and retention problems in specialist groups in the health sector that are internationally in demand, the Pay Commission is currently giving consideration to a number of groups including nurses and consultants.
The Health Service Capacity Review which I published in January highlighted the scale of reform needed to meet the healthcare demands of our growing and ageing population. Under the National Development Plan capital funding for our health services, €10.9 billion over the next ten years, will be 165% higher than it was for the last 10 years. This provides a real, long-term opportunity to improve our health services, drive down waiting lists, increase bed capacity, reform pathways of care and modernise how we deliver health services guided by the principles in the Sláintecare report.
Even with the required reforms, the Review concludes that acute hospital bed capacity will need to increase by 2,600 to support timely delivery of care. This will require additional staffing at all levels and real changes to healthcare delivery in order to have a sustainable healthcare system, with an emphasis on public health and illness prevention.
In the short term, reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. In Budget 2018, €50 million was provided to the NTPF to provide treatment for public patients this year, which more than doubled its 2017 total allocation for the NTPF.
The most recently published National Treatment Purchase Fund figures for the end of May confirm that just under 78,600 patients are waiting for a hospital inpatient or day case procedure. This represents a fall of more than 7,500 patients, or almost 9% in just 10 months. This positive progress in reducing waiting times for patients waiting for a hospital procedure is the result of the focus and investment by Government in this area utilising available capacity within and outside of the public health service. In Budget 2018, €50 million was provided to the NTPF to provide treatment for public patients this year, which more than doubled its 2017 total allocation for the NTPF.
