Written Answers Nos. 429-444
429. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the way in which the commitment to develop low-secure, high-dependency rehabilitation services for those with severe mental illness and complex presentations through investment in new services has been honoured to date in 2018; the specific services invested in; and the location of same in tabular form. [31965/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
430. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the way in which service responses to improve the physical health of mental health service users have been enhanced to date in 2018, as per the commitment in the 2018 HSE service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31966/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
431. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the delivery of an agreed stepped model of care for those who are homeless and with mental illness as per the commitment in the 2018 HSE service plan. [31967/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
432. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the way in which service responses to improve the physical health of mental health service users have been enhanced to date in 2018, as per the commitment in the 2018 HSE service plan [31968/18]
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 James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the implementation of the recommendations of the national recovery framework in mental health. [31969/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
434. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the way in which the improvement of compliance through monitoring services in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission to achieve real time oversight supported by ICT automation. [31970/18]
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 James Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the HSE best practice guidance for mental health services, including the development and delivery of training and reporting for quality surveillance. [31971/18]
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 James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the implementation of a revised HSE incident management framework. [31972/18]
View answerAs this is service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply within 15 working days, I ask that he contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
437. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the report carried out by the HSE on Lifford Community Hospital will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31979/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
438. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason the consultant paediatrician, senior dietitian and diabetes nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, issued a letter to the parents of those attending the services outlining restrictions to the services and stating that there is a severe lack of resources available; the reason this situation arose; the steps he plans to take to ensure that the services in question are fully resourced; if each parent will be contacted to inform them of his views on the matter in order to alleviate the fears created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31980/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
439. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the funding provided towards capital projects in counties Meath and Louth in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018, by project name, location and cost in tabular form. [31992/18]
View answer440. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the applications submitted for funding and projects from Meath and Louth County Councils in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 for projects decided upon or in progress in tabular form. [32008/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 440 together.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, my Department has asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to capital projects in counties Meath and Louth in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018.
441. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the planned timeline for implementation of the patient safety Bill; the disclosure policies that will be in effect until the new legislation comes into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32015/18]
View answerOn 5 July last, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Patient Safety Bill. This new legislation provides for a number of patient safety priorities, including the mandatory open disclosure of serious reportable patient safety incidents, the notification of reportable patient safety incidents to the appropriate Regulator, the use of clinical audit to improve patient care and outcomes, and the extension of the Health Information Quality Authority’s remit to private hospitals. I have since referred the General Scheme of the Patient Safety Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health in order to allow the Committee to consider the undertaking of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Bill. I would hope to be in a position to introduce the Bill into the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity.
In addition, on 3 July, I signed the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017 (Part 4) (Commencement Order) 2018 in order to prescribe Regulations in relation to open disclosure in line with the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017. Subsequently, on 4 July, I signed the Civil Liability (Open Disclosure) (Prescribed Statements) Regulations 2018, to come into effect on 23 September 2018. This timeframe will allow health services providers, in line with the Act of 2017, the space to put in place any additional required resources, along with the appropriate governance structures, to ensure compliance with the Regulations. In order to achieve this, clear lines of accountability and responsibility in relation to planning, developing, delivering, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on this important patient safety measure, in order to ensure that patients are placed at the centre of the process, is vital.
These Regulations are an enhancement of the existing approach to open disclosure, which should be conducted in line with current policies and procedures, including the Health Service Executive's Open Disclosure Policy (2013). Open disclosure should continue to take place in all situations where it is appropriate and necessary.
Provisions for mandatory open disclosure of serious reportable patient safety incidents, as provided for in the Patient Safety Bill, are closely aligned with the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017. Therefore, when the Patient Safety Act comes into effect, it will complement the open disclosure model already in operation under existing policies and the Act of 2017.
442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the 12 additional women that it has been disclosed have been affected by the CervicalCheck scandal have been told they are affected; the way in which they are being supported by services; if not, the reason this has not happened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32016/18]
View answerThe HSE has advised that between 2008 and early 2018, 1,482 cervical cancer cases were notified to CervicalCheck and, as the Deputy will now be aware, it initiated a process of clinical audit in relation to these. The Serious Incident Management Team established by the HSE identified in early May that there were 209 women to whom results should have been disclosed.
Clinical audit was ongoing in relation to a further 12 cases within the 1,482. These are now complete and disclosure is underway. I am advised that as of 6 July, contact with 6 of the women had been made. Access to the package of measures, announced by Government on the 12th of May, is being facilitated for the women through the Liaison Officers in the Community Healthcare Organisations.
443. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the proposed timeline for the audit of the 3,000 tests that was due to be completed; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32017/18]
View answer520. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the cases of cervical cancer which were forwarded to CervicalCheck by the National Cancer Registry; the number of women in this cohort; and when the smear history of these women will be audited. [32373/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 520 together.
The International Clinical Expert Review Panel led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) will review the results of screening tests of all women who have developed cervical cancer who participated in the screening programme since it was established. This comprises approximately 1,850 women from within the overall cohort of 1,482 women diagnosed since 2008 who were notified to CervicalCheck and a further 1,630 women identified by the National Cancer Registry. The review will provide independent clinical assurance to women about the timing of their diagnosis, and any issues relating to their treatment and outcome.
The terms of reference and scope of the review have been agreed and the preparatory phase of the review is underway in line with the terms of reference. The Department of Health is committed to continuing to support and facilitate the RCOG and the HSE in progressing this review as expediently as possible, and to do so in a way that ensures quality, comprehensiveness and integrity of the results.
444. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the north Dublin mental health services for older persons inpatient accommodation unit which was temporarily relocated in 2011 from St. Ita’s, Portrane to St. Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview; if the ABC unit at St. Ita’s, Portrane has been refurbished as planned; if he still plans to transfer the service back to the refurbished ABC unit to become a dedicated service as announced in 2011; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32018/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
