Written Answers Nos. 565-584
565. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if proposals to provide additional funding for persons with dementia will be considered in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36480/18]
View answerIn order to meet the challenges faced by people with dementia, the Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. The Strategy aims to improve dementia care to allow people with dementia to live well for as long as possible and to deliver improved services and supports. The Strategy contains 35 priority and additional actions and its implementation is being led by the National Dementia Office in the HSE. The office has made substantial progress towards developing evidence-based care pathways for people with dementia and progress to date, as well as future plans, is recorded in the mid-term review of the Strategy's implementation, which was published in May this year. Plans are progressing to further implement the Dementia Strategy through the National Dementia Office, including in the area of diagnosis, post-diagnostic supports and care pathways.
In 2016 and 2017, the National Dementia Office partnered with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland on a project to map dementia-specific community-based services and supports. It provides a useful snapshot and baseline study into what, where and when dementia services are being offered. The study has also been used to inform a service finder hosted on the National Dementia Office’s website. This allows people to search for dementia-specific community services in their area. There are gaps in access to services and a large variance in what services are provided across the country. The National Dementia Office has met with senior HSE officials in each Community Healthcare Organisation region to highlight gaps in each area and to develop local action plans to improve service provision.
The National Dementia Strategy calls for the HSE to consider the provision of dementia advisers, based on the experience of demonstrator sites. The appointment of additional dementia advisers will be considered when the results of an evaluation are available.
A priority action in the National Dementia Strategy is the appointment of key workers to coordinate each patient's care and promote continuity, provide expert knowledge and leadership, and ensure that the patient knows who to access for information and advice. Work is under way to further determine the scope and requirements for this role.
As part of the Dementia Understand Together campaign, a national community activation coordinator has been recruited to ensure that the campaign translates into dementia inclusive communities on the ground, including by fostering local dementia champions. The Department of Health has secured Dormant Accounts funding to allow this post to continue until the end of 2019.
With regard to the provision of additional resources, the level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2019 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE will be considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process and National Service Planning.
566. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been fully treated at a hospital; if a complaint submitted to the hospital manager will receive a response as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35413/18]
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
567. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card issued to a person (details supplied) was withdrawn five weeks after being issued; and if the card will be renewed until the error or issues are resolved. [35414/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
568. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by a person (details supplied) who has two adult children with disabilities and has never been able to access respite care for them at the same time; and his plans to address this anomaly. [35421/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
569. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the National Men's Health Policy 2008-2013; if a similar policy approach exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35426/18]
View answerIreland was the first country in the world to adopt a National Men's Health Policy (2008-2013).
In 2013 the Government approved and launched Healthy Ireland, our national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the country over the coming generation. Healthy Ireland is significantly focussed on addressing health inequalities, including those arising as a result of gender, and is the over-arching context within which we are addressing the relevant issues.
Following a review of the Men's Health Policy, the Department of Health and the HSE jointly developed and are implementing a new plan - "Healthy Ireland: Men 2017-2021, the National Men's Health Action Plan"- which provides a continued focus on health inequalities experienced by men, and the momentum with which to tackle them.
The Department of Health and the HSE are working with a range of stakeholders, including the Men’s Development Network, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Sport Ireland, local authorities, local Sports Partnerships, the Irish Heart Foundation and other partners in order to deliver programmes and services to men at a local level, with the aim of improving their health and wellbeing.
The Department of Health and the HSE also support the annual Men's Health Week, which is co-ordinated by the Men's Health Forum in Ireland and which myself and Minister Harris launched in May of this year.
Finally, the Department of Health and the HSE have also recently contributed to the development of a new strategy on the health and wellbeing of men in the World Health Organization European Region which is keen to learn about and share the experience of our collaborative working and approach in Ireland.
570. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if concerns that the majority of recorded suicides here relate to male suicide will be addressed; if the reason for same has been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35427/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible, in the context of initiatives by the Executive of implementing the policy Connecting for Life.
571. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 408, 409 and 410 of 11 July 2018, the way in which persons may access their full medical files and medical history in the context of the General Data Protection Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35428/18]
View answer583. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which persons can access their deceased spouse's full medical files and medical history; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35480/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 583 together.
Under subject access provisions in the General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) and the Data Protection Act 2018, a data subject, who is defined as an identifiable or identified natural (living) person, can make a request for personal data, including medical files and medical history to the relevant data controller, for example, the hospital concerned or the HSE.
Information on how to make a request is available on the hospital or the HSE’s website. The information requested should be provided within one month and there is no fee. In limited circumstances the response period may be extended to two months, where requests are complex or comprise a number of requests.
Access to medical records may be restricted if the data controller believes that access is likely to cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of the data subject.
In the case of records of deceased persons there is specific provision under Freedom of Information legislation to facilitate access of next of kin to a deceased person’s records. An application should be made under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 to the relevant public body, for example the voluntary hospital concerned or the HSE. The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to private hospitals.
572. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if the planned invitation of tenders for the new endoscopy unit and other services at Naas General Hospital, County Kildare, can be brought forward to autumn 2018, in order that the project can commence construction in early 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35436/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly you in relation to this matter.
573. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the status of the health (transport support) Bill. [35438/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013.
My colleague, the Minister for Health and I brought a Memorandum to Government on proposals for a new Transport Support Payment Scheme towards the end of the last Dáil session. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided to withdraw the Memorandum from the Cabinet Agenda at the time. A new Transport Support Payment Scheme remains a priority and we intend to revert to Government with revised proposals to reflect the discussions at that Cabinet meeting and further discussions between ourselves, in due course.
It is important to note that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, remains in place. This scheme provides VRT and VAT relief, an exemption from road tax and a fuel grant to drivers and passengers with a disability, who qualify under the relevant criteria set out in governing regulations made by the Minister for Finance. Specifically adapted vehicles driven by persons with a disability are also exempt from payment of tolls on national roads and toll bridges. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responsibility for this particular scheme.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport support schemes available to persons with disabilities in the State and on-going work is being carried out by Government Departments, agencies and transport providers to further improve access to public transport services. Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of public transport for people with a disability.
574. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list in a hospital (details supplied) for orthognathic joint maxillofacial surgery; the number waiting longer than the time specified; the plans being put in place to address this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35459/18]
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 National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients. Under the Inpatient and Day Case Action Plan, which was launched earlier this year, the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital procedures.
The NTPF will deliver additionality to the health system with the provision of over 20,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments through both outsourcing and HSE insourcing.
In addition, my Department is continuing to work with the HSE and the NTPF to identify sustainable initiatives to improve waiting times.
The information sought by the deputy regarding the number of patients on the orthognathic joint maxillofacial waiting list in St James Hospital is contained in the table below.
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Total |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
17 |
50 |
575. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35462/18]
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.
576. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35464/18]
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.
577. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if funding for an organisation (details supplied) will be examined in view of the underspend of dormant accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35467/18]
View answerThe overall administration of the Dormant Accounts fund is a matter for the Minister for Rural and Community Development. I am aware that his Department recently produced a review of the administration of the fund, including consideration of the underspend issue, from the fund.
With regard to how individual measures are funded, Ministers put forward proposed measures for inclusion in annual action plans. The final annual action plan then details the measures to be funded from the dormant accounts fund. It is then a matter for each relevant Department to deliver these measures, as for any other voted expenditure.
The most recent annual action plan was published in July 2018 and is available on that Departments website, while the next action plan will be prepared within a similar timeframe in 2019. Funding for any purpose must be detailed and approved within an annual action plans.
My Department has received approval for a number of initiatives, including four which will delivered nationally by HSE Disability Services.
578. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of assisted living facilities in operation by county and community healthcare organisation; the number of beds available in each county; the occupancy level as a percentage; if there are additional facilities planned; if so, the location of these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35470/18]
View answer579. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for assisted living facilities for those diagnosed with dementia and or Alzheimer's; the number of applications granted; the number of applications by persons that have not been diagnosed with dementia and or Alzheimer's; and the number of applications granted in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018. [35471/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together.
Assisted living in Ireland is generally taken to refer to a form of sheltered housing where the residents have low dependency levels and are able to live for the most part independently, unlike nursing homes whose residents have been assessed as requiring full nursing care.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent statutory authority established to drive high quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. Since 2009 HIQA have maintained a register of all nursing homes whether public or private. This can be accessed through the HIQA website. All nursing homes are expected to provide person-centred, safe and effective services for all residents, including those with dementia.
Sheltered housing developments for older people are not required to register with HIQA, do not come within the remit of the Minister for Health, and the Department of Health is not therefore in a position to supply the details regarding numbers and occupancy levels requested.
The Government intends to establish a new stand-alone statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services. The Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to progress this. The statutory scheme for home support will introduce clear rules in relation to the services for which individuals are eligible and in relation to how decisions are made on allocating services. It will therefore be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home support services. It will also help to improve access to services, in an affordable and sustainable way. The system of regulation for home support will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided, whether they are living in their own home or they living in a form of sheltered accommodation are of a high standard. In the meantime, the HSE has taken steps to improve the quality of Home Support Services provided by it, whether directly or indirectly.
The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), is currently exploring policy options including supporting housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of housing options and choices available to them. A cross Department/Agency steering group chaired by the DHPLG and comprising the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the Housing Agency and other key stakeholders was established in 2017 to consider the issues and provide guidance on drafting a joint policy statement on housing options for older people. The draft statement is currently being finalised.
This will be a first step in the broader process of seeking to provide older people with appropriate accommodation options that are suited to their needs. The policy statement will set out a framework by which the Government can facilitate housing, including housing with care, for older people having regard to current demographics and looking at best practice models. The aim is to ensure that people can grow old and live in a community of their choosing, with dignity and independence.
In November I intend to host a joint expert conference on housing for older people, together with the Minister of State with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal. The conference will identify and discuss a range of issues including opportunities, barriers and enablers to guide future development of housing and support needs for older people.
580. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the prescription charge further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35476/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing prescription charges for medical card holders.
I will continue to examine opportunities to address the cost of the charge to patients, having regard to the funding available.
581. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hip operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35477/18]
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.
582. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35478/18]
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.
584. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE will not facilitate the deduction of union subscriptions at source for the growing number of ambulance service personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35481/18]
View answer604. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will address the continued refusal of the HSE to facilitate payroll deductions of union subscriptions for new members of a union (details supplied); the reason for its refusal to deduct union subscriptions at source for the growing numbers of ambulance service personnel that wish to join the union and exercise their fundamental right to organise and join their union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35551/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 604 together.
SIPTU is recognised by the HSE and has negotiating rights for ambulance grades employed by the Executive. As a result, the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of that union.
However, the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights. Whilst individuals have a right to membership of any trade union, if they chose to join an association which is not recognised by their employer, such membership is not facilitated by their employer. This means that the HSE does not facilitate deduction of union subscriptions for this particular Association.
