Written Answers Nos. 413-430
413. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the FreeStyle Libre system (details supplied) for patients under 21 years of age with a view to rolling it out for the general population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39849/18]
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.
414. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on home care packages in CHO 7; the waiting time on the home care package in this area; his plans to reduce the waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39850/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
415. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if an appointment with a consultant neurosurgeon in Beaumont Hospital will be expedited [39851/18]
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.
416. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the mental health nurse vacancies by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39852/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
417. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent occupational therapist posts in primary care in CHO 8 areas in counties Louth, Meath, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39856/18]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
418. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent occupational therapists posts in social care in CHO 8 areas in counties Louth, Meath, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39857/18]
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.
419. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39870/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to engaging with the representatives of general practitioners on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the 1989 GMS Contract.
Our goal is to develop a contractual framework that has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion, disease prevention and for the structured care of chronic conditions. This will enable general practitioners to better meet the needs of patients and will also promote general practice as a viable and rewarding career for both existing doctors and future medical graduates.
Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual reform has the potential to facilitate a substantial increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multiannual basis.
The Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation GP Committee in early May with the State side setting out the mandate agreed by Government under which the consultations were being conducted and the package of measures to be agreed. The Department subsequently wrote to the IMO, at the Organisation’s request, setting out these proposals formally. The IMO responded to the Department by letter on 20 July. The Department and HSE expect to re-engage with GP representatives shortly.
420. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the €3.5 million investment proposed by an organisation (details supplied) will be included in budget 2019 in order to enable access to core services, for example, respite, training and personal support, which will have a cost saving effect on the health service in the long run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39872/18]
View answerThe cross-departmental National Carers' Strategy was launched by the Government in 2012. Containing 42 actions across four national goals, it sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government departments and agencies to carers. I am pleased to say that significant progress has been made on a large number of actions, and the Department of Health is determined to offer as much support as possible to family carers throughout the country.
Following the enactment of the necessary legislation, free GP care has been extended to those in receipt of the Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit since 1 September this year. Furthermore, in December 2017, the Government announced the provision of an additional €10 million specifically to enhance respite care in the disability sector, which has had a positive impact to date. €8 million of this provides for the equivalent of 12 new houses, one in each CHO, with an additional three in the Greater Dublin area. The remaining €2 million is for innovative respite solutions, such as Home Sharing and extended day services, to provide assistance where people need it most.
The Department of Health has also secured funding through the Dormant Accounts fund to enable the HSE to pilot a Carer's Needs Assessment in one Community Healthcare Organisation. The HSE developed this tool with significant input from the Family Carer Reference Group, which represents a national network of over 200 carer groups across Ireland. The assessment will assist in identifying the needs of carers across all care groups and will track health and wellbeing outcomes for carers over time.
The Department of Health and the HSE are committed to ensuring that family carers receive as much support as possible to allow them to continue caring for their loved ones. Both the Department and the HSE will continue to engage with family carer organisations to address the needs of carers.
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.
421. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 13 June 2018, the status of his engagement with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry [39880/18]
View answerOwing to scheduling difficulties, it was not possible for me to meet with MS Ireland in June. However, a meeting has been scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
422. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses issued with a service imperative instruction who have been asked to change or vary their normal duties by the HSE since 2014 [39881/18]
View answer423. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE employees issued with a service imperative instruction who have been asked to change or vary their normal duties by the HSE since 2014 [39882/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.
As this refers to a service-related matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
424. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health further to the findings of the Public Service Pay Commission report, which identified problems with recruitment and retention of hospital consultants, his plans to resolve this crisis in view of the fact that the lack of consultants and unfilled posts is a contributory factor to the lengthy hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39883/18]
View answerThe Government remains committed to increasing the consultant workforce to support service delivery and to move to a consultant delivered service. Notwithstanding recruitment and retention challenges, the number of consultants employed in the public health services has increased by 118 in the 12 months to end August 2018 and by 479 in the past five years. Where vacancies exist, the HSE endeavours to fill essential posts on a locum or temporary contract basis to support service delivery. The HSE is also committed to improving the recruitment process, offering contracts to the Hospital Group rather than individual sites and focusing on family friendly arrangements.
The Public Service Pay Commission concluded a review in respect of key health service grades, including consultants. With regard to recruitment of consultants, the Commission stated that the aggregate level of vacancies for consultant posts at the end of 2017 and evidence of low level of applications for recruitment campaigns would suggest a general difficulty recruiting consultants.
In terms of pay, it also identified the two-tier pay system as being one of number of factors affecting recruitment and found that the differential in pay between pre-existing and new entrant consultants is greater than for other categories of public servants. The Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, to address this difficulty.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department and the HSE have noted the Commission's views and consideration will need to be given to potential solutions which are in line with public sector pay policy and available budgets.
425. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when the interim report of the Farrelly commission due on 15 September 2018 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39890/18]
View answerI have received the Third Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation (certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) and I am considering its contents. The report will be published on the Department of Health's website in the coming weeks.
426. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the level of dementia-specific services by CHO area; the number of dementia advisers by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39915/18]
View answerAs these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide dementia advisers in each county; his further plans to provide key workers and dementia-inclusive community co-ordinators in each local health office in order to ensure the development of a dementia inclusive Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39916/18]
View answerAs a response to the challenges facing people with dementia and their families and carers, the National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. The Strategy contains 35 priority and additional actions and its implementation is being led by the National Dementia Office in the HSE. Progress made to date and future plans, are recorded in the mid-term review of the Strategy's implementation, which was published in May this year.
The strategy’s implementation was boosted at the time of its launch through a joint programme of investment by the HSE and the Atlantic Philanthropies. This €27.5 million investment allowed for a number of key actions within the strategy to be resourced and implemented. It funded the PREPARED programme, which offers education and clinical resources for GPs and primary care teams; intensive homecare packages for people with dementia; the Understand Together awareness campaign; and the establishment of the National Dementia Office, which has an important role in implementing the strategy. The office has made substantial progress towards developing evidence-based care pathways for people with dementia. Additional projects have been funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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 Office has also developed a needs analysis framework to support local dementia service planning and development. This framework is a mechanism to help the Office direct time, energy and resources into dementia care that most appropriately meets the needs of people with dementia. It will be used to make dementia service development more responsive and consistent across the country.
The National Dementia Strategy calls for the HSE to consider the provision of dementia advisers, based on the experience of demonstrator sites. An evaluation of the Dementia Adviser Service was published on 26th September. It recommends the continuation and expansion of the service to ensure equity of access countrywide.
A priority action in the National Dementia Strategy is the appointment of key workers to coordinate each patient's care and promote continuity, and ensure that the patient knows who to access for information and advice. It is proposed that the key worker will be responsible for the coordinated planning and delivery of individually tailored care plans, developed in consultation with the person, their family carers and a range of health and social care practitioners. The key worker will also provide expert knowledge and leadership in dementia.
The Department of Health has secured funding through the 2018 Dormant Accounts Action Plan to continue funding in 2019 for the Dementia Community Activation Coordinator post which has been co-funded through a partnership between the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the HSE during 2018. The Community Activation Coordinator is working with national organisations and key community stakeholders to support community dementia champions across Ireland. The Coordinator will seek to grow the number of champions and people within communities to take action to create sustainable dementia inclusive communities.
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.
429. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if autism assistance dog programmes are funded. [39929/18]
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.
430. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to make a specific service available to a person (details supplied) at an earlier time in the morning [39935/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
