Written Answers Nos. 274-291
274. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason such a large proportion of children who are clinically listed for spinal surgery have been moved to a suspended category of wait list. [40846/18]
View answerI am sorry that any child and their family experience a long waiting time for treatment for scoliosis.
However, the Children's Hospital Group have advised that the clinical criteria for determining a care plan for scoliosis related surgeries and other spinal procedures is complex and is based on established clinical guidelines and best practice both nationally and internationally.
For some children who have additional problems which may require multidisciplinary team management, their treatment plan often requires extensive discussions so that the appropriate surgery can be scheduled in a timely manner. Some children may require a number of investigations or small procedures prior to a decision being made about definitive surgery. This plan is communicated to the patient’s family.
The Children's Hospital Group advise that all suspensions of scoliosis patients are managed in line with NTPF guidelines. Patients in the suspended category are those that are not clinically ready for surgery therefore at a point in time. There is a plan in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin to progress a clinical case management system to categorise and manage those patients who do not need to be on a waiting list.
The CHG advise that at the end of September there were 24 patients on the suspended list at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin and in reviewing these patients there appears to be a number of patients who will be clinically deemed as not requiring surgery in 2018. These patients will be managed via the clinical case management system in the coming weeks in order to ensure that a safe, quality system is in place to support clinical decisions and case management.
275. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the wait time for a first scoliosis assessment with a specialist surgeon hospital (details supplied). [40847/18]
View answer276. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for spinal surgery once a child has been placed on a surgery list in hospitals (details supplied). [40848/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together.
The Children's Hospital Group advise that Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin currently have 247 patients that have been referred to OPD for review under the category of scoliosis or spinal review. Of these 247 patients 62 have an appointment date and 185 patients do not, 96 patients are waiting over 6 months. Temple Street Children’s University Hospital currently have 37 patients waiting for a first time OPD consultation, which are query spinal/scoliosis. All referrals are clinically triaged by consultants and patients are assigned clinical indicative dates upon triage. There are currently 12 patients waiting over 6 months. Each of these patients have an clinical indicative date assigned ( less than one year from time of referral)
In relation to the average wait times for spinal surgery, I have asked CHG to provide me with this information, and will provide it to the Deputy when it becomes available.
279. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the Children's Hospital Group, CHG, is actively following national protocols as per the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF; and the person or body that oversees the wait lists in the CHG ensures compliance to national NTPF protocols in regard to the national wait lists for scoliosis. [40851/18]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for collecting and validating all waiting lists for public hospitals.
As part of its statutory responsibilities the NTPF has also developed the National Waiting List Management Protocol, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures 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 Protocol, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. Furthermore, the NTPF also undertakes an annual audit programme of public hospitals to ensure compliance with the waiting list protocol.
The Children's Hospital Group (CHG) advise that all suspensions are managed in line with NTPF guidelines. Scoliosis patients in the suspended category are those that are not clinically ready for surgery. There is a plan in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin to progress a clinical case management system to categorise and manage those patients who do not need to be on a waiting list.
The CHG advise that at the end of September there were 24 patients on the suspended list at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin and in reviewing these patients there appears to be a number of patients who will be clinically deemed as not requiring surgery in 2018. These patients will be managed via the clinical case management system in the coming weeks in order to ensure that a safe, quality system is in place to support clinical decisions and case management.
280. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the wait time for HSE funding approval for bracing therapy if a child has a medical card; the reason children across the Children's Hospital Group, CHG, do not have equal access to bracing therapy and funding; and the further reason funding often depends on the hospital the child attends and whether or not they have a medical card. [40852/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
281. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours assigned in County Kerry for the month of September 2018, in tabular form; the number of hours provided in each month by HSE home help and private company staff, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40853/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
282. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of approved CAMHS consultant psychiatrist posts per local area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40854/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
283. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) was placed on the public waiting list for surgery. [40855/18]
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.
284. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken in respect of the provision of the FreeStyle Libre monitoring system for all persons with type 1 diabetes on the long-term illness scheme; his plans to extend the scheme to all type 1 diabetes patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/18]
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.
285. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on introducing an opt-out clause for organ donors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40858/18]
View answerThe General Scheme of a Human Tissue Bill is being finalised at present and will be submitted to Government for approval shortly. The proposed legislation will include provisions for a soft opt-out organ donation system.
286. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (detail supplied) who is on the waiting list for three years will have hip surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40862/18]
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.
287. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the recommended number of early intervention and prevention counsellor posts in each CHO area; the level of vacancies in these posts; and the detail of counsellor numbers employed between the HSE and section 38 agencies. [40867/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
288. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the action which can be taken to ensure legal costs are returned to staff cleared of wrongdoing at a facility (details supplied) which provides services to adults with intellectual disabilities. [40876/18]
View answerI have agreed with the Deputy that further information is required in relation to this Parliamentary Question.
289. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the construction and staffing of the 60-bed unit at University Hospital Limerick (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40878/18]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I am committed to continuing the effort to address overcrowding in our EDs, and in particular, improving the capacity of the system to respond during periods of peak demand.
My Department has engaged with the HSE this year to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system, which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.
The proposal from the HSE to increase acute and community bed capacity, which identifies 609 acute beds and 290 residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020, includes 60 additional in-patient beds in Limerick University Hospital to be delivered through a modular build programme.
The funding of this proposal is under consideration in the context of the 2019 estimates process.
290. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing 5,000 extra home care packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40880/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
291. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for X-rays to be read and advised to the referring general practitioner by hospital; and his views on the unacceptable wait of weeks before the result is advised in so many cases. [40885/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
