Written Answers Nos. 489-506
489. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of additional overnight respite sessions that will be provided as a result of budget 2019 in each community healthcare organisation,CHO, area; and the additional sessions which will be made available specific to County Louth. [42386/18]
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.
491. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the way in which the additional €84 million announced in budget 2019 for the provision of mental health services will be allocated; the amount of funding that will be allocated to each community healthcare organisation, CHO, area; and the services, programmes or projects that will receive funding from this allocation. [42388/18]
View answerBudget 2019 allocated an additional €84 million to mental health services, bringing the Mental Health budget to almost €1 billion, an increase of 40% on 2012. €35 million is apportioned for new developments, while €20 million is for the further growth of projects commenced in 2018. New developments will be progressed in the context of both the overall HSE Service Plan 2019, and the more detailed regional Operational Plan for Mental Health. These will be published by the HSE in the near future.
492. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the way the additional €55 million in new development funding will be allocated in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, area; the moneys which will specifically be allocated to enhancing community mental health teams for adults and children in each CHO area; and the moneys which will be specifically allocated to County Louth. [42389/18]
View answerBudget 2019 allocated an additional €84 million to mental health services, bringing the Mental Health budget to almost €1 billion, an increase of 40% on 2012. €35 million is apportioned for new developments, while €20 million is for the further growth of projects commenced in 2018. New developments will be progressed in the context of both the overall HSE Service Plan 2019, and the more detailed regional Operational Plan for Mental Health. These will be published by the HSE in the near future.
493. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the amount of the additional €84 million for mental health services as announced in budget 2019 which will be used to provide a new facility for mental health services in north County Louth. [42390/18]
View answerBudget 2019 allocated an additional €84 million to mental health services, bringing the Mental Health budget to almost €1 billion, an increase of 40% on 2012. €35 million is apportioned for new developments, while €20 million is for the further growth of projects commenced in 2018. New developments will be progressed in the context of both the overall HSE Service Plan 2019, and the more detailed regional Operational Plan for Mental Health. These will be published by the HSE in the near future.
494. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the amount of the additional €84 million for mental health services as announced in budget 2019 which will be used to provide new community mental health services in County Louth. [42391/18]
View answerBudget 2019 allocated an additional €84 million to mental health services, bringing the Mental Health budget to almost €1 billion, an increase of 40% on 2012. €35 million is apportioned for new developments, while €20 million is for the further growth of projects commenced in 2018. New developments will be progressed in the context of both the overall HSE Service Plan 2019, and the more detailed regional Operational Plan for Mental Health. These will be published by the HSE in the near future.
495. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the amount of the additional €84 million for mental health services as announced in budget 2019 which will be used to provide child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in north County Louth. [42392/18]
View answerBudget 2019 allocated an additional €84 million to mental health services, bringing the Mental Health budget to almost €1 billion, an increase of 40% on 2012. €35 million is apportioned for new developments, while €20 million is for the further growth of projects commenced in 2018. New developments will be progressed in the context of both the overall HSE Service Plan 2018, and the more detailed regional Operational Plan for Mental Health. These will be published by the HSE in the near future.
496. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason the necessary rehabilitation and physiotherapy is being denied to a person (details supplied). [42398/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
497. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant urologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the average waiting time to see a consultant; the steps being taken to reduce the waiting time to see the consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42463/18]
View answerThe waiting list figures for the end of September 2018, published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), show there are 1,697 waiters on the Urology Outpatient waiting list in Beaumont Hospital, of which 676 have appointments. Over 68% of patients are waiting 6 months or less, while there are 9 waiting 12-15 months.
The latest IPDC figures show that there are 837 patients on the Urology waiting list at Beaumont Hospital, of which 74% are waiting 6 months or less and 87% are waiting 9 months or less.
Improving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government. In Budget 2019 the Government has further increased investment in this area, with funding to the NTPF to increase from €55m in 2018 to €75m in 2019. My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise the 2019 Waiting List Initiatives before the end of this year. This approach is to ensure a seamless continuation of the considerable progress made this year into next year.
The following tables set out the requested data on Urology Waiting lists at Beaumont Hospital.
Outpatient Urology Waiting List at Beaumont Hospital
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
Total |
|
736 |
423 |
327 |
202 |
9 |
1697 |
IPDC Urology Waiting List at Beaumont Hospital
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18-24 Months |
Total |
|
415 |
204 |
107 |
78 |
25 |
7 |
1 |
837 |
498. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reversing the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, reductions to general practitioner fees announced in July 2013. [42471/18]
View answerUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. GPs are also remunerated for services they provide on behalf of the HSE under other public health schemes, such as the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme, etc.
The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 imposed a range of adjustments to health contractor payments. This specific adjustments made in July 2013 resulted in savings in the region of €36 million.
Despite reductions to the payment rates of health contractors made under FEMPI legislation, the total fees paid to GPs under the GMS scheme have increased from just over €472 million in 2009 to approximately €525 million in 2017. This increase in fees is largely due to significant developments and investment in GP services introduced in recent years, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional financial support provided by the HSE.
The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 now allows the setting and varying of contractor payments on a non-emergency statutory basis. It is my intention to put in place a new multiannual approach to fees in return for service improvements and contractual reforms based upon health policy considerations and engagement with representative bodies.
Officials from my Department and the HSE recently re-engaged with the Irish Medical Organisation to set out the State's position in relation to reform of the GMS contract. 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.
499. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of paying all new entrant consultants recruited since 2012 at the pre-2012 rate of salary. [42472/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
500. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [42473/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
501. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [42474/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
502. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, waiting for an audiology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [42475/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
503. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, waiting for a dietetics appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [42476/18]
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.
504. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, waiting for an oral health appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [42477/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
505. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, waiting for a psychology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [42478/18]
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.
506. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the physiotherapy waiting list; and the number waiting less than four months, four to 12 months and more than 12 months, respectively, in tabular form. [42480/18]
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.
