Written Answers Nos. 452-469
452. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health his plans to carry out an independent clinical review of scoliosis services for children here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43704/18]
View answerThe long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department and the HSE in the 2018 HSE National Service Plan. An additional €9 million has been provided to the HSE in 2018 specifically to develop paediatric orthopaedic services, including further increasing access to scoliosis services.
In September my Department and I met with the Deputy Director General of the HSE and the CEO of the Children’s Hospital Group to discuss their short term and long-term plans to provide a better service for patients and their families.
The increased investment in scoliosis has brought stability to the service and the current capacity for services has expanded. The Children’s Hospital Group advises that 446 procedures will be delivered this year, compared to 371 in 2017, and 224 in 2016. This represents a doubling of activity since 2016.
Waiting list figures for 12 October show 130 patients waiting; this includes patients who have been asked to come in for a procedure, those who have been given a date for a procedure in the near future, and those who are waiting for a date for a procedure. This represents a reduction of 61, or 32%, in comparison to the same week last year, when the list stood at 191 patients.
454. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the reason recommendations made by the Ombudsman for Children contained in the report on scoliosis, Waiting For Scoliosis Treatment A Children's Rights Issue, have not been implemented to date, including the meeting of four month targets for scoliosis surgery in accordance with international best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43706/18]
View answerThe development of a sustainable scoliosis service has been prioritised by my Department and the HSE in 2018. An additional €9 million was provided to the Children’s Hospital Group in 2018, to support the development and implementation of a sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service for children and young people.
The Ombudsman for Children published their report, 'Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment; A Children's Rights Issue' in March 2017. In August 2018 the Ombudsman for Children published an update on their initial report which welcomed actions taken to generate improvements in scoliosis services, such as the increase in the number of surgeries that take place, fewer children waiting over 12 months for surgery, increased capacity, and additional resources. The Ombudsman has met with me and my Department, as well as other stakeholders, in relation to this matter, and consequently has stated that there is a clear and absolute commitment from all involved to address the matter of scoliosis in the best interest of the children.
While the most recent update welcomed the improvements in scoliosis services, the Ombudsman's August update also pressed for the need of continued action to address waiting lists for initial assessment, access to diagnostics, and increased treatment activity, and my Department continues to work with the Children's Hospital Group to ensure that these issues are addressed, that activity levels continue to increase, and that waiting lists are reduced.
The CHG advise that the investment in paediatric orthopaedics this year, which includes scoliosis services, has already improved access for surgery and outpatient review. By September 2018 there had been a reduction of 26% in the waiting times experienced to access surgery since the start of the year. This year the CHG aims to deliver 447 procedures, compared to 371 in 2017, and 224 in 2016.
455. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the safeguarding of children in the HSE in regard to their elective spinal surgeries; the way in which he plans to ensure that a lack of capacity and beds over the winter months will not lead to cancelled surgeries for children that are on a list for spinal surgery in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43707/18]
View answerThe long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department and the HSE. The Children's Hospital Group, with the additional €9 million provided to the HSE in 2018, has continued to progress the move toward the implementation of a long-term sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service, including scoliosis services for children and young people.
In terms of capacity, Children's Hospital Group (CHG) aims to deliver 446 procedures this year, compared to 371 in 2017, and 224 in 2016. This represents an increase in activity of 99.5% since 2016.
In relation to the safeguarding of beds for elective spinal surgeries for scoliosis patients, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond the Deputy directly.
456. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a matter (details supplied) with a view to extending the hours and finance being made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43720/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the categories of funding available to local authorities through his Department; the amount of funding provided for each scheme in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43732/18]
View answerThere is no scheme through my Department that provides funding to local authorities.
458. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will roll out the recommendations in the national policy and strategy for the provision of neurorehabilitation services in Ireland 2011-2015. [43753/18]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting to see a community ophthalmic physician in County Kildare; the number waiting longer than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43759/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
460. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting to see a community ophthalmic physician in County Laois; the number waiting longer than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43760/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
461. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person is waiting for an assessment with the NDT team in south County Kildare; the number of children waiting; the number waiting over one year; and the reason for delays in assessment. [43761/18]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
462. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the procedures by which a family in an area has no family general practitioner in view of the fact the general practices in the area are not taking on additional patients; the position regarding the HSE allocating a particular general practitioner to the family; if there is a requirement on general practitioners to take up these allocations from the HSE; the period of time this lasts for; if the general practitioner is free to discharge the family from the practitioner's practice after a six month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43764/18]
View answerWhere a medical card or GP visit card holder experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the HSE has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has been removed from another GP's list or refused entry onto a GP's list, and the person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area who are contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme.
The assignment of a GMS patient to a GP's list can be reviewed by the HSE on the request of the GP after 6 months from the date of assignment, and, if appropriate, the patient can then be reassigned to an alternative GP.
Persons who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis.
GPs are private contractors and issues relating to the acceptance of private patients are a matter of private contract between the clinician and his/her patients. While I have no role in relation to such matters, I would expect clinicians to consider the importance of patients having access to a GP service close to home when deciding whether or not to accept private patients.
463. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the targets in place for reducing outpatient waiting times in Naas General Hospital in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43765/18]
View answer464. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting times in Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43766/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 464 together.
In Budget 2019 the Government has prioritised improving access and reducing waiting times for patients, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019, of which, €6 million will be committed to outpatient activity.
To date in 2018, the NTPF has approved almost 12,700 additional first-time outpatient appointments and this is projected to increase to 40,000 appointments next year. I recently met with the CEOs of all hospital groups to discuss improving access for patients and requested that they work with the NTPF and HSE in 2019 develop innovative proposals to address the number of long waiters on outpatient lists in 2019.
In addition, the Central Waiting List Validation function, which was established in the NTPF last month, will deliver a standardised approach to validation across all hospitals in line with best patient-centred practices. This new function will have many benefits including the identification of patients on waiting lists who are ready and available to proceed with hospital care, the reduction in the Did Not Attend rate (DNA), and an improvement in information for managing waiting lists. The NTPF estimates that 30,000 patients who no longer require treatment will come off the outpatient waiting list in 2019 as a result of this activity.
The data on Outpatient waiting times in Naas General Hospital, sought by the Deputy is outlined below:
There are currently 8,131 patients on Outpatient waiting list in Naas General Hospital, and of these 55% are waiting 9 months or less. 1,042 patients on the Outpatient list have received an appointment date.
Specialties in Naas General Hospital, with high numbers of patients waiting include, Dermatology (1,576 ), General Medicine (1,894), Cardiology (1,284) and Orthopaedics (2,122).
Outpatient Waiting times in Naas General Hospital
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Total |
|
2355 |
1285 |
860 |
798 |
605 |
571 |
1657 |
8131 |
465. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding speech and language therapy at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43768/18]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
466. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary care centre for Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if a site has been chosen for this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43780/18]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
467. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue in relation to an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43786/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
468. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment in Croom Hospital, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43790/18]
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.
469. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43792/18]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I have also received the attached correspondence and I expect that a reply will issue from my office in the coming days.
In relation to the issue of turnaround time for smear tests, the HSE advises that CervicalCheck laboratory activity remains significantly above normal levels. This is a result both of out-of-cycle smears, and also increased uptake generally. This has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. The HSE also advises that every effort is being made to ensure that tests are processed as quickly as possible, having regard to the high standards required for testing. This is a priority concern for my Department and the HSE. The recent agreements reached with the contracted labs include arrangements to address the backlog in testing.
It is important to emphasise that smear tests are a screening and not a diagnostic process, and if any women is concerned or is experiencing any symptoms, she should consult with her GP.
In addition to MedLab Pathology Laboratory, services for CervicalCheck are also provided by Quest Diagnostics in the USA and the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin. Under the terms of their contract with CervicalCheck, MedLab can redirect tests to other laboratories within their group at times when they are experiencing increased demand. This includes The Doctors' Laboratory in London (TDL).
As part of his Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck, Dr Gabriel Scally visited all laboratories which currently provide services for CervicalCheck, including TDL. His report was published on the website of my Department on 12 September. Dr Scally has stated that he is satisfied with the quality management processes in the current laboratory sites and found no reason, on quality grounds, why the existing contracts for laboratory services should not continue until the new HPV testing regime has been introduced. This provides very welcome reassurance for women in Ireland.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I place a very high priority on women's health. I am committed to returning to Government within three months, as recommended by Dr Scally, with a full plan for the implementation of his recommendations. Development of this plan is underway, overseen by the CervicalCheck Steering Committee, which I established in June.
