Thursday, 25 Oct 2018

Hospital Admissions

Questions (244)

Martin Ferris

Question:

244. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a bed at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. [44330/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (245)

James Browne

Question:

245. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a CAMHS appointment; and the number waiting 0 to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [44344/18]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Cancer Screening Programmes

Questions (246)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has signed up to use a laboratory (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44346/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Screening saves lives. CervicalCheck has been successful in reducing cervical cancer rates in Ireland and, as Dr Scally stated in his report on the issues relating to CervicalCheck, which was published on the website of my Department on 12 September, continuation of the screening service in the coming months is of crucial importance. Dr Scally's report provided welcome reassurance about the quality management processes in the laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck, and confirmed that he found no reason why the existing contracts for laboratory services should not continue until the new HPV regime is introduced.

The HSE has now advised that Heads of Agreement have been signed with the laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck, to extend their contracts pending the introduction of HPV testing as the primary screening test. This allows for the continuation of the service without interruption.

The switch to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism for the CervicalCheck programme will involve a reconfiguration of the laboratory work involved, and will be subject to a tendering process for any work carried out outside the public sector.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (247)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44357/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The breakdown of the staff by grade in my Department is set out in the table.

Grade	Number (Whole Time Equivalent)
Secretary General	1
Deputy Secretary General	4
Assistant Secretary	7
Director	1
Ministerial Adviser	6
Principal Officer	46.33
Assistant Principal	127.33
Higher Executive Officer	86.89
Administrative Officer	40.6
Executive Officer	71.45
Clerical Officer	62.4
Temporary Clerical Officer	2
Service Officer	6
Ministerial Driver	8
Total	470

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (248)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Question:

248. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who has not been prioritised in view of the severity of their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44367/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

HSE Staff

Questions (249)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

249. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason legal fees can or cannot be returned to persons (details supplied). [44371/18]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Minister for Health has no role in determining the refund of legal fees.

Question No. 250 answered with Question No. 216.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (251)

John Brassil

Question:

251. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the outcome of inquiries made in relation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44394/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has contacted the Deputy's Office in relation to this case and the matter is being resolved.

Rare Diseases Strategy