Seán Fleming
Question:312. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a home care package will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46510/18]
View answerHome Care Packages Administration
Questions (312)
Written answers
The 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.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (313)
Mick Wallace
Question:313. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the continuing under-reporting of University Hospital Waterford cardiac catheterisation activity due to the manual translation of data from the University Hospital Waterford cardiac dashboard TOMCAT system to the national hospital inpatient enquiry, HIPE, data system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46520/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (314, 315)
Mick Wallace
Question:314. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit an interventional cardiologist as a matter of urgency in order to commence interventional cardiac catheterisation activity at the relocatable laboratory at University Hospital Waterford in the interest of patient safety (details supplied). [46521/18]
View answerMick Wallace
Question:315. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the reason the relocatable modular laboratory which arrived at University Hospital Waterford in September 2018 was disabled by the removal of equipment prior to its arrival here thus preventing it from providing an emergency backup service to the permanent catheterisation laboratory at UHW (details supplied). [46522/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.
As the Deputy is aware, a mobile cath lab has been deployed at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) since October 2017 to conduct diagnostic cardiac procedures. In August, it was replaced by the provider with a relocatable cath lab, operating on the same basis as the mobile cath lab, i.e. it is managed by three diagnostic cardiologists, operates three days per week, and carries out diagnostic cardiology procedures only. The contractual arrangements in place at UHW are for the provision of a unit capable of carrying out diagnostic cardiac procedures only. There are no plans to provide interventional services in the relocatable cath lab.
As the Deputy is also aware that Dr Herity concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford could be accommodated from a single cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing cath lab, which provides interventional services, should be extended. Approval and funding has been provided for the additional staff required to facilitate this service expansion. Pending the completion of the recruitment process, a mobile/relocatable cath lab has been in place since October 2017 which has improved access and reduced waiting times for patients.
While the hospital group experienced difficulties recruiting the necessary staff to facilitate the expansion in hours of operation, I am pleased to note that five staff (Grade IV Admin, Porter, Senior Cardiac Physiologist, Senior Radiographer and Staff Nurse) have now been recruited on an 8am to 8pm working day basis. Documentation is also being finalised for the recruitment of a 1 WTE consultant cardiologist required to facilitate the provision of additional operating hours.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (316)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:316. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if therapy will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46526/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Questions (317)
Pearse Doherty
Question:317. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the availability of FreeStyle Libre on the long-term illness scheme to include those aged over 21 with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46539/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Questions (318)
Pearse Doherty
Question:318. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the availability of FreeStyle Libre on the long-term illness scheme did not include those aged over 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46540/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Questions (319)
Pearse Doherty
Question:319. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with organisers of the campaign to extend the availability of FreeStyle Libre to those aged over 21 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46541/18]
View answerWritten answers
As requests for meetings are dealt with by my office, the organisers may wish to contact my office directly on this matter.
Ambulance Service Data
Questions (320)
Dara Calleary
Question:320. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of calls responded to in each ambulance base in County Mayo in 2017 and the first six months of 2018; the average response time in each month in each base; the number of occasions an ambulance was used from outside the base to respond to calls, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46542/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Air Ambulance Service Data
Questions (321)
Dara Calleary
Question:321. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions, by month in 2017 and in the first six months of 2018, that an air ambulance was used to respond to calls in County Mayo, in tabular form. [46543/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Rural Practice Allowance Scheme
Questions (322)
Mary Butler
Question:322. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the timeframe in respect of a review of documentation (details supplied) already submitted to the National Contracts Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46556/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (323)
Martin Ferris
Question:323. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46570/18]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Mental Health Services Staff
Questions (324)
Catherine Connolly
Question:324. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when the registration board for counselling and psychotherapy under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46579/18]
View answerWritten answers
Earlier this year I signed the regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The next step will be the appointment of the 13 members of the registration board. The Public Appointments Service carried out a recruitment campaign to identify suitable candidates for my consideration. Twenty seven candidates have been identified through this process which concluded in late September. I will be considering the panel of applicants shortly with the intention of appointing the 13 members of the registration board before the end of the year.
Once appointed, the registration board will begin the substantial programme of work to draft the various bye-laws to allow the board to establish its registers. The board will also be requested to advise myself and the Health and Social Care Professionals Council on a range of issues pertaining to the regulation of the professions, including minimum standards of education and training and the titles to be protected.
Health Services
Questions (325)
John Lahart
Question:325. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the criteria that need to be met in order for a child to qualify for a rebate for bifocal glasses; if the percentage rebate awarded is equal for all children; if not, if there is a varying rate; if so, the factors that determine the varying rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46585/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Home Care Packages Administration
Questions (326)
John Lahart
Question:326. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of a home care application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46594/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Industrial Relations
Questions (327)
James Browne
Question:327. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) which recently commenced phased industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46595/18]
View answerWritten answers
SIPTU is recognised by the HSE and has negotiating rights for ambulance grades employed by the Executive. As a result, the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of that union. However, the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights.
Whilst individuals have a right to membership of any trade union, if they choose to join an association which is not recognised by their employer, such membership is not facilitated by their employer. This means that the HSE does not facilitate deduction of union subscriptions for this particular Association.
In relation to the phased industrial action, I can confirm that the National Ambulance Service are monitoring the situation closely and have put contingency plans in place to mitigate the risk of any potential disruption to service.
Health Services Provision
Questions (328)
Bernard Durkan
Question:328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the support facilities available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46599/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.