Written Answers Nos. 227-241
227. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the status of the family risk clinic at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, which was suspended in April 2018; his plans for the reopening of this clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47351/18]
View answerSt James's Hospital, as a designated cancer centre, runs a Rapid Access Breast Clinic for Symptomatic Breast Disease.
In parallel with the Rapid Access Breast Clinic, a Familial Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service has evolved to provide a clinical service to women who are considered to be at higher than average risk of developing cancer in their lifetime. Due to increased referral rates to the symptomatic breast disease clinic, as well as to the 'family risk' clinic, the hospital is currently prioritising the symptomatic patients to ensure that a quality, timely and sustainable service is available to them. This has resulted in the suspension of the family risk service, other than for urgent cases.
One of the hospital's two mammography machines which was at end of life has recently been replaced. A third machine is on order and is expected to be installed late this year or early in 2019. Capacity for mammography has been a major part of the challenge in meeting demand for breast services in St James's.
The intention is to restore the Familial Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service in St James's early in the new year.
228. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47353/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
229. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the requests from women for their slides from the cervical screening process by laboratory (details supplied). [47361/18]
View answerThe HSE advises that it is focused on responding to all requests for records as soon as possible. To aid this process, external legal advisors are liaising with women and their solicitors on the release of slides. The protocol in place ensures the integrity and traceability of slides being transferred – under the protocol solicitors are required to provide specific information about their chosen laboratory before slides can be released. This ensures the integrity of the slide is protected and all slides can be traced when they leave their current location. Where any delays arise, these are being escalated as a priority.
In relation to the detail of your query, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly on this issue.
230. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department allowed CAMHS in counties Sligo and Leitrim to cease providing services in assessing children for autism and refer them to the service of a school age psychologist that does not exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47362/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
231. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a service. [47368/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
232. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the delays in regard to public ultrasounds (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47373/18]
View answerImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. Investing in additional capacity, including beds and theatre space; the progression of recruitment and retention of staff; the delivery of the NDP project including dedicated elective only hospitals and the ambitious reform agenda in the Sláintecare Report will improve waiting times and access for patients.
Historically, national diagnostic waiting list data has not been collected nationally. In recent years, the HSE, National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and other relevant stakeholders have been taking part in a project to develop systems to monitor activity and waiting list data for diagnostics. Currently the data collected on radiology diagnostics (CT, MRI and US) is not available by condition/diagnosis. The system, when fully rolled out will capture data for urgent, routine, planned and surveillance patients.
My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a coherent Waiting List Action Plan for 2019 before the end of this year. Under the Plan, the collaboration between the HSE and NTPF will continue in order to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity. The NTPF will continue to engage with public hospitals inviting proposals aimed at reducing reduce waiting times for patients. The NTPF will provide funding to the solutions proposed if appropriate.
233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47392/18]
View answerAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
234. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the author of the Herity report into cardiac services in University Hospital Waterford had been involved in contract negotiations regarding catheterisation laboratories here. [47395/18]
View answerAs this is an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
235. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of days per week the mobile catheterisation laboratory in University Hospital Waterford is working. [47396/18]
View answer236. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of days per week the mobile catheterisation laboratory in University Hospital Waterford is contracted to work. [47397/18]
View answer237. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the mobile catheterisation laboratory in University Hospital Waterford has the capacity to deal with patients who suffer an ST-elevation myocardial infarction. [47398/18]
View answer238. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if funding for an intervention cardiologist will be provided for the mobile catheterisation laboratory in University Hospital Waterford. [47399/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 238, inclusive, together.
A mobile cath lab has been deployed at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) since October 2017 to conduct diagnostic cardiac procedures. The contractual arrangements in place at UHW are for the provision of a unit capable of carrying out diagnostic cardiac procedures only on a three day week basis. There are no plans to provide interventional services in the mobile cath lab.
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.
While the hospital group experienced difficulties recruiting the necessary staff to facilitate the expansion in hours of operation of the existing cath lab, I am pleased to note that five staff (Grade IV Admin, Porter, Snr 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.
239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposal to develop the new national maternity hospital on the grounds of St. Vincent's University Hospital; the way in which it is planned to ensure that this asset is retained in full public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47430/18]
View answer240. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on whether in order to be capable of providing the full range of women’s healthcare services there cannot be an involvement of a religious body in the ownership of the building or the site on which the proposed new national maternity hospital is to be located [47431/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
The Deputy will be aware that I am fully committed to the development of the new maternity hospital on the St Vincent's campus and to ensuring that care in the new hospital will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction. The Deputy can therefore be assured that the full range of women’s healthcare services will be carried out at the new hospital.
Considerable work has been undertaken to develop a legal framework to protect the State's significant investment in the new hospital and to ensure that the new hospital building will remain in State ownership. My Department is engaging with the hospitals with a view to agreeing and finalising the details of the legal framework.
241. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a farmer (details supplied) in County Cork; and if a repayment will be reconsidered. [47227/18]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received all payments due.
The applicant was subject to an inspection and a penalty was imposed. The option to appeal the findings was outlined in the letter that issued to the applicant. To date an appeal request has not been received.
