Niamh Smyth
Question:372. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if a hospital appointment will be expedited. [48982/18]
View answerHospital Appointments Delays
Questions (372)
Written 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.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (373)
Bernard Durkan
Question:373. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card review for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48983/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Home Care Packages
Questions (374)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:374. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a homecare package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48984/18]
View answerWritten 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.
Counselling Services Provision
Questions (375)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:375. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the response from the HSE as a result of reviewing counselling and talk therapy services with the view of improving access and services to an organisation (details supplied). [48999/18]
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (376)
Brendan Griffin
Question:376. 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. [49002/18]
View answerWritten 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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (377)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:377. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is on a non-urgent list for an MRI scan in Nenagh Hospital with a wait time of over 12 months despite being diagnosed with cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49003/18]
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.
Psychological Assessments Waiting Times
Questions (378)
Brian Stanley
Question:378. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have an assessment of needs carried out in view of the fact that under the Disability Act 2005 this assessment should have been concluded by August 2018. [49005/18]
View answerWritten 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.
Psychological Assessments
Questions (379)
Brian Stanley
Question:379. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if psychological assessments carried out privately can be used by the HSE when they are carrying out an assessment of needs if the HSE has not completed the assessment within the required timeframe. [49010/18]
View answerWritten 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.
Health Insurance Data
Questions (380)
John McGuinness
Question:380. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the amount outstanding in payments due from private health insurers to public hospitals; the details of the amount due to each hospital (details supplied); if there is a system in place in each hospital to ensure that the full amount is claimed from health insurance companies and that the hospital is not under-billing; the number of bed nights that are partially paid for or rejected by insurers in public hospitals in each of the years 2014 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49013/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Staff Data
Questions (381)
David Cullinane
Question:381. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the use of the vascular laboratory at University Hospital Waterford is curtailed due to a lack of staff; if so, the staff shortages that exist; the number of consultants and junior doctors assigned to vascular services in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018 at UHW; the efforts being made to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49017/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Patient Data
Questions (382)
David Cullinane
Question:382. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if patients to the ENT ward at University Hospital Waterford who had an ear test in recent years have been recalled for a second ear test; if so, the reason for retesting; the number of persons retested; if more retesting is scheduled; and if so, the number that require a retest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49018/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (383)
Niamh Smyth
Question:383. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49026/18]
View answerWritten 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.
Obesity Strategy
Questions (384, 385, 386, 387, 462, 463, 464, 465)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:384. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of progress with implementing the non-broadcast media advertising and marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages, including sponsorship and retail product placement, voluntary codes of practice; when the monitoring body will be set up to monitor the codes of practice; the timeframe for the designation of the body; the timeframe for the development of guidelines for implementation of the code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49027/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:385. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the progress being made by the sub-group on reformulation to set targets on reformulation of food and drink; when its recommendations on addressing reduction of portion sizes and on monitoring and validation procedures will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49028/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:386. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the work being undertaken in developing proposals for the purposes of conducting an evaluation of the sugar-sweetened drink tax; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49029/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:387. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when his Department will make a progress report on the implementation of A Healthy Weight for Ireland, Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49030/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:462. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the way in which the obesity policy implementation oversight group will engage with the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs's report on childhood obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49556/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:463. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the way in which Action 2.1 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan will be advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49557/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:464. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the outcomes that have come from the stakeholder forum on the built environment that took place on 21 November 2018; if a report will be compiled on the recommendations from the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49558/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:465. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details on working groups to be established to design, enhance and deliver healthier environments after the stakeholder forum on the built environment that took place on 21 November 2018; if the obesity policy and action plan will examine developing a guidance document for health and environmental planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49559/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 387, inclusive, and 462 to 465, inclusive, together.
The national Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) established under the Chair of the Department of Health, is comprised of individuals from a range of Government Departments and Agencies. It is providing oversight to the implementation of the recommendations of the national Obesity Policy & Action Plan (OPAP). At its next meeting, the OPIOG will consider the Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs for the purposes of, among others, aligning both sets of recommendations. In the meantime, the preparation of a Progress Report on the implementation of OPAP is continuing so that it can be considered at this next OPIOG meeting.
As the Deputy is aware, the OPIOG agreed to establish a sub-group for Reformulation earlier this year. This sub-group has met on a number of occasions since being established and agreed their Terms of Reference. The Reformulation sub-group is technical in its work programme. The work of the sub-group will primarily set targets on reformulation of food and drink. It will also make recommendations on addressing reduction of portion sizes and on monitoring and validation procedures. As part of its work, a workshop between the Reformulation sub-group and Food Sector Stakeholders on reformulation took place on 20 September last. This workshop provided an important opportunity for detailed engagement with key Food Sector Stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities of reformulation in the interests of promoting the health and well-being of the population. And the work of the sub-group will now build on this engagement.
The report of the sub-group, which is anticipated to be finalised in the first half of next year, will among other things, explore approaches and make recommendations to address reducing portion sizes along with considering options for implementing recommendations in particular, monitoring and validation procedures.
While there are no plans at this juncture to establish any additional sub-groups along the lines referred to by the Deputy, the Chair of the OPIOG keeps such questions under review.
The commencement of the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax on 1 May last was in line with one of the recommendations in the OPAP. It represents a positive step in our national policy to deal with the problem of obesity. Work on the development of an evaluation framework for this tax is well underway and I anticipate that this framework will be well advanced by early next year. In addition, Codes of Practice for food and beverages promotion, marketing and sponsorship were developed involving representatives from the food industry, advertising sector, statutory agencies, and various Government Departments. It was chaired by the former CEO of the statutory Food Safety Authority of Ireland. The Codes of Practice concerned were published in February. Earmarking a process for monitoring the Codes and the development of a related process to agree guidance for supporting them are continuing.
Finally, a number of Government policies aim to support the design and development of built environments that enhance health, wellbeing and quality of life for all. The National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) and OPAP both require that joint action is taken to promote the importance of physical activity and to reduce the obesogenic nature of the built environment.
In line with Actions 31 of the NPAP and 2.1 of the OPAP, which commit to developing guidelines and support materials for those working in developing the built environment in order to promote the importance of physical activity, and Action 59 of the NPAP which commits to developing a programme of on-going stakeholder communication and engagement, a Stakeholder Forum was held on the 21 November last.
The event was planned in partnership, with substantial input from three Government Departments, (Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport; and Housing, Planning and Local Government) and was hosted in the National Indoor Arena, Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, Abbottstown. I am pleased to note that the event was well attended with 125 delegates.
This Forum, entitled Connect, Collaborate, Create; Co-Designing Healthier Communities, A Healthy Ireland Stakeholder Forum on the Built Environment, brought together those who have a responsibility for planning and developing public spaces with those who have expertise regarding the impacts of the built environment on health and wellbeing, sport and physical activity.
I was delighted to address this Forum together with my colleague Simon Harris T.D., Minister for Health, and the CEO of Sport Ireland, John Treacy. Sessions were chaired by officials from the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Health. Expert presentations were given regarding optimal design of healthier communities, the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) and the new Town and Village Toolkit, which is about to be launched by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI).
Presentations were also given by Waterford City & County Council on the lessons learned from the success of the Waterford Greenway, and on the development of the No Fry Zone initiative in Greystones, Co. Wicklow which aims to place limits on the proximity of fast food outlets to schools.
The talks were followed by a workshop and discussion. Written feedback was gathered from all participant groups and is in the process of collation. These collated outcomes will be considered in detail by the relevant Departments, the National Physical Activity Plan Implementation Group and OPIOG for the purposes of advancing our work in the area of health and environmental planning.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (388)
Niamh Smyth
Question:388. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49031/18]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (389)
Niamh Smyth
Question:389. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49035/18]
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.