Michael Healy-Rae
Question:377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if home help will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51996/18]
View answerHome Help Service Eligibility
Questions (377)
Written answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (378)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:378. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if persons with type 1 diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency will be provided with access to Creon under the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51999/18]
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.
Orthodontic Services Data
Questions (379)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:379. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 364 of 4 December 2018, the number of children waiting on orthodontic treatment by grade and length of time waiting at Letterkenny University Hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52020/18]
View answerWritten answers
Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,000 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure.
In Budget 2019 the Government has further increased investment in this area, with funding to the NTPF to increase from €55m in 2018 to €75m in 2019.
My Department is working closely with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the HSE to finalise a coherent Waiting List Action Plan for 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.
The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the attached document.
Waiting List - Orthodontic Treatment
Letterkenny University Hospital
The NTPF have confirmed that there are currently no children at Letterkenny University Hospital waiting under the IPDC specialties of maxillofacial, oral surgery, or dental surgery, as of the 1st of November.
There are no children listed for outpatient appointments under the specialties of oral surgery or dental surgery.
The NTPF confirm that there are 73 children listed for outpatient appointments under the specialty of maxillofacial at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Outpatient referrals are triaged as urgent or routine. The Outpatient data with triage included for paediatric orthodontics at Letterkenny University Hospital is provided below.
Letterkenny General Hospital
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18 Months + |
Grand Total |
|
|
Maxillofacial |
12 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
26 |
73 |
|
Routine |
6 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
26 |
62 |
|
Urgent |
6 |
3 |
2 |
11 |
||||
|
Grand Total |
12 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
26 |
73 |
General Medical Services Scheme
Questions (380)
Pat Deering
Question:380. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) with a medical card who is the patient of a doctor who has retired cannot transfer to another doctor even though the person's family members are already patients of this doctor and the person is a private patient of the doctor. [52037/18]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Cross-Border Health Services Provision
Questions (381)
Róisín Shortall
Question:381. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for persons who take up healthcare under the cross-border directive to be refunded the moneys which they must pay up front for surgery; if there are delays in refunds being processed; if so, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52044/18]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE operates the Cross Border Directive in Ireland. Patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient may access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the country they choose to receive the service in.
The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser.
The HSE's target for reimbursing patients for healthcare accessed abroad under the CBD is a maximum of 20 working days from receiving all the completed documents. However, the HSE have confirmed it currently takes approximately 64 days to process reimbursements. The HSE have confirmed the increase in processing times is due to a significant increase in the amount of applications received for the CBD and they are currently reviewing the appropriate resourcing requirements.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (382, 383, 384)
John Lahart
Question:382. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of women and men, respectively employed in his Department and the agencies under remit of his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52057/18]
View answerJohn Lahart
Question:383. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the various grades in which males and females are employed in his Department and the agencies under the remit of his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52074/18]
View answerJohn Lahart
Question:384. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the ratio of males to females employed in his Department and the agencies under the remit of his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52091/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 to 384, inclusive, together.
The ratio of males to females employed in my Department is 1 : 1.44. The breakdown by gender and grade is detailed below:
|
Grade |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
3 |
4 |
7 |
|
Director |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Principal Officer & Equivalents |
19 |
32 |
51 |
|
Assistant Principal & Equivalents |
56 |
75 |
131 |
|
Higher Executive Officer & Equivalents |
35 |
58 |
93 |
|
Administrative Officer |
22 |
17 |
39 |
|
Executive Officer |
30 |
45 |
75 |
|
Clerical Officer |
20 |
47 |
67 |
|
Service Officer |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Total |
195 |
280 |
475 |
I have asked that the HSE respond to you directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
Disability Services Provision
Questions (385)
Martin Ferris
Question:385. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have an increase in the cost of long-term care sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52139/18]
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.
Patient Transport
Questions (386)
Clare Daly
Question:386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the operation of non-ambulance transport from Sligo University Hospital was last tendered; and when the next tender process for such transport will commence. [52142/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Patient Forums
Questions (387)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:387. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if patient advisory committees have been established by all seven hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52177/18]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Patient Safety Agency Establishment
Questions (388)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:388. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to date and actions planned arising from the report of the consultation for the patient safety complaints and advocacy policy earlier in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52178/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health has been engaged in the development of policy in relation to the areas of Patient Safety, Complaints and Advocacy for a considerable period of time. Notably, the Government approved in December 2015 the establishment of a new National Patient Safety Office to bring forward legislation and provide the policy lead for patient safety.
Patient Safety Complaints and Advocacy Policy
In approving the Memorandum to Government on Patient Safety, the Government also directed the National Patient Safety Office in the Department of Health to undertake:
- A review, in association with the Health Service Executive, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, of S.I. No. 652/2006 Health Act (Complaints Regulations 2006 with a view to enhancement of the statutory provisions for management of complaints within the health services.
- Establishment of a patient advocacy service.
Public Consultation for the Patient Safety Complaints and Advocacy Policy took place between June and November of 2017 and a report of its findings was published in July 2018.
The consultation findings were analysed and key issues emerged from the consultation, grouped under four key themes to consider in the development of effective policy.
These themes are:
- patient centeredness,
- efficiency and responsiveness,
- capacity and capability, and
- learning for better outcomes.
Following on from that work, a tender process has recently been undertaken for the establishment of a new Patient Safety Advocacy Service.
The Patient Safety Advocacy Service will provide free and independent advocacy in support of anyone wishing to make a formal complaint about the care or treatment they received in the health service and for anyone who has been involved in a patient safety incident. The service will initially be focused on the public acute hospital sector.
Work has also been undertaken to develop a competency framework, and a recognised training programme, that will be undertaken in 2019 by the advocates engaged by the new service.
My department also plans to commission the development of a code of practice and standards against which the service will be monitored, while an independent evaluation of the service will take place within three years of its establishment.
In addition, my Department is continuing to review Statutory Instrument No. 652/2006 - Health Act 2004 (Complaints) Regulations 2006 with a view to enhancement of the statutory provisions for management of complaints within the health services and to consider the inclusion of clinical judgment in healthcare complaints. This review process will also encompass inputs from the Health Service Executive, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is expected that this process will conclude in 2019.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (389)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:389. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the public bodies and entities under the aegis of his Department for which he is responsible for making all or some appointments which are not subject to the guidelines on appointments to State boards, in that the recruitment and selection process is undertaken by his Department and not through the Public Appointments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52179/18]
View answerWritten answers
All appointments made by me comply with the legislation in place and/or are made in line with Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The basis for the nomination of members to the boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is usually set out in legislation.
In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. I also appoint members on the nomination of various bodies, again in accordance with the relevant legislation.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (390)
Pearse Doherty
Question:390. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 458 of 20 November 2018, the reason the reply received from the HSE does not provide the breakdown of the costings sought; if this information will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52188/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, 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 with the particular information raised in this question.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Eligibility
Questions (391)
Pearse Doherty
Question:391. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the nursing homes support in place for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52191/18]
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.
Basic Payment Scheme Appeals
Questions (392)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:392. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51537/18]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 02 May 2018. Following processing the eligible area of a land parcel was reduced on foot of standard processing checks.
This decision was appealed and an official of my Department has made direct contact with the authorised agricultural agent of the person named. Additional information has been requested in relation to the eligibility of the land parcel concerned. When the information requested is received, it will be examined with a view to finalising the review process in this case.
TAMS Applications
Questions (393)
Brendan Griffin
Question:393. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a TAMS II application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51563/18]
View answerWritten answers
The applicant in question was approved under the Dairy Equipment Scheme of TAMS II for a milking machine. He had already received grant aid for the installation of Milk Storage and Cooling Systems.
The approval letter for the milking machine was issued on the 29th August 2017 and the applicant was advised that he had one full year in which to complete the work and submit a payment claim. Instructions were also provided in the approval letter on what to do if an extension to this time was required.
No request for an extension was received and the approval has now expired. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme no grant payment can issue to the applicant in this case.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (394)
Pat Breen
Question:394. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51569/18]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was received from the person named on 2 May 2018. Processing of this application is now complete and payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
GLAS Payments
Questions (395)
Brendan Griffin
Question:395. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2018 GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51743/18]
View answerWritten answers
GLAS payments are fully up to date for the person named.