Tuesday, 18 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 354-373

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (354)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

354. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an assessment appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [52769/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Cancer Services Funding

Questions (355, 356, 357)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

355. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the projected expenditure on cancer services for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52772/18]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

356. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on the national cancer strategy in 2017; the projected expenditure on the strategy in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52773/18]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

357. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the projected expenditure under the national cancer control programme for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52774/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 to 357, inclusive, together.

The National Cancer Control Programme was allocated a budget of €78.4m under the HSE's National Service Plan 2017. This increased to €85.3m under the 2018 Plan. The increased funding included provision for the maintenance of the existing levels of cancer services, plus some new developments. The focus of the work involved is on the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Questions (358)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

358. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the agency spend on nurses for the first nine months in each of the years since 2009, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52837/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Protected Disclosures

Questions (359, 360)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

359. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the protected disclosure made by a person (details supplied) regarding the standards of care offered to children with disabilities at a school as reported in the media on 25 November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52838/18]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

360. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if a formal investigation has been initiated by a State body following the protected disclosure made by a person (details supplied) into standards of care for children with disabilities in a school as reported in the media on 21 November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52839/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.

The matters raised in this protected disclosure were assessed and deemed to be more appropriate to be dealt with through the HSE. The papers have been referred to the Authorised Person in the HSE with responsibility for protected disclosures. Accordingly, I have referred these questions to the HSE for direct reply in relation to this case.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (361)

John Brassil

Question:

361. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52852/18]

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.

Graduate Nursing Scheme

Questions (362)

John Brassil

Question:

362. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of 2018 graduate psychiatric nurses who have been provided employment contracts; the number recruited; the type of contract provided in each area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52859/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Graduate Nursing Scheme

Questions (363)

John Brassil

Question:

363. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place to recruit and retain graduate psychiatric nurses within the local mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52860/18]

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.

Disability Services Funding

Questions (364)

John Brassil

Question:

364. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to assign funding to Cork-Kerry community healthcare for the development of disability services (details supplied). [52863/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (365)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

365. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if it is common practice for doctors to charge €50 to stamp a driver licence renewal form for a patient; and if so, if this charge will be removed in the future. [52866/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The GMS contract stipulates that fees for medical and GP visit card holders are not paid to GPs in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients.

There are no plans at present to include the completion of forms required for driving licence applications as a service to be provided to GMS patients under the GMS or GP Visit Card scheme.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (366)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

366. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the progress of the human tissue Bill; when he plans to publish the heads of the Bill; if he will consult with interested organisations in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52873/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

During the drafting of the General Scheme of a Human Tissue Bill, my Department consulted with stakeholders including the Department of Justice & Equality, the Medical Council, the HSE's Organ Donation & Transplant Ireland, the three Transplant Centres, the Office of State Pathologist, the Coroner’s Society of Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Health Information & Quality Authority.

A public consultation was held in 2017 on the legislative proposals.

The General Scheme of a Human Tissue Bill is being finalised at present and will be submitted to Government shortly.

Brexit Staff

Questions (367)

Lisa Chambers

Question:

367. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to hire inspectors as a result of Brexit; the number expected to be hired; the number expected to be fully trained and in place by 29 March 2019; the date by which all hires will be in place; his plans to expedite this process as a result of the decision by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to defer the vote on the withdrawal agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Any Brexit scenario will mean considerable change and impact for Ireland and extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work is being taken forward, co-ordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach, across all Government Departments and Agencies.

The focus continues to be on ensuring an orderly UK withdrawal through ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement endorsed by the European Council on 25 November and agreed with the British Government.

However, it is only prudent for the Government to prepare for all scenarios. Departments continue to plan and prepare for both the 'central case' scenario and a disorderly Brexit scenario and updated Departmental Action Plans have evolved and developed based on the changing situation. It is not possible to eliminate all risk but the Government is working at home and at EU level to mitigate damage to the greatest extent possible.

The Government has already taken a number of key decisions on measures to be put in place for the necessary checks and controls for trade on an East West basis. This includes the identification of staffing requirements for the implementation of the necessary Official Controls (also referred to as Sanitary and Phytosanitary or SPS checks) carried out by the HSE’s Environmental Health Service (EHS). The EHS is the competent authority with responsibility for official controls on food products such as food of non-animal origin and some composite food products.

An additional allocation of €2.079 million is being made available to the HSE EHS in 2019 for additional posts required for food import controls and export certification based on the central case scenario. The HSE is currently recruiting an additional 61 Environmental Health posts as part of its Brexit preparations. Every effort is being made to expedite the recruitment and training of these additional staff and to have them in place as soon as possible in 2019.

Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 348.

Hospital Services

Questions (369, 370, 373, 375, 376)

David Cullinane

Question:

369. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been made available for a second cath laboratory in University Hospital Waterford. [52903/18]

David Cullinane

Question:

370. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the purpose of the second laboratory at UHW. [52904/18]

David Cullinane

Question:

373. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if a commitment is being made to provide a second cath laboratory at UHW that will facilitate both diagnostic and interventional cardiology work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52907/18]

David Cullinane

Question:

375. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is committed to providing an additional post for an interventional cardiologist at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52909/18]

David Cullinane

Question:

376. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is committed to providing a second cath laboratory at UHW that will facilitate both diagnostic and interventional work at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52910/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 370, 373, 375 and 376 together.

An independent review in 2016 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 has 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. Furthermore, the recruitment of a cardiologist to facilitate an increase in the operating hours of the existing cath lab is also being progressed by the HSE.

A mobile cath lab has been deployed at the hospital since October 2017 to conduct diagnostic cardiac procedures.

In July, I requested the HSE to proceed with next steps on the provision of a modular cath lab at UHW, and to revert to my Department with proposed timescales and costings. In September, the HSE submitted an options appraisal to the Department setting out alternative options for the location and operation of a second cath lab at UHW.

I have decided to proceed with the provision of a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford in order to address waiting times at the hospital and to provide a better service for the people of Waterford and the South East. I am committed to increasing capacity for interventional work through the addition of a second lab. My understanding is that both labs will have the capability to do interventional work.

It is intended that the cost of progressing the project to design, planning and construction stages will be considered in the context of the HSE’s Capital Plan for 2019, which is currently being finalised.

A National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services is currently underway. The aim of this Review is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. As set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027, investment in cardiac cath labs and other cardiac services infrastructure nationally will be informed by the outcome of the National Review, which is expected to be complete by June 2019.

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Questions (371, 372)

David Cullinane

Question:

371. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the wait times for a diagnostic cardiology assessment at UHW in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [52905/18]

David Cullinane

Question:

372. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the wait times for interventional cardiology at UHW in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [52906/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together.

In relation to the particular queries raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Question No. 373 answered with Question No. 369.