Written Answers Nos. 374-393
374. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the job description for each of the additional posts to be advertised for the staffing of a second cath laboratory in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52908/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible
377. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52911/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
379. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the proposed name change at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and the projected cost of changing the name of the hospital. [52913/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
380. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of each winning proposal for a tender contract issued by the HSE that has been destroyed, by which the contract has not yet been terminated, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52918/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
381. Deputy Kate O'Connell asked the Minister for Health if the status of pharmaceutical assistants is changed, the person or body that will be responsible for paying redundancy to the persons who lose their jobs. [52919/18]
View answerThe Pharmacy Act 2007 established the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and the functions of the Society are set out in the Act. The functions of the PSI are carried out on its behalf by the Council of the Society.
Section 30 of the Pharmacy Act 2007 provides for an exception to the general provision in the Act which requires the sale and supply of medicines at a pharmacy to be conducted under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist, and specifies that no offence is committed where a registered pharmaceutical assistant “acts on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the temporary absence of the registered pharmacist”.
Section 30 also permits the Council to make rules, subject to the consent of the Minister, as to:
What may or may not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist; and
What constitutes the temporary absence of a registered pharmacist.
Following a period of public consultation, the Council of the PSI considered the proposed draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 at its meeting of 20 September 2018, where the Council approved the draft rules without amendment. Following this, the PSI undertook to redraft the Rules in relation to what may or not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist.
On 06 December, the Council of the PSI approved a revised draft of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 for issuance for public consultation. This public consultation commenced on 13 December 2018 and is due to run until 11 January 2019.
Subsequent to this public consultation phase the draft Rules must again be approved by the Council before being submitted to me for my consent. This Council approval is not anticipated until early in 2019.
My role in relation to this process is limited to the consideration of any such Rules once submitted for my approval. I must consider any Rules presented to me from a fair and impartial perspective, without prejudice or prejudgment.
I await the receipt of the Rules for my consideration from the PSI and, until that time, I am unfortunately not in a position to comment any further on the matter raised.
382. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of times the full capacity protocol has been used in University Hospital Limerick in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52926/18]
View answerThe HSE National Escalation Framework, issued to the system in late 2015, consists of a tiered and incremental suite of actions to be adapted and implemented in hospitals with an ED during times when such hospitals are challenged in matching capacity and demand for acute inpatient care.
The full capacity protocol is the last escalation step in the HSE National Escalation Framework.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
383. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at University Hospital Limerick by month to date in 2018, in tabular form. [52927/18]
View answerI acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. This year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group, which was further exacerbated by Storm Emma and the extended influenza season earlier this year.
My Department has been working with the HSE throughout the year to ensure the most effective response to the pressures on our hospital system associated with the winter period. The Winter Plan runs from 1 December 2018 until 31 March 2019 and includes a period of focused action from 17 December to 13 January targeting 9 sites of concern. These sites have been identified on the basis of pressures experienced in previous winters and include University Hospital Limerick.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
384. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting times at University Hospital Limerick by speciality and wait time bands (details supplied). [52928/18]
View answerImproving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for government. This year €55 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients. This has been increased to a total of €75 million for 2019 and as a result of this additional funding, my Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatients/day case and outpatients for 2019.
I recently met with the CEO's of all hospital groups and requested that they develop innovative proposals to address their outpatient lists in 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF and the HSE will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures.
The data sought by the Deputy is set out in the following link: Waiting Times UHL
385. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the agency spend at University Hospital Limerick for 2016, 2017 and 2018. [52929/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
386. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of beds operational at University Hospital Limerick in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [52930/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
387. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a school transport option has not been put in place for a person (details supplied). [52943/18]
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.
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.
388. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 3 October 2018, the status of the position of the HSE on the report of a working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52949/18]
View answerI am advised that the report of the Working Group on a Model of Care for Lymphoedema and Lipoedema Treatment in Ireland is still under consideration by the HSE. My Department will consider recommendations arising from the report once they become available.
Any funding for new developments will be considered in line with the final allocations to the HSE for 2019.
389. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) relating to prescription payments will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52955/18]
View answerUnder 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.
390. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of the upgrade of Clonakilty Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52957/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
391. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of Skibbereen Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52958/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
392. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of the upgrade for Dunmanway Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52959/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
393. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of the upgrade of Castletownbere Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52960/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
