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Tuesday, 18 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 414-434

Hospitals Data

Questions (414)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

414. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled by specialty at Letterkenny University Hospital for each month in 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53104/18]

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Written 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.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Questions (415)

Micheál Martin

Question:

415. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns that Cork University Hospital is lagging behind in terms of screening and isolation of patients who have been exposed to superbugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53108/18]

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Written answers

The prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a significant patient safety and public health priority for the Department of Health.

In October 2017, Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020 (iNAP) was launched by myself and Minister Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine. This Plan was developed in line with the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR (2015). The iNAP activities are prioritised and being implemented across the duration of the Plan.

In response to the emergence of virulent antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, in particular CPE or CRE, commonly known as 'superbugs', I convened the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in October 2017, as a public health response to the CPE superbug. CPE has been declared as a public health emergency.

In response to a request made by the National Public Health Emergency Team, the CPE Expert Group has developed guidance regarding the patient populations that should be screened in hospitals for Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). This guidance has been published and disseminated to all hospitals by the HSE.

Enhanced surveillance of indicators related to CPE has been available for the past year via monthly reports produced and published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre. It is noted that between October 2017 and October 2018, Cork University Hospital has had a threefold increase in the number of screening tests performed (189 tests performed in October 2017 to 684 performed in October 2018). In the vast majority of cases, Cork University Hospital has been able to provide appropriate accommodation and isolation for those with CPE. While Cork University Hospital has seen an increase in the number of newly detected patients with CPE, it would be reasonable to expect this given the increase in screening tests performed.

In relation to other superbugs, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile, information available to the Department of Health indicates that the rate of detection of new cases per bed day used in Cork University Hospital is in line with the national average.

Health Services Staff

Questions (416)

Dara Calleary

Question:

416. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the engagements he has had with a union (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it represents over 500 medical professionals in the health service; the efforts he has made to avert industrial action proposed for later in December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53119/18]

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Written answers

The union which is recognised by the HSE as representing ambulance grades is SIPTU. The Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA), which is a non ICTU affiliated union, have negotiating rights for nurses working in psychiatry and intellectual disability sectors. The National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA), which is affiliated with the PNA, is not recognised by the HSE and, therefore, does not have negotiating rights for HSE ambulance staff.

Whilst individuals have a right to membership of any trade union, HSE ambulance staff who choose to join an association which is not recognised by their employer should be aware that such membership is not facilitated by their employer.

I am clear that industrial action is never the solution to industrial relations issues. The interests of patients are always best served through negotiation and by avoiding any such action. I welcome the decision taken by the PNA to defer the strike action planned for 19th December. In the interim, the PNA have referred the issue to the Workplace Relations Commission.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (417)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

417. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when home help will be sanctioned in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53123/18]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (418)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

418. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53124/18]

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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.

National Children's Hospital Status

Questions (419)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

419. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the construction of the new children’s hospital; when construction will be completed; when it will be open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53125/18]

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Written answers

Considerable work has been undertaken on the project since 2017. The enabling works at the new children’s hospital site on the St. James's campus were completed in early 2018. Phase A construction works (substructure works such as basement excavation and piling) on the main site commenced in October 2017 and are also now nearing completion.

Development is also well advanced on the paediatric outpatients and urgent care centres. Works at Connolly are on target for practical completion of the building in Spring 2019 with the opening scheduled for July 2019. Works at Tallaght are underway with enabling and decant works almost complete and construction works on centre due to commence in a matter of weeks with a target handover date of July 2020. The main hospital construction is scheduled for completion by July 2022. Following practical handover, the commissioning process will take a couple of months before services move from the existing three children’s hospital to the new hospital on a phased basis.

Voluntary Sector Remuneration

Questions (420)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

420. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the pay anomalies for section 39 staff at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53133/18]

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Written answers

You will be aware that in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations. The 50 organisations included were agreed at the WRC by all parties.

I asked the HSE to engage with the Section 39 organisations to establish the facts around what cuts were applied and how and when they were implemented. The HSE has completed the first phase of their work in relation to the agencies identified as part of the WRC process. This exercise has shown that of the agencies who returned data, a majority did apply pay reductions of some form. It also showed that some agencies made some form of pay restoration between 2016 and 2018.

Following constructive engagement with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission, an agreement was reached on 2 October between the parties. Pay restoration will commence with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019 for those employed by the 50 organisations involved in the pilot. Any outstanding balance will be paid in two equal amounts in 2020 and 2021.

The HSE are undertaking a further validation exercise of those 50 pilot organisations and their funding requirements to enable the pay restoration. Further information was requested from these organisations in recent weeks. Some of the organisations which did not form part of this pilot phase are likely to have pay restoration issues also. A process of engagement to address this will commence in 2019.

Health Services Provision

Questions (421)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

421. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to ensure that the required treatment is provided for a person (details supplied). [53139/18]

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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.

In that regard as the concerns raised relate to service matters, I have arranged for your correspondence to be referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to you.

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

Questions (422)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

422. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 18 years of age on waiting lists for speech and language therapy for more than one year by community healthcare organisation, CHO, area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53214/18]

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Written answers

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Questions (423)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

423. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of posts for speech and language therapists vacant for in excess of six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53215/18]

View answer

Written answers

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

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Questions (424, 425)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

424. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for initial assessment by community healthcare organisation, CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53216/18]

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Thomas Byrne

Question:

425. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for access to services following initial assessment by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53217/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.

Improving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government.

This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and day case procedures (IPDC), now at just under 71,000 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 17.5% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or daycase procedure. The number of patients waiting over 9 months has reduced from over 28,100 to just over 16,700 in the same period equating to a 40% reduction.

The ongoing collaboration between the HSE and NTPF to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity has resulted in over 21,200 patients accepting offers of treatment for a hospital procedure to the end of October this year.

Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.

In 2019, the NTPF plans to deliver 25,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments. In addition, 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes will be carried out, bringing to 9,000 the additional scope activity provided by the NTPF since the start of 2018. Furthermore, 40,000 Outpatient appointments will be arranged as part of 2019 activity.

As a result, the number of patients waiting for a hospital procedure is projected to fall to below 59,000 by the end of 2019.

There are currently 70,989 patients on the IPDC waiting list (excl. scopes) and of these 63.5% (45,086) are waiting 6 months or less and 76.5% (54,278) are waiting 9 months or less.

There are 515, 360 on the Outpatient waiting list. Of these 49% (254,795) are waiting 6 months or less, 62% (319,063) are waiting 9 months or less and 70.5% (363,409) are waiting 12 months or less. (See IPDC & Outpatient overall waiting lists in the tables).

My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatient/daycase and outpatients for 2019.

In 2019, the NTPF and 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 attached documents.

IPDC Waiting List (Excluding Scopes)

0-3 mths

3-6 mths

6-9 mths

9-12 mths

12-15 mths

15-18 mths

18-24 mths

24-36 mths

36-48 mths

48+

Total

29359

15727

9192

5343

3667

2288

3009

2123

229

52

70989

Outpatient Waiting List

0-3 mths

3-6 mths

6-9 mths

9-12 mths

12-15 mths

15-18 mths

18-21 mths

21-24 mths

24-36 mths

36-48 mths

48+mths

Total

164208

90587

64268

44346

35431

28159

23772

16656

38296

8896

741

515360

Outpatient Waiting List

Outpatient Waiting List

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (426)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

426. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason a drug (details supplied) is no longer available; when it will be made available again; if he will ensure this occurs as soon as possible in view of concerns of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53220/18]

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Written answers

There is currently a temporary shortage of Hydrocortone (hydrocortisone) 10mg tablets in Ireland. The marketing authorisation holder (MAH) for Hydrocortone has notified the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) that the shortage of this medicine is due to manufacturing delays. Supply of the Irish authorised product is expected to resume in January 2019. A letter has been circulated by the MAH to healthcare professionals to advise them of the situation.

In the interim, the Irish market is being supplied on a temporary basis with hydrocortisone 10mg tablets from other markets to meet the needs of Irish patients until supply of the Irish authorised medicine resumes. These medicines are being supplied as exempt medicinal products and can be ordered by pharmacists through Irish wholesalers.

If a patient has any concerns regarding their treatment with this or any other medication, they should discuss this directly with their doctor or pharmacist.

Nursing Home Subventions

Questions (427)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

427. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason temporary nursing home funding has ceased for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if this decision will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53223/18]

View answer

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.

Question No. 428 answered with Question No. 397.

Hospital Services

Questions (429)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

429. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the agreement between his Department and the RCSI hospital group relating to changing the name of a hospital such as the case with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53226/18]

View answer

Written answers

There is no agreement in place between my Department and the HSE in relation to changing the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. I have asked the HSE to provide information on this matter.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (430)

Barry Cowen

Question:

430. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment. [53233/18]

View answer

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.

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Questions (431)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

431. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 11 December 2018, the details of the review which the HSE is carrying out; the particular aspects of HSE operations which are under review; the timeframe for completion of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53239/18]

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Written answers

The review referred to in the Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 11th December 2018 is an internal review being conducted by the HSE to look at the adequacy of the staffing arrangements in the unit processing applications for reimbursement under the Cross Border Directive (CBD). I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy about the particular details of this internal review.

The HSE have acknowledged that their target of processing CBD reimbursements within 20 working dates has been exceeded due to the continued increase in the number of applications for reimbursement being received since the CBD Office was established in 2014. Reimbursement applications have risen from 164 in 2015 (the first full year of the CBD) to in excess of 3,000 as of November 2018. Nevertheless, the HSE informs me that it remains committed to monitoring and reviewing this situation and providing reimbursement to CBD patients in a timely manner given the resources it has available.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (432)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

432. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he has received a dossier from a person (details supplied); if same has been examined; the action he plans to take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53241/18]

View answer

Written answers

The correspondence to which the Deputy refers in relation to this matter is currently being examined by my Department.

Drug Treatment Programmes Data

Questions (433, 434)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

433. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the exact number of needles issued under the pharmacy needle exchange programme in all participating pharmacy outlets in County Louth for the previous eight quarters, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53246/18]

View answer

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

434. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when methadone service users in County Louth will be able to access methadone prescriptions in the county as opposed to travelling to County Meath for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53247/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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