Wednesday, 19 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 392-411

Home Care Packages Data

Questions (393, 394, 407)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

393. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for assessment for home care packages by CHO, age, category and time waiting. [53888/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

394. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been approved for home care packages for which the service has not commenced by CHO, age, category and time waiting. [53889/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the categories of home care packages; the average cost of each; the services these packages entail; and the estimated number of each category. [53904/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 394 and 407 together.

As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

HSE Staff Data

Questions (395, 396, 397, 398, 399)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

395. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent public health nurse posts in each CHO for each of the past five years; the number of these posts that are vacant; the number in which staff are on maternity or other leave in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53890/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

396. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent physiotherapist posts in each CHO for each of the past five years; the number of these posts that are vacant; the number in which staff are on maternity or other leave in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53891/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

397. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent speech and language therapist posts in each CHO for each of the past five years; the number of these posts that are vacant; the number in which staff are on maternity or other leave in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53892/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

398. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent occupational therapist posts in each CHO for each of the past five years; the number of these posts that are vacant; the number in which staff are on maternity or other leave in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53893/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

399. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent psychologists in each CHO for each of the past five years; the number of these posts that are vacant; the number in which staff are on maternity or other leave in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53894/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 399, inclusive, together.

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

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (400)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

400. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre at a location (details supplied); if a final location has been identified for the centre; if the provision of the centre remains a high priority for the HSE; the timescale for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53895/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Data

Questions (401)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

401. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive neuro-rehabilitative home care packages the HSE is providing by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53898/18]

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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Data

Questions (402)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

402. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average cost of intensive neuro-rehabilitative home care packages the HSE is providing by the cost of component services, such as nursing and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53899/18]

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.

Supported Residential Accommodation Provision

Questions (403)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

403. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health when funding will be allocated to the provision of supported living for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53900/18]

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

National Maternity Hospital

Questions (404)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

404. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a contract has yet been signed with a developer (details supplied) in respect of the proposed new national maternity hospital; if so, the scope of the work covered by the contract; and the proposed ownership structure for the hospital. [53901/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Considerable work has been undertaken to develop a legal framework to protect the State’s significant investment in the new hospital. The comprehensive legal framework prepared, and the commitments received from both hospitals, mean that I am fully confident that the new hospital will be owned by the State, that the NMH will be clinically and operationally independent of St Vincent’s and that no religious influence can, or will, be brought to bear on the new hospital.

I understand that a contract is in place for essential site works and I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly with information in relation to the scope of that contract.

Maternity Services Provision

Questions (405, 406)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

405. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 13 December 2018, the legal entity of St. Vincent's Healthcare Group with which he is negotiating in respect of the ownership and operation of the proposed new national maternity hospital; if this entity comprises an organisation (details supplied); and if its corporate status and ownership has changed since May 2017. [53902/18]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

406. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the proposed board for the new national maternity hospital; the number of members; the nominating bodies; if the board will include a public interest director; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53903/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together.

Considerable work has been undertaken to develop a legal framework to protect the State’s significant investment in the new hospital.

St Vincent's Healthcare Group has confirmed the process by which the Religious Sisters of Charity will transfer their shareholding and withdraw from the St Vincent's Healthcare Group. I have been assured that the constitution of the new St Vincent's Holdings CLG will not be faith based and will be in compliance with national and international best practice guidelines on medical ethics and the laws of Ireland.

The overall framework being put in place will, unequivocally, copper-fasten the principle that patient care in the new hospital will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction, and that any relevant medical procedure, which is in accordance with the laws of the land, will be carried out at the new hospital.

In line with the Mulvey Agreement, the Board of the proposed National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC will comprise 9 directors; 4 nominated by SVHG, 4 by NMH, and 1 will be an international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology. At my request, both the NMH and the St Vincent's Healthcare Group have agreed that the Board of the new NMH DAC will be competency based and will include a Public Interest representative.

Question No. 407 answered with Question No. 393.

Hospital Beds Data

Questions (408)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of beds for young chronic sick patients; and the location of these beds. [53905/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible

Home Care Packages Administration

Questions (409)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

409. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the arrangements for patients who have suffered brain injury and who require therapeutic services; if these services are funded under an intensive home care package; the agency responsible for providing the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53906/18]

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.

Hospital Consultant Contracts

Questions (410)

Micheál Martin

Question:

410. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of practising consultant doctors who are not on the specialist register. [53912/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Questions (411)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

411. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of approved consultant positions in whole-time equivalent terms which are vacant or filled by a locum in each relevant hospital in tabular form. [53917/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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