Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:650. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of residents in nursing home care facilities nationwide. [54452/18]
View answerNursing Homes Support Scheme Data
Questions (650, 651)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:651. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons requiring nursing home care in five, ten, 15 and 20 years, respectively according to demographic analysis. [54453/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together.
Currently more than 23,200 people are supported in nursing homes under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS). This figure does not include those in short stay or transitional care beds, nor does it include those residents of private facilities that pay for their own service outside of the NHSS. The Health Information & Quality Authority website has information on the number of registered beds for each designated residential care centre, public and private.
The Department's "Health in Ireland - Key Trends 2018" report, published last month, indicates that in 2017 there were 30,674 residential care beds registered with HIQA. It is not possible to determine the exact total number of people in residential care beds at a given time except for those that residents that are supported under the NHSS.
The Capacity Review published earlier this year, in addition to recognising the pressures being faced across the health system in terms of access to healthcare, was also an indication of the Government’s desire to plan appropriately for the future. Analysis of future scenarios (based on demographic projections and taking account of envisaged reform measures) shows potential requirements for the period to 2031. On the back of these findings, the Government committed to providing 4,500 additional short and long term residential care beds in the National Development Plan. The exact criteria for the planning and design of these beds will be evaluated on a phased basis as the projects are approved.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (652)
Joan Burton
Question:652. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the budget and spend in his Department for marketing, media and social media in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the projected spend for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54466/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health interprets marketing and media costs as advertising costs. Advertising includes advertising board vacancies and public consultations. Social Media costs in 2018 were incurred in the promotion of Mental Health Services and the Health and Wellbeing Programme.
Advertising costs for 2016, 2017 and 2018 are set out as follows:2016 Advertising / marketing / PR €10,394.47
Social Media -
2017 Advertising / marketing / PR €22,302.29
Social Media -
2018 Advertising / marketing / PR €37,526.92
Social Media €70,761.34
Healthy Ireland €319,694.66
We do not have figures for projected spend for 2019 at this stage.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (653)
Joan Burton
Question:653. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in his Department employed to work on marketing, media and social media in 2018. [54483/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's Press and Communications Office has a Head of Communications at Principal Officer level and six other members of staff who were engaged in work on media and social media in relation to the general work of the Department during 2018. Separately, a Head of Communications with specific responsibilities in relation to the Sláintecare Programme Office was appointed in December 2018.
In addition there are other employees in various Units throughout the Department whose work would include some elements of communications, media and social media alongside their main duties.
Question No. 654 answered with Question No. 545.
National Treatment Purchase Fund Payments
Questions (655)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:655. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount the NTPF pays per patient per eye for cataract surgery and IOL implants from initial consultation to final review. [54492/18]
View answerWritten answers
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advises that it procures capacity for the procedures listed in both private hospitals or public hospitals.
In order to ensure competitive pricing as part of its outsourcing programme, the NTPF works with private hospitals from the existing panel agreement and engages in procurement processes through e-tender. The NTPF also works with legal advisors and procurement specialists to ensure that all funding is appropriately spent.
The NTPF advises that as procedures are tendered for through an open procurement process the cost per procedure would be commercially sensitive.
Cross-Border Health Initiatives
Questions (656)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:656. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount the HSE pays per patient per eye for cataract surgery and IOL implants under the Cross Border Directive from initial consultation to final review; and the cost of each respectively in tabular form. [54493/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medicinal Products Prices
Questions (657)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:657. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a variance in the amount paid for children's dispensing from initial consultation to final review under the HSE contract between local and community areas. [54494/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Questions (658)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:658. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason primary school children are being discharged from eye care services with parents being forced to pay for eye examinations prior to appropriate alternatives being put in place. [54495/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists
Questions (659)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:659. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the large increases in waiting lists for speech and language services; the measures he is taking to reduce the waiting lists for initial assessment, first therapy appointment and further therapy; his target for waiting lists for each of these aspects of speech and language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54500/18]
View answerWritten 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 Waiting Lists
Questions (660)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:660. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the reason 15% of children on waiting lists in the south-west CHO area for speech and language services have been waiting longer than one year; the measures he is taking to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54501/18]
View answerWritten 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.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Questions (661)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:661. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the reason 29% of children on waiting lists in the south-west CHO area for CAMHS services have been waiting longer than one year; the measures he is taking to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54502/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Minister as soon as possible.
Youth Services
Questions (662)
Michael McGrath
Question:662. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the plans of the HSE to ensure the continuation of services to young persons availing of the youth health service which is being transitioned into the HSE social inclusion portfolio; if young persons using the service will continue to have a service in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54508/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the issue raised refers to service matters, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for their direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (663)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:663. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if the application for reimbursement of Ocrevus for persons with relapsing MS and primary progressive MS has been discussed by the HSE drugs group; if so, the decisions that were made; if these drugs will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the HSE leadership team; when persons with MS who are eligible candidates for Ocrevus can expect to have access to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54511/18]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (664)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:664. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of the use of and access to the limited capacity of the respite house in Cootehill, County Cavan; the reason service users and families that would normally benefit from its services are having access denied; his plans for additional respite provision in counties Cavan and Monaghan to cater to the needs of persons across the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54512/18]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
National Treatment Purchase Fund Payments
Questions (665)
Jackie Cahill
Question:665. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the range of prices, by lowest and highest in percentage terms, paid by the NTPF for a single cataract operation to a non-HSE provider from first consultation to final check-up in 2018 using the cost of the same operation at a HSE-run hospital as the base cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54513/18]
View answerWritten answers
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advises that it procures capacity for cataract operations in both private hospitals or public hospitals.
In order to ensure competitive pricing as part of its outsourcing programme, the NTPF works with private hospitals from the existing panel agreement and engages in procurement processes through e-tender. The NTPF also works with legal advisors and procurement specialists to ensure that all funding is appropriately spent.
The NTPF advises that as procedures are tendered for through an open procurement process the cost per procedure would be commercially sensitive.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (666)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:666. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a matter regarding the treatment of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54514/18]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (667)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:667. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a bed in a community hospital for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54515/18]
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.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (668)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:668. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a position (details supplied) will be re-advertised in UHK; when the service will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54516/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (669)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:669. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the qualifications required for play specialists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54517/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.