Michael Healy-Rae
Question:347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of extra home support for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11741/19]
View answerWritten Answers Nos. 347-369
347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of extra home support for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11741/19]
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.
348. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE helpline providing information on terminations will have a facility for deaf persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11766/19]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
349. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding issues for residential care for a person (details supplied) will be addressed; if the HSE received correspondence from the person's psychologist regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11767/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
350. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11772/19]
View answerUnder 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.
351. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a matter (details supplied) regarding Orkambi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/19]
View answerEligibility for public health services in Ireland is subject to the criteria of being 'ordinarily resident' in the State. 'Ordinarily resident' means a person is living in the State or can provide evidence that he/she intends to remain in the State for at least one year.
The Health Service Executive is responsible for assessing if a person meets the 'ordinarily resident' criteria.
Should the Deputy wish to provide the person's contact details, including her Irish address, I will forward to the HSE for examination and direct reply to the Deputy. Alternatively, the person should contact her local area health office for advice on entitlement to public health services in Ireland.
352. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been brought to a shortage of a medication (details supplied); the efforts under way to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11782/19]
View answerIn Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority for the regulation of medicines. The Agency’s role includes monitoring and inspecting medicinal products on the market to ensure their safety, efficacy and legality. The HPRA also leads the co-ordination of efforts by national agencies and stakeholders to manage medicine shortages.
I am informed that the supplier of this product has confirmed that there is currently no shortage of Risperdal® 2mg tablets (which contains the active ingredient risperidone) in Ireland.
However, the HPRA was made aware of a shortage of another medicine containing risperidone 4mg from a different supplier in February. This may have resulted in an increased demand for risperidone 4mg and 2mg tablets from other suppliers. However, there have been no reports of shortages of any other medicine containing risperidone. That said, some localised issues may arise for a period of time as stock levels return to normal throughout the system.
Unfortunately, medicines shortages do arise from time to time for a number of different reasons and are a feature of health systems around the world. The shortage of the risperidone 4mg product was not as a result of Brexit. I can confirm that no shortages currently affecting the Irish market are attributable to Brexit.
The Government does not anticipate an immediate impact on medicine supplies should there be a no deal Brexit on 29 March. There are already additional stocks of medicines built into the Irish medicine supply chain, and these additional stocks, together with planning by Revenue to allow fast-tracking of essential medicines into Ireland, will help deal with any delays that may arise.
It is important to note that there is no need for any patient to order extra quantities of medicines or for doctors to issue additional prescriptions, as this could disrupt existing stock levels and hamper the supply of medicines for other patients.
Risperdal®, and other medicines containing the active ingredient risperidone, have been designated as interchangeable by the HPRA. Interchangeable medicines contain the same active ingredient, in the same strength, and therefore other brands containing risperidone may be safely switched to if necessary. If a patient has any concerns regarding their treatment with this or any other medicine, I would encourage them to discuss this directly with their doctor or pharmacist.
353. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a new respite service recently opened in Dundalk, County Louth, is not fully wheelchair-accessible; if funding will be made available to make this facility fully wheelchair-accessible and suitably staffed to deal with the needs of those who seek the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/19]
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.
354. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of a fair deal application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11807/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
355. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the target date for the opening of the new 60-bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick; the target date for the opening of the new permanent 90-bed structure at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11836/19]
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.
356. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of the new diabetes treatment centre at Sligo University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11837/19]
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.
357. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made regarding the future use of a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11841/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
358. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be transferred to a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11846/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
359. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE on taxis in each of the years 2011 to 2018, in tabular form; the reason for using taxis for patient transfer, transfer of paper files between hospitals and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11848/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on private ambulances by each hospital in each of the years 2011 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11849/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
361. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the contracts in place in the HSE for recycling various medical products such as crutches, walking aids, Zimmer frames, wheelchairs and other aids to assist persons; the amount paid in respect of collecting and refurbishing for recycling purposes in each of the category of items involved per unit; the process in place by which these items are reused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11866/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
362. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding children in County Wexford with autism accessing occupational therapy; the number on the waiting list; the number waiting more than six and 12 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11872/19]
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.
363. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a hoist at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11880/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive home care packages for persons with dementia allocated in 2018, by CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11881/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Waterford who applied for the treatment abroad scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11882/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
366. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a cataract operation at University Hospital Waterford for longer than six, 12 and 18 months, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11883/19]
View answerI am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, I am committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures.
Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published on Monday. The plan sets out measures to improve care for patients waiting for scheduled care in 2019 by reducing wait times for inpatient/day case treatment and outpatient appointments and will place a strong focus on a number of high-volume procedures including cataracts. When combined with HSE activity it is projected that the NTPF will be in a position to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months for one of these procedures.
The NTPF will deliver additional activity in the health service by working with hospital groups and individual hospitals as well as private health providers to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity. I would strongly encourage all hospitals, including University Hospital Waterford, to continue to collaborate with the NTPF to identify waiting list initiatives.
The data requested by the deputy is contained in the following table.
Cataract IPDC waiting list in UHW – patients waiting over 6, 12, 18 months
6 months + |
12 months + |
18 months + |
Total Waiters |
531 |
70 |
33 |
1211 |
367. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who had elective surgery cancelled or rescheduled more than once in 2017 and 2018 at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11884/19]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
368. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting follow-up appointments for knee and hip operations at University Hospital Waterford in 2017 and 2018, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11885/19]
View answerI am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, I committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures.
Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published on Monday. The plan sets out measures to improve care for patients waiting for scheduled care in 2019 by reducing wait times for inpatient/day case treatment and outpatient appointments and will place a strong focus on Orthopaedics.
A key element of this Plan is the stabilisation of the Outpatient Waiting List which remains a significant challenge. The HSE, in line with the National Service Plan 2019 will provide 3.3 million outpatient appointments, more than 1 million of which will be first outpatient appointments.
In addition, the NTPF will fund an additional 40,000 first outpatient appointments through weekend and out of hours clinics and ‘see and treat’ clinics.
The NTPF will deliver additional activity in the health service by working with hospital groups and individual hospitals as well as private health providers to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity. I would strongly encourage all hospitals, including University Hospital Waterford, to collaborate with the NTPF to identify waiting list initiatives.
The data requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table.
Orthopaedic Outpatient waiting list in UHW – 2017 & 2018
Year |
No. |
2017 |
6646 |
2018 |
6321 |
369. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours allocated under the home care package in each of the years 2016 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11886/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.