Written Answers Nos. 254-271
254. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants in Cork University Maternity Hospital responsible for children with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22526/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
255. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if a paediatric consultant is responsible for diabetes in Cork University Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible
256. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit a paediatric consultant for children with diabetes in Cork University Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22528/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
257. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of dieticians or dietician hours allocated to children with diabetes in Cork University Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22529/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
258. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his views on the increased prevalence of type 1 and 2 diabetes; the number of specialist consultants employed in this area by county; the number of specialist consultants employed in this area by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22530/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
259. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when services for persons with disabilities between 60 and 65 years of age will be provided in County Laois (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22546/19]
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.
The Deputy advised that he is looking at the level of day care services available for people aged over 65 with a disability, and if they are accessing services that are not available to people aged under 65 with similar disabilities, specifically if there a difference between services being accessed by people with disabilities because of their age.
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.
260. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of community mental health nurses in each region nationally; the number available in each region (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22547/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
261. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of advocate nurses in each region nationally for persons who suffer with mental health issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22548/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
262. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a hearing aid will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22553/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
263. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs will be provided for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22554/19]
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.
264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason it is the policy of medics in the National Maternity Hospital to recommend abortion of a healthy unborn child due to an alleged misdiagnosis at the hospital; if the policy of abortion as a recommendation is in place in other locations nationally; if he will instruct the HSE to develop a policy that abortion is not recommended to mothers here (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that a similar case will not reoccur; and the investigations being undertaken by his Department into the circumstances of the case. [22576/19]
View answerSection 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the law on access to termination of pregnancy in cases where there is a condition present affecting the foetus that is likely to lead to the death of the foetus before or within 28 days of birth.
The Minister's overriding concern in this case is for the couple involved and respecting their privacy.
The Minister notes that an appropriate external review is warranted into the matters that arise here and the steps that are being taken to have an independent review of this case conducted.
As 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.
265. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for urology tests in University Hospital Galway; the reason for the long waiting list for these tests; his plans to resolve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22586/19]
View answerIn relation to the particular queries raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
266. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the HSE is in full compliance with its obligations under parental leave legislation and in particular the extension of unpaid parental leave on the implementation date of 1 September 2019, in view of the fact some staff are being told that there may be a delay in making the leave available to staff on this date [22590/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
267. 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. [22599/19]
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.
268. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22605/19]
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.
269. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged 75 years of age and over who experienced an emergency department wait time of more than 24 hours in the first quarter of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22608/19]
View answerThe hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year, with approximately 1.3 million attendances in 2018, up 3.5% on 2017. This reflects increasing demand for unscheduled care, especially by patients in the 75 years and over age group. Patients in this age group are the highest users of most health and social care services, have more complex needs and longer stays in our acute hospitals.
The National Service Plan 2019 includes an expected activity target that 99% of patients aged 75 and over are discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration. Any breach of this target in respect of patients in this age cohort is unacceptable.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the specific information requested.
270. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take in the case of a child (details supplied) who is at high risk of self-harm and under the care of CAMHS. [22610/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
271. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that CAMHS is advising parents to seek help privately for seriously ill children who are deemed to be at high risk of self-harm; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the waiting lists for private consultations are also over three months and in the case of high-risk children, including a child (details supplied), waiting three months is not an option in cases in which their conditions are immediately life threatening. [22611/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
