Written Answers Nos. 464-479
464. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the staff vacancies at a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal; the date when each vacancy first occurred; the efforts made to recruit to fill such vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23418/19]
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 A Programme for a 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 issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
465. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the staff to service user ratio at a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23419/19]
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 A Programme for a 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 issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
466. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on the establishment of a youth mental health pathfinder team under section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. [23421/19]
View answerThe proposal to establish a cross-governmental youth mental health Pathfinder team with participation from the Department of Health, the Department of Education & Skills and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs has Civil Service Management Board and Ministerial approval.
The proposal is to formalise a new model for collaborative working within Government on a statutory footing by utilising section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. This section of the 1997 Act has never been used before. Various administrative, budgetary, governance and legal arrangements need to be put in place to ensure a robust and workable model for the Pathfinder unit.
The Department of Health has engaged extensively with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and as a result the participating Departments will consider a number of implementation options that address the above issues.
At the end of last month I had a constructive meeting with Minister Donohoe and his officials. They are very supportive of the proposal, subject to resolving the outstanding matters. I hope to make substantial progress on the matter in the coming months.
467. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of home help provision for a person (details supplied). [23428/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
468. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a child (details supplied). [23432/19]
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 A Programme for a 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.
469. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [23433/19]
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.
470. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the criteria for selecting private organisations for carrying out an assessment of needs in counties Cork and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/19]
View answer471. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the necessary qualifications for a candidate carrying out clinical assessments within the current assessment of needs process in the private sector as part of the wait list initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/19]
View answer472. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the necessary qualifications for a candidate carrying out clinical assessments within the current assessment of needs process in the public sector as part of the wait list initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23440/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 470 to 472, inclusive, together.
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 A Programme for a 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.
473. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if hospital transport can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied); if this can be facilitated at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
474. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the reason surgery due on 5 June 2019 was cancelled on 29 May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23451/19]
View answerMaintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE advise that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, medical reasons, and patient choice.
In relation to the specific question raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
475. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a wheelchair for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23455/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
476. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23461/19]
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.
477. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if steps will be taken to ensure that a person (details supplied) will be provided with a place in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23469/19]
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 A Programme for a 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.
478. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome in the person's hand. [23471/19]
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.
479. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the agreements in place with sporting organisations to provide ambulance coverage at large-scale sporting events; if a copy of all individual or collective agreements with such organisations will be provided; if arrangements with such organisations have created a cost for the HSE; if so, the amount in each of the years 2009 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23473/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
