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Tuesday, 11 Jun 2019

Written Answers Nos. 496-511

Home Care Packages

Questions (496)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

496. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the establishment of a central national budget for sudden onset conditions to be operated independently of regular home care packages in the context of a submission (details supplied) in order to relieve some of the enormous pressures on patients and their families, on hospital capacity and to ensure the effective and equitable operation of home care packages for those with established conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23537/19]

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Written 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 supports 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. In relation to the development of neuro-rehabilitation facilities, the National Neuro-Rehabilitation Policy & Strategy Implementation Framework 2019-2021 was published by the Health Service Executive ( HSE )on 20 February 2019 and this will guide the roll-out and implementation of the national Neuro-Rehabilitation strategy in the years to come. Discussions are ongoing on the identification of the funding required to implement the framework.

In relation to home care, my Department has committed to the enactment of legislation to underpin a stand-alone, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home care by 2021. The statutory scheme will introduce clear rules in relation to what services individuals are eligible for and how decisions are made on allocating services. The new scheme will help to improve access to the home care services that people need. The system of regulation for home care will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard.

Although much work has been done, a significant amount of work still remains to be undertaken before decisions are reached on the form of the home care scheme and the system of regulation. This is necessary to ensure that the reforms are successful, affordable and sustainable. The matter is however being progressed as quickly as possible.

Home Care Packages Data

Questions (497)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

497. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the mean, median and modal hours per week for home care packages for persons over 65 years of age by county; the percentage of HCPs per head of population of over 65s by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23538/19]

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Written 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 Waiting Lists Data

Questions (498)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for orthopaedic surgery in each of the CHO areas to date; the number for the previous three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23544/19]

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Written answers

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, and NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published in March.

Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will deliver 1.155 million elective inpatient and day case discharges at a value of €1.4 billion in 2019. The Scheduled Care Access Plan includes:

- detailed plans from the NTPF to fund 25,000 IPDC treatments; 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes; and 40,000 outpatient first appointments.

- Projections by year end to reduce the overall number of patients on the waiting list (excluding GI scopes) from just over 70,200 in Dec 2018 to under 60,000;

- Within this overall reduction the number of patients waiting longer than 3 months will reduce from 40,200 at the end of 2018 to 31,000;

- It is also projected that for ten identified high volume procedures, including hip and knee replacements, all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months will be offered treatment in 2019. These 10 procedures account for over a third of the active inpatient day case waiting list and represent 60% of NTPF planned activity in 2019.

In relation to the particular matter raised by the Deputy, the table provides the Inpatient and Day Case waiting list figures by hospital for the years 2016, 2017, 2018 and to the end of April 2019.

Inpatient/Day Case Waiting List - Orthopaedics by Hospital

South South West HG

Apr-19

Dec-18

Dec-17

Dec-16

Bantry General Hospital

9

0

0

0

Cork University Hospital

9

2

27

9

Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene

279

252

374

352

South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital

447

466

394

423

University Hospital Kerry

145

152

60

68

University Hospital Waterford

142

149

166

138

University of Limerick HG

Croom Orthopaedic Hospital

186

145

78

159

RCSI Hospital Group

Beaumont Hospital

183

162

175

191

Louth County Hospital

0

0

18

0

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown

38

44

71

80

Ireland East Hospital Group

Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital

1531

1413

1813

2055

Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

129

145

223

184

Our Lady's Hospital Navan

596

641

542

420

St. Vincent's University Hospital

24

25

40

51

St. Michael's Hospital

3

3

21

8

Dublin Midlands HG

Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore

984

1067

1088

1237

St. James's Hospital

523

569

574

424

Tallaght University Hospital

1476

1412

1659

1776

Saolta Hospital Group

Letterkenny University Hospital

414

438

548

553

Galway University Hospitals

1293

1199

1005

799

Sligo University Hospital

391

271

392

429

Mayo University Hospital

1297

1234

1142

823

Childrens' Health Ireland

CHI at Crumlin

0

355

572

616

CHI at Temple St

0

479

549

471

Small Volume Hospitals

Small Volume Hospitals

0

0

2

6

Grand Total

10099

10623

11533

11272

HSE Properties

Questions (499)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

499. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the sale of a building (details supplied); if the building can be kept in State ownership; if other Departments have indicated an interest in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23546/19]

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Written answers

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Nursing Home Beds Data

Questions (500)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

500. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the HSE nursing and care homes that have vacant beds; the numbers of vacant beds in each unit; the length of time they have been vacant; the reason for the vacancies; the cost of same to the health service; the number waiting for admission to local or community HSE nursing and care homes; the length of time they have been on waiting lists; and the number occupying hospital beds while waiting. [23547/19]

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Written answers

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

General Practitioner Services

Questions (501)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

501. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; if doctors can refuse to provide letters of refusal; if the HSE will accept alternative correspondence as proof of refusal of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23548/19]

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Written answers

As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Questions (502)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

502. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the implementation of a formal pathway between hospitals (details supplied); when this agreement will be formalised; if a date for commencement of this service in County Cavan has been chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23559/19]

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Written answers

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (503)

Seán Haughey

Question:

503. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when the care arrangements will be reviewed for patients who suffer from mental illness in a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23562/19]

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Written answers

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

Dental Services Waiting Lists

Questions (504)

John Lahart

Question:

504. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for dental care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23581/19]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Questions (505)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

505. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a CT scanner will be provided and more radiographers hired for University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23582/19]

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Written answers

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

Hospital Services

Questions (506)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

506. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if there is due to be a reduced level of capacity at University Hospital Waterford during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August 2019; if staff have been advised to take their holidays during this period as a result; if the capacity of the operating theatres will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23583/19]

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Written answers

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

Disability Services Provision

Questions (507)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

507. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a personal care assistant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23584/19]

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Written 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.

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.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Questions (508)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

508. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the heads of the Bill to give effect to the proposed changes to the fair deal scheme will be published soon; the full extent of these proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23591/19]

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Written answers

The proposed policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at 3 years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset, has been approved by Government. My Department developed draft Heads of Bill while considering a number of complex ancillary policy and operational matters which may need to be addressed in the proposed legislation.  

It is intended that this proposed policy change, the 3 year cap, will be extended to eligible existing participants in long term residential care so that they are not disadvantaged, but that there would be no retrospective recoupment of contributions for those who have paid contributions over and above the 3 year period.  

The Heads of Bill has been circulated to Government this week. The changes to the Scheme will come into effect as soon as the legislative process is successfully complete.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (509)

James Browne

Question:

509. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if an urgent operation will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23595/19]

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Written answers

Under 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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Questions (510)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

510. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a communications device will be made available for a person (details supplied); the expected timeframe to receive such equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/19]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Medical Card Appeals

Questions (511)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

511. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23605/19]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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