Friday, 6 Sep 2019

Written Answers Nos. 1245-1269

HSE Staff Recruitment

Questions (1245)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1245. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of positions in the health service by region and type of position in cases in which an applicant received an offer of a post but was subsequently informed by the HSE that the position is on hold due to budgetary restraints and continues to require the approval from the National Director; the quarter in each case during which the offer of a position was initially made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36344/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Questions (1246)

Mary Butler

Question:

1246. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive reimbursement through the cross-border treatment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36349/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (1247)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

1247. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36351/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Organ Donation

Questions (1248)

Frank O'Rourke

Question:

1248. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the progress regarding the organ donation opt-out scheme; the timeline for delivery of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36353/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of a Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill on the 1st May 2019.

Work has commenced on the drafting of the Bill in collaboration with the Office of Parliamentary Council.

The General Scheme has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny. A date for the start of this process has not yet been set.

General Practitioner Services Provision

Questions (1249)

Tom Neville

Question:

1249. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Shannondoc locum shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36354/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Atypical Working Scheme is managed, monitored and administered by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service within the Department of Justice and Equality. The current terms applying to this scheme have been in place since 2015.

The Health Service Executive has recently become aware of challenges faced by agencies providing general practitioner services, particularly GP out of hours services, in relation to the recruitment and retention of suitable locum general practitioners from abroad. The current terms of the Atypical Working Scheme have been identified as a significant factor in these challenges.

GP out of hours services play a key role in the provision of community primary care services, and in this regard the HSE is reviewing this matter and is liaising with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service in the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to examining how best to address the challenges as identified in terms of the Atypical Working Scheme.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1250)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1250. 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. [36356/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (1251)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1251. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a home help package as approved will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36359/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Questions (1252, 1253)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1252. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1265 of 23 July 2019, the grade of staff involved in the administrative process of reviewing applications from overseas applicants, in particular the grade of five staff of various grades from other departments within the NMBI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36362/19]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1253. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1264 of 23 July 2019, the number of persons waiting to have their overseas applications processed as at 31 August 2019, by length of time in months in tabular form; the number and grade of all staff working on the backlog; the anticipated timeframe to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36363/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252 and 1253 together.

As these questions relate to operational matters I have referred them to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for attention and direct reply.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (1254)

Denis Naughten

Question:

1254. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the plan to provide prefabricated theatres at Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway; when the decision was first taken to go for a prefabricated solution; when tenders were sought, received and a preferred tender selected; the original timeline for completion; the current timeline; the projected capacity of the new facility over the current capacity at the hospital; the current capacity and the number of patients treated to date in 2019; the interim measures being taken to make up for the shortfall in capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36369/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Patient Files

Questions (1255)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

1255. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the assistance available to a person (details supplied) in order to locate missing information in relation to their vaccination record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36380/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive collects and maintains vaccination records, I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.

Respite Care Services

Questions (1256)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

1256. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps that can be taken in relation to respite beds at Kenmare Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36381/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Home Care Packages Funding

Questions (1257)

Brendan Smith

Question:

1257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional financial resources will be provided to the HSE for home support in view of the delays in providing such support to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36385/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 2019 National Service Plan 2019 provides for 17.9m home support hours to be delivered to 53,000 and Intensive Home Care Packages delivered to approximately 235 people with approximately 360,000 hours delivered in the full year.

As at 30th June 2019

- there were 51,896 people in receipt of home support and 233 in receipt of an Intensive Home Care Package.

- 8,591,543 home support hours have been provided nationally

Despite the significant level of service provision, the demand for Home Support continues to grow as the population aged over 65 years’ increases. All those waiting are assessed and provided with a service, if appropriate, as soon as possible having regard to their assessed needs. In addition, people being discharged from acute hospitals, who are in a position to return home with supports, are prioritised. As of 30th June 2019, 7,217 people nationally were waiting for funding for a home support service. The numbers on the waiting list reflect a point in time and those people who are on the waiting list are reviewed, as funding becomes available, to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resource and as determined by local front line staff who know and understand the clients’ needs. If clients are assessed and approved for home support and funding is not immediately available, these cases are included on the waiting list for funding. The level of activity and associated costs in relation to home support is monitored on an on-going basis by the HSE.

The level of funding available for my Department for next year is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

The Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop a new stand-alone, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services. Developing a new statutory scheme will be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home support services. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to the introduction of the new scheme in 2021.

Health Services Provision

Questions (1258)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

1258. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will extend the scheme for free eye care for primary school children to include secondary school children in view of the fact that once a child leaves the primary education system they receive no financial help for glasses or eye tests unless they hold a full medical card. [36388/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Eye examinations, treatments and appliances for children are provided by the HSE under the Health Act 1970.

Such services are provided to children until completion of primary education and to children up to the age of 16 who have had defects noticed at child or school health examinations at primary level. Eye care services are also provided by the HSE to children from completion of primary school up to 16 years if they are medical card holders or dependants of medical card holders. I have no plans at present to review eligibility for eye care services.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (1259)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

1259. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a development (details supplied) in County Cork. [36401/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1260)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1260. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if surgery will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); if a date for same will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36402/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Home Care Packages Funding

Questions (1261)

Brendan Smith

Question:

1261. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if specific additional funding will be provided to the HSE to provide additional home support in counties Cavan and Monaghan in view of the delays in providing such support in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36405/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 2019 National Service Plan 2019 provides for 17.9m home support hours to be delivered to 53,000 and Intensive Home Care Packages delivered to approximately 235 people with approximately 360,000 hours delivered in the full year.

As at 30 June 2019,

- there were 51,896 people in receipt of home support (4,033 in CHO 1) and 233 in receipt of an Intensive Home Care Package (9 in CHO 1).

- 8,591,543 home support hours have been provided nationally with 844,226 hours provided in CHO 1 and a further 24,126 hours through the IHCPs.

Despite the significant level of service provision, the demand for Home Support continues to grow as the population aged over 65 years’ increases. All those waiting are assessed and provided with a service, if appropriate, as soon as possible having regard to their assessed needs. In addition, people being discharged from acute hospitals, who are in a position to return home with supports, are prioritised. As of 30 June 2019, 7,217 people nationally were waiting for funding for a home support service. The numbers on the waiting list reflect a point in time and those people who are on the waiting list are reviewed, as funding becomes available, to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resource and as determined by local front line staff who know and understand the clients’ needs. If clients are assessed and approved for home support and funding is not immediately available, these cases are included on the waiting list for funding. The level of activity and associated costs in relation to home support is monitored on an on-going basis by the HSE.

The level of funding available for my Department for next year is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

The Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop a new stand-alone, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services. Developing a new statutory scheme will be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home support services. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to the introduction of the new scheme in 2021.

Disability Support Services Provision

Questions (1262)

Michael McGrath

Question:

1262. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will receive occupational therapy and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36407/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 service matters, 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 Data

Questions (1263)

Denis Naughten

Question:

1263. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in nursing homes under the fair deal scheme who have a family home registered in their name which is included as part of the assessment for the scheme; the number of these houses that still have a spouse or family member residing in the property; the number of these family homes that are rented and generating an income; the number of these houses that are vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36408/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Tattooing and Body Piercing Regulation

Questions (1264)

Niall Collins

Question:

1264. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to regulate tattoo providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36409/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

There is no licensing or regulation of the tattooing or body piercing industries in Ireland and there are currently no plans to introduce regulation or legislation in the area of tattooing and body piercing. However, where a tattoo or body piercing business has been implicated as a possible source in a case of a confirmed scheduled notifiable disease, such cases can be investigated by the HSE Environmental Health Service in conjunction with the HSE Public Health Service under the provisions of S.I. No. 390/1981 - Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981 and Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 276 of 2016).

In the absence of a statutory framework being in place, my Department and the Health Service Executive took the initiative to develop guidelines in relation to tattooing and body piercing industry – these guidelines are currently in the process of being finalised. It is anticipated that the publication of this Guidance will promote and enhance evidence based best practice in hygiene standards and infection control. Discussions will shortly be held with the Health Service Executive in relation to publication, dissemination and support following publication of the guidance document. Given the absence of a clear statutory framework and the need to obtain expert views in relation to the area, some delays arose in relation to finalising the final text of the guidelines – however, it is expected that they will be published shortly. Once published, this guidance document will set out a standard of practice in relation to infection prevention and control which all operators should adhere to. This will help to drive up standards and provide a safe environment for clients and practitioners.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (1265)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1265. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his role in relation to the appointment of members to the board of a hospital (details supplied); if the positions are nominated following a process conducted by the Public Appointments Service; the categories of persons appointed by him; the name of those appointed by him to the board in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36425/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Dublin Dental Hospital Board consists of a Chairperson and 13 Board members appointed by the Minister, as provided for in the Dublin Dental Hospital (Establishment) Order 1963.

I have recently appointed a new Board for a four year term beginning 02 August 2019. Names of Board members are published on the websites of my Department and of the Dublin Dental Hospital.

I re-appointed the Chairperson of the Board with the approval of Government and I re-appointed six members to the new Board for a second term in line with Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, 2014). Five of these members had already gone through a previous selection process organised with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and one was a previous employee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and had been nominated by that Body. In line with the statutory provision, I appointed three Board members on the nomination of Trinity College and one member on the nomination of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The three remaining positions were filled through a process conducted by the PAS which advertised the vacancies on 29 March 2019. Applications were sought from candidates with expertise in (i) Risk Management, (ii) Human Resources and iii) Research.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (1266)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1266. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his role in relation to the appointment of members to the board of a hospital (details supplied); if the positions are nominated following a process conducted by the Public Appointments Service; the categories of persons appointed by him; the names of those appointed by him to the board in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36426/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As a voluntary hospital established under the Companies Act, Temple Street Hospital is a subsidiary of the Mater Misericordiae and Children’s University Hospitals Limited.

I was not involved in Board appointments of the hospital in question.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (1267)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1267. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his role in relation to the appointment of members to the board of a hospital (details supplied); if the positions are nominated following a process conducted by the Public Appointments Service; the categories of persons appointed by him; the name of those appointed by him to the board in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36427/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have no role in the appointment of members to the Board of the hospital in question.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (1268)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1268. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when the correct entrance and exit for Dingle Hospital will be used (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36428/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Questions (1269)

Seán Haughey

Question:

1269. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for a person (details supplied) who has been approved for the fair deal nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36430/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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