Michael Healy-Rae
Question:343. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a HPV vaccine for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37047/19]
View answerVaccination Programme
Questions (343)
Written answers
During the 2019/20 school year, girls attending secondary school can still join the HPV girls only programme. By contacting your local HSE Health Office appointments will be offered to girls to receive the HPV vaccine in a HSE mop up clinic. However, it must be noted that vaccinated girls may still be at risk from other high risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and will therefore need to continue to have regular cervical smear tests.
Hospital Staff Data
Questions (344)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:344. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels of each department in Cavan General Hospital in the past five years; the patient numbers in each department in the hospital in the same period; the level of funding in each department in the hospital in the same period; his plans to reduce or change the level of service in departments in the hospital; and if there will be a fully operational trauma service in the hospital in the future. [37049/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
Health Services Data
Questions (345)
Róisín Shortall
Question:345. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the population of each community health organisation by each local health office. [37050/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (346)
Niamh Smyth
Question:346. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting on a heart operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37066/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (347)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37070/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (348)
Robert Troy
Question:348. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when he will examine extending pharmacy services in view of the fact a commitment given in the programme for partnership Government to extend pharmacy services which was reiterated by him in May 2019 has not been delivered to date. [37071/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to expand the role of community pharmacy in managing patient health, and this is an issue I intend to progress.
Work has been done in recent years on wider healthcare roles for pharmacies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s Future Pharmacy report, concerning expansion of professional pharmacy practice. It is clear from this and other work that there is potential to increase the range of both private and publicly funded health services delivered through community pharmacy. Important new services, in influenza vaccination and emergency contraception, have already been introduced.
To be funded by the taxpayer, new public health services in community pharmacy, as elsewhere, should improve health outcomes and provide value for money and benefits for patients. Any new or transferred services should be based on sound evidence, with matching improvements in governance and administration.
I met with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) earlier this year and I attended their conference in Galway and these and other issues were discussed in both forums. It is my intention that further consultation will be carried out in 2019.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (349)
Robert Troy
Question:349. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when negotiations will commence on a new pharmacy contract. [37075/19]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department will engage in a consultation on fees with the Irish Pharmacy Union in the autumn, to allow for the continuation of a statutory basis for the payment of fees from 2020 onward.
It is my intention to commence a broader discussion on contractual and service arrangements following this in 2020.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (350)
Brendan Griffin
Question:350. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when additional staff will be recruited at a community hospital (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37076/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (351, 352, 399, 400)
Brendan Ryan
Question:351. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 10 July 2019, if capital funding has been approved for the project; when tenders will be invited; when construction will commence and terminate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37090/19]
View answerBrendan Ryan
Question:352. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 10 July 2019, if capital funding has been approved for the project; when tenders will be invited; when construction will commence and terminate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37091/19]
View answerBrendan Ryan
Question:399. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 10 July 2019, if capital funding has been approved for the project; when tenders will be invited; when construction will commence and finish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37306/19]
View answerBrendan Ryan
Question:400. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 10 July 2019, if capital funding has been approved for the project; when tenders will be invited; when construction will commence and finish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37307/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 351, 352, 399 and 400 together.
The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period.
The Capital Plan includes a number of projects at Naas General Hospital, including the development of new units for endoscopy, day procedures, physical medicine and oncology, for which planning permission has been granted.
The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised that this project is anticipated to go to tender in 2020, with construction expected to commence in 2021 for completion in late 2022
The Capital Plan also includes a new acute mental health unit, for which the design team been appointed and the design is being progressed with a view to making an application for planning permission in the first half of 2020.
It is important to note that all proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code. The final decision to proceed with the construction of a project cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable, and that sufficient funding is available to fund the project to completion, including equipping and commissioning costs.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, which can impact on the timeline for delivery.
The HSE actively manages the capital programme in order to ensure it has flexibility to progress as many projects as possible within the available funding, particularly in the event of any project not progressing as anticipated.
Question No. 353 answered with Question No. 322.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (354)
Mary Butler
Question:354. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for pain management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37106/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Home Care Packages Administration
Questions (355)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:355. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 395, 396, 706 and 707 of 11 June 2019, when a reply will issue from the HSE. [37112/19]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the that Health Service Executive replied to the Deputy on the 26th June 2019 in relation to these PQ's
Nursing Staff Recruitment
Questions (356)
Willie O'Dea
Question:356. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason the commitment given in May 2018 at a conference (details supplied) that all graduating nurses and midwifes would be offered jobs in the public health services is not being honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37115/19]
View answerWritten answers
With regards to the retention of our graduate nurses, my position has not changed. Every graduate nurse and midwife should be offered a position in the Irish health service. This needs to be done in the context of the overall HSE recruitment budget.
The HSE have advised that while there is no national recruitment embargo or moratorium in place, there is a priority requirement for them to maintain, or get to, an affordable staffing level that is sustainable in 2019 and 2020, while also prioritising the delivery of safe services.
All hospitals are currently in the process of making every effort to retain graduates through funded vacancies, service development posts, agency displacement and through anticipated rates of attrition.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (357)
Niamh Smyth
Question:357. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [37116/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (358)
Niamh Smyth
Question:358. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [37117/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Question No. 359 answered with Question No. 322.
Home Help Service Data
Questions (360)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:360. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting home help support; and the number awaiting additional support at the latest available date in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. [37123/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (361)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:361. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if staffing allocations have been filled in a school (details supplied). [37124/19]
View answerWritten 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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Disability Support Services Funding
Questions (362)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:362. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if the decision by the HSE to abolish the rehabilitation training allowance from 1 September 2019 for persons with disabilities applying to do a rehabilitative training programme in 2019 can be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37125/19]
View answerWritten answers
This 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. The 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 payment of the Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus came into place on the transition of Rehabilitative / Training Programmes to the HSE following the dissolution of the National Rehabilitation Board in June 2000.
The decision to phase out the Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus payment is designed to bring equity and consistency between people with a disability attending HSE funded rehabilitative training programmes who receive the payment, and those attending similar HSE funded Day Services or in other State schemes such as further education and training, who do not.
This action will ensure all HSE funded Day Services are provided on an equitable basis and will also ensure that the use of finite resources is maximised.
The Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus Payment is a historical payment, introduced in July 2001, aligned with a similar FÁS Training Bonus. However, during 2011 the FÁS Training Bonus was reduced to €20.00 and then eliminated the following year while to date the RT Bonus Payment has continued to be paid in the Health Sector
It is worth remembering that:
- There is no cut in the number of RT places available
- There is no cut in payment of the bonus - those who have it will continue to receive it for the remainder of their RT Placement
- All participants continue to be eligible for Disability Allowance of €203 per week
- All participants continue to be eligible for a free travel pass
- No expectation of an additional RT bonus payment has been created by HSE for 2019 participants
The redirected funding (€3.7 m over 4 years), which will be ring-fenced, will facilitate 148 full day placements or 370 enhanced day places nationally based on priority need.
Each CHO will have the flexibility to redirect its own savings to address local service requirements. The HSE will put in place a monitoring system and regularly report the additional placements realised to the Department of Health.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (363)
Mary Butler
Question:363. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case a person (details supplied) who needs surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37127/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (364)
Niamh Smyth
Question:364. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait six months for a procedure under paediatrics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37130/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (365)
Micheál Martin
Question:365. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who was declined a six month supply of medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37131/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for medicines reimbursement, thus the matter has been referred to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (366)
Niamh Smyth
Question:366. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [37134/19]
View answerWritten 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (367)
Niamh Smyth
Question:367. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of neurological services at a hospital (details supplied); the services being offered there; if there are plans to cut services from the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37143/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.