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Tuesday, 24 Sep 2019

Written Answers Nos. 279-299

Counselling Services Provision

Questions (279)

Gerry Adams

Question:

279. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the National Counselling Service waiting list in County Louth; and the length of time they have been waiting [38370/19]

View answer

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.

Home Care Packages Data

Questions (280)

Gerry Adams

Question:

280. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive home care packages approved in County Louth to date in 2019; and the number of persons seeking same. [38371/19]

View answer

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.

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Questions (281)

Gerry Adams

Question:

281. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed additional nursing home beds at a hospital (details supplied). [38372/19]

View answer

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 Accommodation Provision

Questions (282)

Gerry Adams

Question:

282. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed 50-bed facility for a hospital (details supplied). [38373/19]

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Written answers

In the recently published Health Service Executive Capital Plan 2019 - 2021, the plan provides for €220m capital funding to the Community Nursing Unit programme over the period 2019 to 2021 and sets out the current status of all projects within the programme, including St Joseph's Hospital Ardee.

This project, which it is expected to have 50 beds, is to be delivered as part of a bundle of facilities by Public Private Partnership (PPP). A design team has been appointed and a planning application has recently been lodged in respect of this project.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (283)

Gerry Adams

Question:

283. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of Dundalk primary care centre. [38374/19]

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Written 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.

Hospitals Data

Questions (284)

Gerry Adams

Question:

284. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries performed in County Louth in each of the past five years. [38375/19]

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Written answers

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 Waiting Lists Data

Questions (285)

Gerry Adams

Question:

285. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Louth awaiting cataract surgery; and the length of time they have been waiting. [38376/19]

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Written answers

Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures.

Budget 2019 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published in March and sets out measures to improve access for patients waiting for scheduled care this year. The plan places a strong focus on ten high-volume Inpatient/Day Case procedures, including cataracts.

At the end of July 2017, the number of people waiting for a cataract procedure was 10,024. Under the Inpatient Day Case Access Plan 2018, Cataracts were one of the specialties targeted by the NTPF, and by end December 2018, the number of patients waiting had fallen to 6,440, a reduction of 36%. The number of patients waiting for a Cataract procedure at the end of August 2019 had further reduced to 5,528, with 527 of patients waiting over 9 months. This represents a reduction of 3,844 or 88% when compared to July 2017, when there were 4,371 patients waiting over 9 months for a cataract operation.

In regard to the data requested by the Deputy, there are currently no patients on the cataract surgery waiting list in either Louth County Hospital or Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. The waiting times for cataract surgery by area of residence in County Louth is outlined in the document attached.

To ensure anonymity numbers lower than 5 have been merged in certain timebands

Row Labels

0-3 Months

3-6 Months

6-9 Months

9-12 Months

12-15 Months

Grand Total

Louth

30

15

11

9

65

Hospital Services

Questions (286)

Gerry Adams

Question:

286. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the ophthalmology services available at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; and if he has implemented the recommendations of the primary care eye services review group in this regard. [38377/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

Disability Services Data

Questions (287)

Gerry Adams

Question:

287. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in County Louth that have requested long-term residential care [38378/19]

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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.

Disability Services Data

Questions (288)

Gerry Adams

Question:

288. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in County Louth who had business cases for residential care approved by the HSE but are still awaiting a residential placement. [38379/19]

View answer

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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services

Questions (289)

Gerry Adams

Question:

289. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the model of care for dual diagnosis; if a clinical lead has been recruited; the way in which the project will be further developed; and if Dundalk will be selected as a demonstration site. [38380/19]

View answer

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.

Mental Health Services Funding

Questions (290)

Gerry Adams

Question:

290. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the level of funding allocated to the development of a model of care for dual diagnosis in each of the past five years. [38381/19]

View answer

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.

Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists

Questions (291, 292, 293)

Gerry Adams

Question:

291. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an initial assessment for occupational therapy in County Louth; and the number that have been waiting for three, six, 12 and more than 12 months, respectively for this assessment. [38382/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

292. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a therapeutic appointment for occupational therapy treatment in County Louth; and the number of these persons that are under 18, 18 to 65, and over 65 years of age, respectively. [38383/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

293. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an initial assessment for occupational therapy in County Louth that are under 18, 18 to 65 and over 65 years of age, respectively. [38384/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 to 293, inclusive, together.

As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (294)

John Brassil

Question:

294. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an ophthalmology appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38391/19]

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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.

HSE Reviews

Questions (295)

John Brassil

Question:

295. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if his Department received the findings of the review of the HSE reimbursement and pricing decision-making process; if he will make these findings publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38395/19]

View answer

Written answers

Work on the review of the HSE reimbursement and pricing decision-making process is ongoing. The review, conducted by Mazars, is progressing and on completion my officials will consider its findings.

The review will make recommendations in respect of any required improvements to the HSE’s systems, structures, processes, governance arrangements or use of specialist resources.

Medical Card Drugs Availability

Questions (296)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

296. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) will be provided access to a supplement on the child's long-term illness card without a script from a hospital. [38397/19]

View answer

Written answers

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Questions (297)

Alan Kelly

Question:

297. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to fill two vacancies that have existed for some time in order to address the lack of psychology services in north County Tipperary. [38402/19]

View answer

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.

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Questions (298)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

298. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated net cost for 2019 of implementing the nurses’ pay deal agreed in February 2019 based on the savings and productivity measures to be put in place. [38418/19]

View answer

Written answers

The HSE are currently finalising the estimate of the costs arising from the Labour Court recommendation, in the context of Budget 2020 planning.

Health Service Management are committed to the implementation of this Labour Court recommendation and the implementation of all aspects of the agreement will be closely monitored through an agreed HSE Implementation Plan.

HSE Funding

Questions (299)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

299. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimate provided to his Department by the HSE on its financial position at the end of 2019. [38419/19]

View answer

Written answers

The HSE’s latest income and expenditure position at 31 July 2019 shows a revenue deficit of €226m which represents 2.5% of the available budget for the same period, a significant improvement on the same period last year. The main drivers of the deficit are acute hospitals, disability services, pensions, State Claims, PCRS and overseas treatments.

My Department is engaging in ongoing dialogue with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the financial performance of the Executive year to date, including consideration of the implications for the projected outturn for the year.

These discussions are still progressing and until they are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome.

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