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Tuesday, 24 Sep 2019

Written Answers Nos. 340-359

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Questions (340)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

340. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the weighting percentages to be used as part of the upcoming HSE FreeStyle Libre review decision making process that will be given to criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38601/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

Occupational Therapy Provision

Questions (341)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

341. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of early intervention occupational therapy services in Coolock primary care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38602/19]

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

Hospital Services

Questions (342)

Seán Haughey

Question:

342. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if a new emergency department and a cystic fibrosis unit will be provided at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38603/19]

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Written answers

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 the new emergency department, which is at planning stage and a cystic fibrosis unit, which is at design stage at Beaumont Hospital.

It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement, before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established. 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.

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

Question No. 343 answered with Question No. 337.

Health Promotion

Questions (344)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

344. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 201 of 19 June 2018, 345 of 5 February 2019, and 497 of 9 July 2019, the position regarding the staff breastfeeding in the workplace policy for HSE staff; if the policy is still due to be finalised in quarter 4 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38642/19]

View answer

Written answers

As the question refers to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (345)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

345. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not being called for a MRI scan; the reason they were provided with false information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38644/19]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (346)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

346. 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. [38648/19]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (347)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

347. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be given a date for an appointment to be assessed for early intervention services. [38718/19]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy's question relates to a HSE service issue it has been referred for direct reply.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353)

Pat Buckley

Question:

348. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason for the decision to close the Castlemartyr health centre in Cork; if it is his decision; and if not, the person that made this decision. [38732/19]

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Pat Buckley

Question:

349. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason for the decision to relocate the public health nursing services from Castlemartyr, County Cork, to Midleton Community Hospital six miles away; and the person that made the decision. [38733/19]

View answer

Pat Buckley

Question:

350. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason in January of 2019 permission was granted to carry out a single story extension including the remodelling of the interior and the installation of a wheelchair assessable ramp at Castlemartyr community health centre; the reason work was not started on this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38734/19]

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Pat Buckley

Question:

351. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the public health services in Castlemartyr, County Cork. [38735/19]

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Pat Buckley

Question:

352. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if the decision to close Castlemartyr health centre is finalised; and the final date for the closure. [38736/19]

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Pat Buckley

Question:

353. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the plans the HSE has put in place to facilitate patients and service users to travel to Midleton from Castlemartyr, County Cork. [38737/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 353, inclusive, together.

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, and operation of Primary Care Centres and facilities and the delivery of services, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (354, 355)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

354. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of children by CHO awaiting an assessment of needs to be completed; the length of time they have been waiting since they were first referred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38760/19]

View answer

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

355. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of children by CHO awaiting an assessment of needs to be commenced; the length of time they have been waiting since they were first referred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38761/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 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 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.

HSE Staff Data

Questions (356)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

356. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time dieticians employed by the HSE in CHO area 9 in 2018 and to date in 2019; if this number will be further increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38768/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

HSE Staff Data

Questions (357)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

357. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff by job title working in the paediatric eye care team in CHO area 9; the number of vacancies by job title in the team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38769/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

Hospital Services

Questions (358)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

358. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when he expects the new cochlear implant unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 to be fully opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38770/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

Antimicrobial Resistance

Questions (359)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

359. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the policy of his Department and the HSE regarding the spread of antibiotic resistant superbugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38771/19]

View answer

Written answers

The prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has been a significant patient safety and public health priority for my Department for numerous years.

A wide range of initiatives has been put in place in the Irish health system including:

- improved surveillance of infections and prescribing,

- infection prevention and control processes,

- antimicrobial stewardship initiatives,

- public and professional awareness raising and

- a significant emphasis on the education and training of healthcare professionals.

In October 2017, with Minister Creed, I published Ireland's first National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, 2017-2020 (iNAP) and since publication, my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine and other organisations have been engaged in an intensive programme of work to implement the strategic objectives of the iNAP Plan.

Over the last eighteen months, a number of measures have also been put in place through the work of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), convened in October 2017 to address in particular the increase in the CPE 'superbug':

- The HSE has implemented strong governance arrangements for healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and AMR.

- The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre has also driven enhanced surveillance of HCAIs, including the production of monthly surveillance reports on CPE.

- My Department has provided additional funding for prioritised posts in both the acute and community sectors to build capacity for infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship. These have included posts for the HSE's national antimicrobial resistance team, additional posts for laboratory/screening activities, and infection prevention and control teams.

- A suite of publicly available guidance documents has been developed by the CPE Expert Group. The Group provides expert advice across health care settings regarding actions that should be taken in relation to CPE screening and control of spread of CPE.

- A dedicated HSE communications campaign and website with focused information and education tools is in place.

While the number of newly diagnosed CPE patients has slightly increased, this is in the context of substantially increased screening activity over the past year.

Over two years, my Department has provided dedicated AMR funding, totalling €6.6 million in full year costs. The HSE has prioritised work programmes for this funding in line with HCAI/AMR risk. A number of posts are now in place and new developments are underway.

As part of iNAP, enhanced surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial usage patterns, both within and between sectors has commenced with the publication in January 2019 of Ireland’s first cross sectoral One Health Report on Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance. Work on a second report is underway.

Ireland is hosting a European Commission/European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) One Health AMR Country Visit from 7th - 11th October next. This type of visit to Member States by the Commission and ECDC is an established work programme providing support and advice to countries on their arrangements across the human health, animal health and environmental sectors, with an emphasis on antibiotic resistance and the ‘One Health' or whole of government approach. A programme including a full day of presentations and targeted site visits through the week is now confirmed. Ireland is very pleased to engage on this programme and notes its value to all participants.

The Department will continue to engage with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure that AMR, HCAIs and CPE in particular remain a priority.

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