Alan Kelly
Question:352. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the modular units due to open under the HSE winter plan 2020-21, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27920/20]
View answerHealth Services Provision
Questions (352)
Written answers
This winter is expected to be particularly challenging due to the presence of Covid-19 and the uncertainty around the level of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 healthcare demands. The Government’s determination to meet this challenge is demonstrated by its decision to invest an additional €600m in health services this winter - €200m in 2020 and €400m in 2021 - to support the roll-out of the winter-specific measures.
The HSE published its Winter Plan on 24 September. The HSE Winter Plan aims to reduce the number of patients waiting on trolleys for hospital admission by 30% and to improve Patient Experience Times, particularly in terms of keeping everyone safe while we respond to Covid-19. It aims to enable patients to be seen in the community wherever possible by providing a better service in community health care settings; to receive timely care in hospital when this is necessary; and to return home or to appropriate care settings when fit to leave hospital by providing more homecare and stepdown options. It aims to deliver 4.76 million more home support hours to facilitate this.
There are additional supports in the HSE Winter Plan for people at greater risk including the elderly, homeless, and those with chronic illnesses to allow them to stay at home. It also provides additional Community Healthcare Networks, 36 more Community Specialist Teams and 11 additional acute hospital ‘Front of House’ Frailty Intervention Teams. This will create the foundation and organisational structure through which integrated care will be provided locally within the community at the appropriate level of complexity.
The HSE Winter Plan aims to deliver 79,000 more diagnostics in the community, again allowing patients to be seen closer to home and avoid going to hospital. The Plan puts in place supports for GPs, particularly those in rural practices, to support service continuity. A key action will be a comprehensive flu vaccination programme. The HSE has placed orders for approximately 1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine, as well as 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine, which will be made available to children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive.
In relation to the particular query raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Questions (353)
Alan Kelly
Question:353. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the amount drawn down from the National Treatment Purchase Fund by month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/20]
View answerWritten answers
Improving access to Scheduled Care and reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. The year-on-year increases to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) since Budget 2017 reflect this priority and Budget 2020 saw the funding of the NTPF increase by €25million to €100million.
Furthermore, since 2017, the Department, HSE and NTPF have been collaborating to identify initiatives to improve waiting times for patients, and the NTPF works with the hospital system to provide additionality to improve access to inpatient/day case procedures and outpatient appointments.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount drawn down by month by the NTPF in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is provided in the attached table.
National Treatment Purchase Fund Draw Down of Funds by Month at end September 2020
|
- |
2018 |
2019 |
YTD 2020 |
|
- |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
January |
|||
|
February |
|||
|
March |
5.510 |
||
|
April |
|||
|
May |
5.510 |
15 |
|
|
June |
10 |
||
|
July |
5.510 |
10 |
20 |
|
August |
11.000 |
||
|
September |
10 |
20 |
|
|
October |
11.000 |
15 |
|
|
November |
11.000 |
15 |
|
|
December |
5.492 |
15 |
|
|
Total |
55.022 |
75 |
55 |
Question No. 354 answered with Question No. 261.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (355)
Alan Kelly
Question:355. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if more pedestrian access Covid-19 testing facilities will be made available in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Galway and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27923/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (356)
Alan Kelly
Question:356. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on PPE in each the months of January to September 2020; the amount his Department is expected to spend until year end 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27924/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the issue referred to in the question is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (357)
Alan Kelly
Question:357. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform, he has had with a union (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27925/20]
View answerWritten answers
I had a video meeting with the organisation mentioned by the Deputy on 21 July 2020. I also spoke at a webinar event 6 August 2020.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (358)
Alan Kelly
Question:358. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform, he has had with a union (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27926/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that I have had one engagement with the union referred to by the Deputy since I took up office as Minister for Health.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (359)
Alan Kelly
Question:359. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform, he has had with an association (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27927/20]
View answerWritten answers
I had a video meeting with the association mentioned by the Deputy on 28 July 2020.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (360)
Alan Kelly
Question:360. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform, he has had with an organisation (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27928/20]
View answerWritten answers
I had a video meeting with the organisation mentioned by the Deputy on 28 July 2020.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (361)
Alan Kelly
Question:361. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform he has had with a union (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27929/20]
View answerWritten answers
I had a video meeting with the union mentioned by the Deputy on 7 September 2020.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (362)
Alan Kelly
Question:362. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements, either in person or by virtual platform, he has had with an organisation (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27930/20]
View answerWritten answers
I have yet to meet with the organisation concerned. However, an invitation for a meeting has recently been received, and a suitable time to engage with them is being considered. Officials from my department and the HSE continue to work with this organisation on all relevant issues.
HSE Staff
Questions (363)
Alan Kelly
Question:363. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his views on the decentralisation of staffing recruitment within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27931/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Nursing Staff
Questions (364)
Alan Kelly
Question:364. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff recruited on full-time contracts in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27932/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Nursing Staff
Questions (365)
Alan Kelly
Question:365. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff recruited on part-time contracts in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27933/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Nursing Staff
Questions (366)
Alan Kelly
Question:366. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff recruited on agency contracts in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27934/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Consultancy Contracts
Questions (367)
Alan Kelly
Question:367. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants recruited on full-time contracts in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27935/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (368)
Alan Kelly
Question:368. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the spend on agency staff in each HSE hospital from January to September 2020, by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27936/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service-related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (369)
Alan Kelly
Question:369. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies across the health service by position and hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27937/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (370)
Alan Kelly
Question:370. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of available beds in each acute hospital as of 25 September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27938/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Capacity Review 2018 found that the net requirement in combination with health system reform is for an additional 2,590 acute hospital beds by 2031. The Review identified an immediate requirement for 1,290 beds to address overcrowding and to ensure hospitals operated at 85% occupancy in line with other OECD countries. The National Development Plan provides for the full 2,590 beds by 2027.
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to continuing investment in our health care services in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
Sláintecare are working to frame an interagency multi-annual plan, to deliver on the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review 2018. A delivery timeframe and associated milestones for the achievement of the resource requirements is being finalised. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to revisit the plans that were drafted in February 2020 to see what can and cannot be progressed in the Capacity-Access Programme for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.
Regarding the Deputy's specific question on the number of available beds in each acute hospital as of 25 September 2020, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.