Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 267-285

Vaccination Programme

Questions (267)

Brendan Smith

Question:

267. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when community pharmacists will be engaged in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24958/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Nursing Homes

Questions (268, 269, 281)

Brian Stanley

Question:

268. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to put a complaint mechanism in place for residents of nursing homes and their families given that at present HIQA cannot investigate individual complaints. [24971/21]

Brian Stanley

Question:

269. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place to deal with welfare concerns regarding vulnerable residents in nursing homes at weekends. [24979/21]

Brian Stanley

Question:

281. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the protocol in place in circumstances (details supplied). [25022/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 269 and 281 together.

Where an issue arises with respect to an individual nursing home, the procedure in place and the best course of action is to engage with the nursing home itself, specifically through its complaints process. In accordance with Regulation 34 of S.I. No. 415/2013 - Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013, registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. The registered provider is required to make each resident and their family aware of the complaints procedure as soon as is practicable following admission. The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has engaged with the nursing homes' established complaint’s procedure.

Individuals may also wish to raise their concerns with the Chief Inspector for Social Services in HIQA. As the independent regulator of nursing homes, the Chief Inspector has no formal legal role in examining individual complaints, however, they do take into account all information received, including complaints from the public, when carrying out inspections. If a concern is raised about a nursing home, the Chief Inspector reviews all information received to inform its on-going risk-based regulation activities.

In relation to the Deputy’s question on consultation with families I would like to advise that under the Care and Welfare Regulations the person in charge is required to prepare a care plan for a resident. This should be formally reviewed, at intervals not exceeding 4 months, and where necessary, revised after consultation with the resident concerned and where appropriate that resident’s family. In addition Regulation 23 requires that there is an annual review of the quality and safety of care delivered to residents in the designated centre and that this is prepared in consultation with residents and their families.

Regulation 25 (4) provides that a discharge shall be discussed, planned for and agreed with a resident and, where appropriate, with their family or carer, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract agreed in accordance with Regulation 24.

Regulation 13 (1) provides that where a resident is approaching the end of his or her life, the person in charge shall ensure that where the resident indicates a preference as to his or her location (for example a preference to return home or for a private room), such preference shall be facilitated in so far as is reasonably practicable.

A registered provider shall also, in so far as is reasonably practical, ensure that a resident has access to independent advocacy services.

Question No. 269 answered with Question No. 268.

Disability Diagnoses

Questions (270)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

270. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum in County Donegal aged between 0 to 4, 4 to 12 and 12 to 18 years of age, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24994/21]

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 to the deputy directly.

Youth Services

Questions (271, 273, 274)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

271. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for occupational therapy services in County Donegal as part of children and youth services in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24995/21]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

273. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for speech and language therapy services in County Donegal as part of children and youth services in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24997/21]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

274. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for Donegal intellectual disability support services in County Donegal as part of children and youth services in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24998/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 271, 273 and 274 together.

As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Mental Health Services

Questions (272)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

272. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for psychology services in County Donegal as part of children and youth services in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/21]

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.

Question No. 273 answered with Question No. 271.

Question No. 274 answered with Question No. 271.

Disability Services

Questions (275)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

275. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to be admitted to the Sean O'Hare unit in Stranorlar, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24999/21]

Written answers

Minister for 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.

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

Health Services Staff

Questions (276)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

276. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the vacant ophthalmic position will be filled to allow for the resumption of the diabetic ophthalmic clinic in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25000/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Vaccination Programme

Questions (277)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

277. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25001/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (278)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

278. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for an orthopaedic operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25002/21]

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.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (279)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

279. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if children with spina bifida born before 2008 under the care of St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin have equal access to multidisciplinary services in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital as children born in 2009 and after who are under the care of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25003/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Questions (280)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

280. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will work in consultation with the HSE and other relevant institutions to ensure that educational psychology and counselling doctorates are brought in line with their equivalents, that is, clinical psychology and so on in terms of stipends and funding during studying. [25021/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 281 answered with Question No. 268.

Health Services

Questions (282)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

282. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in primary healthcare for a speech and language therapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25032/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Questions (283)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

283. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in primary healthcare for an occupational therapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25033/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Questions (284)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

284. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in primary healthcare for a psychologist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25034/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Questions (285)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

285. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in primary healthcare for a physiotherapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25035/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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