Pauline Tully
Question:546. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the posts at Cavan General Hospital that have been offered to applicants but await a start date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49468/21]
View answerHospital Staff
Questions (546)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (547)
Joe O'Brien
Question:547. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of neurology nurse specialists in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49481/21]
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.
Hospital Staff
Questions (548)
Claire Kerrane
Question:548. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if staffing in the psychiatric unit at Roscommon University Hospital is at full capacity; and the number of vacancies in the unit since January 2021 to date, by month, in tabular form. [49482/21]
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.
Hospital Staff
Questions (549)
Claire Kerrane
Question:549. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the number of neurology nurse specialists in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49485/21]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (550)
Denis Naughten
Question:550. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; if they are classed as urgent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49488/21]
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.
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (551)
Ivana Bacik
Question:551. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the planned removal of HSE facilities in Dublin that facilitate quarantining for Roma families (details supplied); and his plans to support service users after it is removed. [49491/21]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (552)
Róisín Shortall
Question:552. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if an appointment with the audiology service can be arranged for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in order to arrange a free digital hearing aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49496/21]
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.
Irish Blood Transfusion Service
Questions (553)
Róisín Shortall
Question:553. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the independent advisory committee for social behaviours review has concluded its review of the blood donation ban for gay men, bisexual men, transgender men and men who have sex with men; if the advisory committee has submitted its report to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service; if the advisory committee has recommended an individual risk-based assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49497/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) established an independent Advisory Committee for Social Behaviours Review to review the evidence base for donor selection, deferral and exclusion in Ireland in relation to social behaviours that may increase the risk for acquiring specific blood-borne infections.
The work of the Advisory Committee is the subject of consideration between my Department and the IBTS.
Medical Cards
Questions (554)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:554. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who currently operate contracts under the general medical scheme to treat persons holding a medical card or general practitioner-only card in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9. [49498/21]
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.
Medical Cards
Questions (555)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:555. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the general practitioners who operate contracts under the general medical card scheme in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form. [49499/21]
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.
Medical Cards
Questions (556)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:556. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have held a medical card or general practitioner-only card who have been assigned to a general practitioner contracted under the general medical scheme in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. [49500/21]
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.
Medical Cards
Questions (557)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:557. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the pathway open to persons who do not hold a medical card or general practitioner-only card who cannot access general practitioner services in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49501/21]
View answerWritten answers
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (558)
Pauline Tully
Question:558. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of girls aged 12 to 13 years who were eligible for the human papillomavirus, HPV, vaccination programme, from September 2009 to September 2010, who did not avail of a vaccination; the number of first-year girls eligible for the HPV vaccination programme from September 2010 to September 2019 who did not avail of a vaccination; the number of first-year boys and girls eligible for the HPV vaccination programme from September 2019 to September 2021 who did not avail of a vaccination; the estimated cost of vaccinating all those who were eligible for the HPV vaccination programme but did not avail of a vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49506/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive collects and collates immunisation statistics, I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (559)
David Cullinane
Question:559. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the planned additional hospital beds to be delivered between 2022 to 2026, by location and bed type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49507/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, this has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (560)
David Cullinane
Question:560. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the locations in which there is an open primary care centre; the locations of planned additional primary care centres to be opened in 2021, 2022 and after; the number that will be operational by 2026 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49508/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (561)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:561. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of assessments of need that have been undertaken for children aged 18 years and under in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of these children who have been successfully referred to and engaged with the recommended services following assessment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49514/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (562, 563, 564)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:562. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of assessments of need that have been completed for children aged 18 years and under in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 in 2021; and the number who have been successfully referred to and are now engaged with the recommended services, following assessment. [49515/21]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:563. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged 18 years and under in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 who await an initial assessment of need from the HSE. [49517/21]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:564. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time between an assessment of need and engagement with the recommended services in respect of children aged 18 years and under in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9. [49518/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 562, 563 and 564 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 563 answered with Question No. 562.
Question No. 564 answered with Question No. 562.
Health Services
Questions (565)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:565. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the disability networks that have been formed by the HSE in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9, in tabular form. [49519/21]
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.