Written Answers Nos. 91-110
91. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the 13-bed build intended to facilitate the larger 50-bed development in advance of the National Capital and Property Steering Committee scheduled for 26 April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16867/22]
View answerAs 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.
92. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the level of bed capacity for CAMHS in County Mayo; if there are plans to expand the service and increase the number of beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17057/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
93. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals there are to provide additional resources for CAMHS in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17034/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
94. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of therapy posts needed to have children's disability network teams at 100% staffing level; the current therapy staffing level in such teams in both numerical and percentage terms; the number of therapy staffing posts currently being advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16985/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied) for an additional 100 neurological nurses needed nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17020/22]
View answerIn 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.
96. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the reporting of anonymised data on minor and serious injuries from road traffic collisions by the health system, particularly those not captured by Garda reports, and the provision of those statistics to the Road Safety Authority in order to obtain a fuller picture of the impact of road traffic collisions on the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16785/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
97. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a plan is in place or is being considered to open more beds at West Kerry Community Hospital, if details of such a plan will be provided; if a commitment to increasing bed numbers at the hospital will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16963/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
98. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address delays in elective procedures in hospitals nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11379/22]
View answerI acknowledge that the waiting times for elective procedures nationwide are too long, and that this has been a problem for some time.
On 25 February this year I launched the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan that allocates €350 million to the NTPF and HSE to address waiting lists and waiting times for elective care. The Plan will reduce active waiting lists for elective care by more than 132,000 (18 percent) this year, which will bring the number of people waiting to their lowest point in five years. The Plan also details a number of actions to reform waiting lists, such as revising and modernising care pathways and greatly enhancing data and information, with the aim of bringing real and meaningful changes to our waiting lists and waiting times for elective care in the years to come.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan will also progress intermediate waiting time targets this year, as set out in the National Service Plan (of 18 months for OPD; 12 months for IPDC; and 12 months for GI scopes).
The 2022 Plan also focuses on 15 high volume inpatient day case procedures, including cataracts and hip and knee replacements, so that every person waiting over 6 months for one of these procedures, and who is clinically ready, will receive an offer of treatment.
While the Plan is largely on track, with fewer than expected additions to the waiting lists so far this year, the recent surge in both ED attendance and COVID cases (and associated staff shortages) in hospitals in March is resulting in the curtailment of elective activity. The current situation in hospital Emergency Departments and the effect on elective care is under constant review by my Department through ongoing engagement with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
99. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if an update will be provided regarding the date the UCC dental school will begin construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16931/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
102. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the 1,146 additional permanent acute beds pledged for 2021; the hospitals in which the beds are being provided; and the number of beds being provided. [16859/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
103. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being considered to resolve the staffing issues for the child and adolescent mental health service, especially given that the Ukraine crisis is expected to lead to increase demands on the service in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16978/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
104. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if an update will be provided on the new Finglas primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16932/22]
View answerAs 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.
106. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to establish another secure hospital for forensic patients; when the most recent comprehensive review into the National Forensic Mental Health Services was undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16213/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
107. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the lack of public inpatient adult eating disorder services in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16682/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
108. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the number of additional community rehabilitation beds delivered to date, given the target of 1,243 beds in the 2022 HSE service plan; the number of these beds that have been delivered in Dublin and-or CHO 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16782/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
110. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure the recent rapid increase in Covid-19-related hospitalisations does not increase the already lengthy waiting lists for hospital treatment and will not result in the cancellation of transplant operations due to lack of bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17016/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
As a response to the recent surge in both ED attendance and COVID-19 cases the CEO of the HSE has written to the CEOs of all hospital groups advising them of the need to prioritise unscheduled COVID-19 care and urgent time sensitive work for 14-day period. The resulting curtailment of elective care (and associated staff shortages) will negatively impact achieving waiting list reduction targets.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols. The Waiting List Task Force continues to regularly monitor the impact of COVID-19 on waiting list reduction targets. Additional capacity is being sough through the Private Hospitals to minimise the impact of the current surge on core activity.
With the onset of the 4th wave of Covid-19 at the end of December 2021 and January 2022 the HSE with the support of the Department negotiated a new amended Agreement with the Private Hospitals to run to the end of June 2022. The new Agreement sought to draw on the lessons from the operation of Safety Nets 2 and 3.
The most significant change from the previous Safety Net Agreements was the adoption of a dual approach to obtaining access to the private hospital capacity. As with the outgoing agreement it would allow access of up to 15% or 30% of the private hospitals’ capacity depending on which metrics were met. At each level, the HSE would have the option to seek access on either a reasonable endeavours basis i.e. voluntarily, or by issuing a guaranteed capacity demand, which would require the private hospitals to provide the capacity. Under the agreement payments for capacity unused by the public system i.e. retainer payments will not be payable where the agreement is invoked on a reasonable endeavours basis but will be payable where a guaranteed capacity notice is issued.
In August 2021 the HSE established a procurement framework to allow public hospitals to access services in private hospitals. The procurement framework that was put in place sought tenders from private hospitals, based on competitive pricing, for approximately 700 types of medical and surgical procedures for adult and paediatric inpatient, day care and critical care beds. A separate procurement framework was put in place for diagnostic services. The Framework is in place for a period of 4 years.
The HSE has advised that all necessary action is currently being undertaken in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that organ donation and transplant services continue in so far as practically possible. However, due to the risk Covid-19 presents to transplant patients, and the negative impact increased pressure on ICU capacity has on transplant services, it is possible that reduced levels of organ donation and transplant service activity will be experienced while infection rates of Covid-19 remain high.
The HSE has advised that Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland (ODTI) and the transplant centres have and continue to work to ensure that the most time critical and life-saving transplants proceeded based on careful risk-benefit assessment.
With regard to critical care capacity baseline critical care capacity is now 301 beds, up from a figure of 297 at the end 2021. We had 255 critical care beds at the beginning of 2020. The 301 reflects an 18% increase since the start of the pandemic. Funding provided to date will allow for capacity to reach 340 by 2023.
