Written Answers Nos. 724-743
725. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 1 delta calls for Roscommon in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the KPI for a delta call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39064/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
727. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 2 bravo calls for Roscommon in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the KPI for a bravo call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39066/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
728. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 3 alpha calls for Roscommon in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the KPI for an alpha call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39067/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
730. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if Ireland is currently in breach of the EU Transparency Directive (89/105/EEC); if his Department intends to reduce the ongoing delays for patients to gain access to European Medicines Agency-approved medicine in Ireland. [39080/22]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
731. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the engagement that he has had with his Department and HSE officials regarding the use of innovative payment models between industry and the State in respect of the drug reimbursement process for rare disease therapies; if he will examine such innovative solutions to ensure greater access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39085/22]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
732. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the health data infrastructure of the State; the way these plans can support innovative payment models in respect of the reimbursement of orphan medicinal products and advanced therapy medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39087/22]
View answerUnder 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.
733. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health in respect of the treatment abroad scheme, the person or body within the HSE decides if a product is experimental; the criteria this decision maker uses to decide such and the definitions applied to experimental treatment; if the relevant decision makers have the expertise to review drugs for complex conditions; if the existing reimbursement list is referred to in making reimbursement decisions or whether EMA approval is deemed to be the over-riding proof of clinical safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39088/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
734. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting list in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting times for appointments in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39093/22]
View answer866. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting list in Cork; the average waiting times for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39555/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 734 and 866 together.
The HSE’s Public Dental Service provides dental services for children up to 16 years of age and for people with special needs. The Dental Service for children operates as a targeted, school-linked service, whereby children in specific primary school classes are targeted for an oral health assessment and for primary care treatment arising there from. The HSE has advised that it does not keep waiting lists for the Public Dental Service, with the exception of numbers of students in the class groups which are being targeted at any particular time.
The HSE has provided details of the number of new oral health patients in the Public Dental Service’s targeted groups who attended the service for scheduled assessment in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022.
Number of new Oral Health patients in target groups attending for scheduled assessment
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (to date) |
|
Cavan Monaghan |
5,116 |
3,571 |
3,135 |
1,879 |
|
North Cork |
4,105 |
1,710 |
1,494 |
1381 |
|
North Lee |
5,175 |
2,027 |
2,791 |
2089 |
|
South Lee |
6,369 |
2,415 |
2,233 |
1617 |
|
West Cork |
1,573 |
657 |
781 |
581 |
The HSE has advised that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that only the children in 6th class (12 years and over) are being targeted at present in the Cork and Cavan-Monaghan areas. However, the service continues to prioritise the special care needs patient cohort and there is also an emergency service available to any child under 16 who is suffering from acute or chronic dental pain and infection.
735. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting times for appointments in each county; the number that are waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39094/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
736. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on the CAMHS waiting list in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting time in each county; the number waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39095/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
737. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that are waiting homecare support in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the total number of hours allocated in each of the past 12 months in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average number of hours granted to each successful applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39096/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
738. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting colonoscopy in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of these that have been waiting up to 30 days; 30-60, 60-90 and more than 90 days, broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39097/22]
View answer739. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting endoscopy in the counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of these that have been waiting up to 30 days; 30-60, 60-90 and more than 90 days broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39098/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 738 and 739 together.
It 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.
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 Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
In relation to the particular query raised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided the attached table which outlines the waiting lists for upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy by area of residence for Cavan & Monaghan, in standardised time bands of 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18+months. The NTPF publishes waiting list data in standardised time-bands and Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) techniques are applied to the data to preserve confidentiality and mitigate against identification or self-identification of individuals.
data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2022-07-14_pq739-14-7-22_en.xlsx
740. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of vacancies at Cavan General Hospital; the grade of each vacancy; the length of time of the vacancy in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39099/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
741. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for an assessment of need in Ireland; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and the more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39100/22]
View answer742. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for an assessment of need in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39101/22]
View answer743. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a speech and language appointment in Ireland; the number who have been waiting less the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39102/22]
View answer744. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for an occupational therapy appointment in Ireland; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39103/22]
View answer745. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a speech and language appointment in Ireland; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39104/22]
View answer746. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of persons waiting a speech and language appointment in counties Cavan and County Monaghan; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39105/22]
View answer747. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting an occupational therapy appointment in counties Cavan and County Monaghan; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 and more than 12 months broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39106/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746 and 747 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
