Thursday, 14 Jul 2022

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (793)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

793. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if required surgery can be urgently undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39335/22]

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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.

Nursing Homes

Questions (794)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

794. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed with particular reference to the fact that they have no means of paying any outstanding funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39336/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Medical Cards

Questions (795)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

795. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card renewal will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39339/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Ambulance Service

Questions (796, 799, 800, 803)

David Cullinane

Question:

796. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of calls that the National Ambulance Service responded to in 2021 and to the end of June 2022 broken down by call type as in echo, delta, charlie, bravo, alpha and omega in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39347/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

799. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 1 delta calls in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the key results indicators for a delta call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39350/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

800. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 2 charlie calls in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the key results indicators for a charlie call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39351/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

803. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 2 omega calls in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the key results indicators for an omega call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39354/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 796, 799, 800 and 803 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy , as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Questions (797)

David Cullinane

Question:

797. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average amount of overtime worked by ambulance paramedics in 2021 and to the end of June 2022 broken down by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39348/22]

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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.

Ambulance Service

Questions (798)

David Cullinane

Question:

798. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 1 echo calls in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the key results indicators for an echo call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39349/22]

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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.

Question No. 799 answered with Question No. 796.

Question No. 800 answered with Question No. 796.

Ambulance Service

Questions (801)

David Cullinane

Question:

801. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 2 bravo calls in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the key results indicators for a bravo call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39352/22]

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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.

Ambulance Service

Questions (802)

David Cullinane

Question:

802. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of National Ambulance Service category 2 alpha calls in 2021 and to the end of June 2022; the average call wait time as a percentage of the key results indicators for an alpha call broken down by month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39353/22]

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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.

Question No. 803 answered with Question No. 796.

Emergency Departments

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 804, 805, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825 and 826 together.

The following correspondence has been received regarding the status of the Emergency Department in Our Lady's Hospital Navan (OLHN) in 2022:

- A letter from a clinician working in OLHN on 15th June 2022, offering their perspective of working in the hospital;

- A letter signed by the Manager , Clinical Director, Director of Nursing and the Patient Safety and Operations Manager of OLHN on the 7th of July reiterating the risks associated with critically ill patients presenting to the emergency department at OLHN;

- A letter signed by 17 clinicians working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on the 27th of June 2022. This expressed concern at the impact that the proposed reconfiguration of Navan Hospital would have on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda;

- A letter signed by six physicians in the Royal College of Surgeons' Ireland Hospital Group on the 1st July 2022. This letter also highlighted the potential impact of the proposed reconfiguration of OLHN on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

I can confirm that no correspondence specific to the status of the emergency department at Navan Hospital has been received from the CEO of the HSE. I can also confirm that I have no record of correspondence on this matter from the National Clinical Director of the HSE, the Clinical Director of the RCSI or the manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

While the very real clinical concerns identified by the HSE are recognised, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.

I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed within a matter of weeks.

Question No. 805 answered with Question No. 804.

Emergency Departments

Questions (806)

David Cullinane

Question:

806. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has met the National Ambulance Service specifically in respect of the proposed closure of the Emergency Department in Navan; the date that the meeting took place; the matters that were discussed and or agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39357/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

On the 13th of June, the Director of the National Ambulance Service attended a meeting where I asked the HSE to outline its proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan and to consult with elected representatives on behalf of the local community.

Several important issues were raised, including capacity at other impacted hospitals, which need to be fully addressed. I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed within a matter of weeks.

Emergency Departments

Questions (807)

David Cullinane

Question:

807. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the specific additional capacity that he has sought from the HSE as part of reconfiguring Emergency Department services at Navan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39358/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Navan Hospital. I have asked the HSE to undertake a process to review, validate and stress test the reconfiguration planning. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE in relation to this process, with a view to it being completed shortly.

Since 2019, the number of WTE at Our Lady's Hospital Navan has increased from 516 to 590, which is an increase of over 14%. In terms of beds, Navan Hospital is currently a Model 3 acute general hospital with 62 medical beds which is an increase on the 58 it had at the end of 2018.

There has benn considerable capital invesetment in Navan Hospital in recent years, including E6.35m to upgrade the day surgery area, refurbish the medical ward and extend the rheumatology clinic. A further sum of E2.5m is to be spent in the future, including E1.3m on upgrades to the medical assessment unit and local injuries unit.

As part of increasing ambulatory and day surgery capacity at Navan, the HSE has advised that a second theatre has been completed. This will increase capacity from around 2,500 elective surgical procedures each year to nearly 5,000. As well as the new second general theatre, a new day ward, an expanded recovery room, a new laboratory, a new rehab unit and a new psychiatric day ward have all been completed at Navan recently. Future development plans include a new rheumatology day centre and new endoscopy suite with 4 endoscopy rooms. Confirmation of other investment requirements and plans, including for the longer-term at Navan, will be set out as part of the HSE’s planning.

Departmental Meetings

Questions (808)

David Cullinane

Question:

808. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings he held with managers of hospitals in 2021 and to date in 2022; the date and nature of each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39359/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Emergency Departments

Questions (809)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

809. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of patients presenting at the Emergency Department at Mayo University Hospital but leaving prior to being seen each month to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39371/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.

Home Care Packages

Questions (810)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

810. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of, and waiting lists for, home care packages and home help hours in County Mayo, particularly the number of hours that have been allocated and the number that have been delivered; the number of patients that have been allocated hours and not received any; the number that have received only a partial amount of the hours allocated; the number of patients that have received the full amount of allocated hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39372/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Question No. 811 withdrawn.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (812, 814)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

812. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the average wait times for both inpatient and outpatient at Mayo University Hospital [39375/22]

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Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

814. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for elective surgery in Mayo since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39377/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 812 and 814 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 by the Deputy, the attached document outlines the IPDC end of year figures from 2016-2021 and end of May 2022 for Mayo University Hospital, and area of residence for County Mayo.

Patient Waiting Lists

The NTPF only collects data on patients currently on the waiting list. The time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. As a result, the health system does not have the data necessary to calculate true average wait times.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (813)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

813. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the provision of the primary care centre scheduled for Bangor Erris, County Mayo; the timeline for delivery of same [39376/22]

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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.