Written Answers Nos. 130-149
130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if security staff employed by a private security firm working at vaccination centres will qualify for the €1,000 bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61156/22]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
131. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of times since taking over the health portfolio that he has engaged in person with communities in County Meath regarding the proposed downgrading of Navan hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61157/22]
View answer132. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of times he has met with the HSE, the management of Navan hospital or elected representatives for County Meath on the issue of the proposed downgrading of the hospital since receiving the review of Navan hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61158/22]
View answer135. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he had discussions with the HSE regarding investing in and enhancing the accident and emergency services at Navan hospital as a solution to any suggested problems with the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61161/22]
View answer136. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify the way the directive to the National Ambulance Service to redirect the bulk of its patients to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, from 12 December 2022 is not a further downgrade of the emergency department at Navan hospital on the part of the HSE while all such downgrading was supposed to be on hold pending the publication of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61162/22]
View answer137. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the additional resources have been put in place at Our Lady’s Hospital in Drogheda to take the additional patients being re-directed from Navan A&E by the National Ambulance service from 12 December 2022, given that the clinicians at Drogheda Hospital have confirmed that it does not have the resources for the existing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61163/22]
View answer164. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health to indicate the number of times since receiving the review on Navan hospital emergency department he has met or discussed with the HSE, hospital management or elected representatives for County Meath the issue of the downgrading of the emergency department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61325/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 132, 135, 136, 137 and 164 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.
No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by me or by government.
While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, 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.
For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration and engagement in relation to this matter is ongoing.
From 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols, in place for Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, are being updated to address urgent patient safety matters to include patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. The current ambulance bypass protocol includes paediatric patients, obstetrics patients, major trauma patients, heart attack patients, and stroke care patients.
I have encouraged the HSE to engage further with the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital management team with a view to ensuring sufficient capacity is in place across the region to meet demand.
133. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the average emergency department waiting times at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61159/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
134. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the average emergency department waiting times at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61160/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if agreement has been reached on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61167/22]
View answerUpon leaving the EU, the terms of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 meant that holders of UK medical degrees were precluded from accessing medical intern posts here in Ireland. This restriction includes Irish citizens. My Department, the Medical Council and the HSE are in agreement that from a policy perspective, this barrier should be removed and this will be achieved through amendments being made by the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022, which is currently before the Oireachtas. I am pleased to confirm that candidates with UK medical degrees were eligible to apply for next year's intern intake on the basis that the legislation will be amended by the time they take up post and are registered by the Medical Council in July and August 2023.
139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment for cognitive behavioural therapy at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61169/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
140. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to increasing the supply of nappies given under the free nappy scheme for children with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61170/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
141. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the regulations regarding the provision of sanitary wear and nappies for children over three years of age who have a disability that necessitates frequent nappy changes; if there are restrictions on the supply of nappies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61171/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
142. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of children under 16 years who are currently on the primary care orthodontic waiting list in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Cavan, by year from 2016 to 2022 in tabular form. [61198/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
143. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of adult medical card holders who are currently on the primary care orthodontic waiting list in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Cavan, by year from 2016 to 2022 in tabular form. [61199/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
144. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists employed by the HSE for primary care dental services in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Cavan, by year from 2016 to 2022 in tabular form. [61200/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of orthodontists employed by the HSE for primary care orthodontic services in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Cavan by year from 2016 to 2022 in tabular form. [61201/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
146. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the responsible community service for a home support package for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61203/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
147. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received her pension to date in spite of the fact that this person retired in July 2022; if his attention has been drawn to the undue stress this matter is causing the person; when she will receive her pension entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61206/22]
View answerAs the payment of pensions is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
148. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children referred on from children's disability network teams to private providers for assessment and therapy; the number in each CHO; the therapies concerned; and the cost for each private provider referral in tabular form. [61209/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
149. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing homes in County Cork that have benefited from supports to deal with the cost of energy in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61232/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
