Written Answers Nos. 310-329
310. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was referred to another hospital for cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2509/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
311. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a residential service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2517/23]
View answerAs the question relates to a service matter, I am referring it to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.
312. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; the timeline that he is working towards in establishing this inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2518/23]
View answerAll documentation to progress the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of Sodium Valproate in Ireland is been finalised by officials within the Department of Health.
A Memo for Government will be brought as soon as this work is completed.
313. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the services that are available to bereaved parents and families upon the loss of a child; if his attention has been drawn to the fact families are being directed to bereavement services in other jurisdictions due to a lack of domestic services; his plans to expand domestic services such as counselling for bereaved parents and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2519/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
314. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to develop an occupational therapy unit in Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2520/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
315. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason hips cannot be X-rayed in the local injuries unit of Ennis General Hospital; if he plans to better resource the hospital in order that it has the capacity to undertake same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2521/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
316. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of radiographers working at University Hospital Limerick in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; if this number will increase to alleviate the waiting times in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2531/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
317. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the resources that will be made available to implement the new protocol that would allow the National Ambulance Service to bring certain patients to the medical assessment unit, Nenagh; the needs that he foresees Nenagh as needing to address this new demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2532/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
318. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be taken to address the backlog caused by the cancellation of inpatient and outpatient appointments in the UL Hospitals Group as a result of reductions in scheduled care following the declaration of a major internal incident at University Hospital Limerick on 2 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2533/23]
View answerThe Department of Health and the HSE recognise the vulnerability of scheduled care activity at this time of year when our acute hospitals and healthcare staff are under significant pressure. We are seeing increased ED attendances which means that some cancellations of elective procedures are required, and we recognise the impact this will have on patients.
The Department of Health and the HSE are working together to protect all scheduled care activity as much as possible, and to maintain the recent positive trends in reducing waiting lists and waiting times.
The Department of Health is currently working with the HSE and the NTPF on producing the final report on the 2022 WLAP. This will be informed by the end-December 2022 waiting list data (published 13th January 2023).
In parallel, the Department of Health, HSE and NTPF are engaging to develop the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) that will detail the actions to be progressed in 2023, and this Plan will form the next stage of the multi-annual approach.
€123m funding was allocated to the HSE in Budget 2023 that will be made available on a recurring basis to ensure the reforms deliver sustained reductions in waiting lists and ensure we achieve the strategic Sláintecare maximum wait time targets. An additional €240m once-off funding was also allocated in Budget 2023 for the NTPF and HSE to continue tackling waiting list backlogs next year.
As part of the Winter Planning process hospitals were asked to identify support requirements, including use of private capacity, to support them through the winter period. Private capacity identified was supported on the basis that local arrangements were in place to ensure effective patient flow and transfers. Hospitals and Hospital Groups engage locally with individual Private Hospitals on a daily basis to access additional capacity where available.
One of the new surgical hubs being developed to deliver high volume low complex procedures that have been sanctioned and funded will be located in Limerick. Also the NTPF have approved a cardiology outpatient initiative for the UL Group that will remove 450 patient from the waiting list.
319. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 629 of 17 May 2022, if he will ensure that the current supports available for young people are drawn together under a national student mental and emotional strategy and helpline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2544/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
320. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken since April 2022 to ensure the recommencement of reports by the HSE pursuant to section 13 of the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2551/23]
View answerThe HSE has prepared and presented Section 13 Annual Reports for the years 2007 to 2021 to the Department of Health and has published same on its website.
In this context, HSE and Departmental officials are to meet in the near future to discuss the issue of Section 13 Reports in greater detail and how the Reports can provide enhanced information.
With regard to the delays experienced in furnishing reports for recent years, the HSE acknowledges that the current management information system is no longer fit for purpose in the context of technical changes in recent years as well as policy, operational practice and user requirements.
It is committed to the development of a new integrated Management Information System for children’s disability services. This system will include a dedicated module on the Assessment Of Needs process.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the delay in submitting Section 13 Reports to the Department of Health has not impacted on the HSE’s ongoing engagement with the Department on the requirement for additional resources for Children’s Disability Services.
These requirements for additional resources would have been submitted to the Department as part of the Estimates Process on an annual basis.
321. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of therapists working in children's disability network teams who are responsible for undertaking assessment of needs determinations; the number of these therapists who also undertake assessment of needs determinations in a private capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2552/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
322. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1664 of 26 April 2022, if the initial pilot for the national information management system for the children’s disability network teams has been developed and initiated; the timeframe for this pilot phase to be complete; the timeframe for the results of the pilot to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
323. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average length of time to fill a staff grade therapy post from the point that the vacancy arises; the average length of time to fill a staff grade therapy post from the point of offer of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2554/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
324. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if each of the 91 CDNTs have established a family forum; the number of these family forums that have held a meeting with their children’s disability network manager; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2555/23]
View answer325. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if a family representative group has been established in each of the nine community healthcare organisations; if a children's disability network governance group has been established in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2556/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be reimbursed in respect of procedures they availed of under the cross- border directive, given the procedures took place in Spain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2562/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which efforts have been successful towards resolving the difficulties in providing the appropriate new medicine kaftrio for the 35 children who directly greatly benefit from its use and whose parents are extremely concerned at the long, drawn-out nature of the discussions with the drug firm (details supplied); if immediate steps will be taken to resolve the impasse in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2563/23]
View answerKaftrio has been a life changing drug for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, and I want to see it made available to everyone who needs it. This Government wants to ensure greater access to new and innovative medicines and has allocated significant additional funding for new medicines in recent Budgets. Since the beginning of 2021, 99 new medicines, or expanded uses of existing medicines, have been funded. This has included 27 for the treatment of rare diseases, including Cystic Fibrosis.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
I am grateful to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) for meeting with me recently, and outlining the concerns of the Cystic Fibrosis community. We discussed the recent statement from the Consultants providing care for these children, with all parties aligning in the view that the approach taken by the manufacturer, Vertex, is unfair to these children. I reassured CFI of the urgency with which the Government and the HSE are approaching the current situation.
As Vertex are seeking additional funds to cover this group, a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) must be completed by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). Vertex has now submitted the required materials to the NCPE. The assessment is underway in accordance with the commitments made jointly by the HSE and NCPE to undertake a priority assessment of this application.
I am glad to see progress on this issue, and hope that it can be quickly brought to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone.
328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a prosthesis will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2566/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the provision of aids and appliances under the Community Funded Schemes, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the funding for a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2596/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to reply to the Deputy directly.
