Written Answers Nos. 247-259
247. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health where all automated external defibrillators, AEDS, are located; if they can be added to the national database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/23]
View answerThe Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) Strategy Governance Implementation Group has a specific aim to implement a National Ambulance Service (NAS), national Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Registry which is mapped to the NAS dispatch system, and a supporting application for dispatching first responders to the scene of an emergency. Work is in progress on developing the AED Registry, with specific emphasis on ensuring the cyber safety of the NAS dispatch system.
A facility to register AEDs with the National Ambulance Service exists and AEDs can be registered at the following link www.nationalambulanceservice.ie/community/aed/ .
The National Ambulance Service has a network of greater than 250 Community First Responder Schemes, supported by a Community Engagement Team. In the event of an OHCA a Community First Responder (CFR) receives an automated text message that directs them to the scene of any cardiac arrest that occurs in their catchment area.
The National Ambulance Service is currently increasing the number of registered AEDs and automated dispatch of CFRs.
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if orthotic therapists could help with the backlog for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11914/23]
View answerOrthodontic therapists are registered oral healthcare professionals who carry out certain parts of orthodontic treatment which may only be carried out under the supervision of an orthodontist. I am committed to the reform of oral healthcare services to align with the National Oral Health Policy Smile agus Sláinte. Improving and enabling easy access for the public to oral healthcare services, including orthodontic services, is a key component of the Policy, requiring availability of a suitably skilled workforce to provide appropriate oral healthcare across all settings.
This requires the development of a dental workforce plan, taking into account all oral healthcare professionals registered with the Dental Council, as well as auxiliary workers either voluntarily registered or not required to register with the Dental Council, but who are essential to both support and provide oral healthcare services. Development of this plan will include consideration of the role of orthodontic therapists in providing oral healthcare. The Department has begun engaging with stakeholders and I expect progress on this workforce plan to be made in 2023, through the use of dedicated resources which have been set aside to advance this work this year.
249. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the commissioner of the report of the investigation of complaints made by protected disclosure into a community nursing home (details supplied) was requested by a company to extend the remit of the report to include evidence presented by this Deputy to the investigating team on 7 December 2022; the reasons given not to extend the remit to include details of any consultations they had with others in relation to this issue; the reason it took ten months to publish this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11931/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
250. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the new protocol introduced in the University of Limerick Hospital Group in January 2023, whereby ambulances could bring patients to the medical assessment unit of Ennis General Hospital instead of the UHL emergency department, could be further extended so as to also include the local injuries unit at Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11937/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated whole-time equivalents of consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses, podiatrists and administrative support posts currently dedicated to the outpatient adult diabetes clinic in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11942/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
252. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated whole-time equivalents of consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses, podiatrists and administrative support posts currently in place in the paediatric diabetes and endocrinology service at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11943/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
253. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made a submission indicating Ireland's interest in participating in the EU4Health Joint Action for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD); if he is aware that Ireland could have had access to part of the €53 million of funding that is available for these policy areas through this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11944/23]
View answerThank you for making contact on the EU4Health Joint Action for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease and emphasizing the importance of Irelands participation.
The department participates actively in the EU4Health Steering Group and Programme Committee, and together with its aegis bodies including the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Health Research Board (HRB), works to bring possible support measures under EU4Health to the attention of health authorities and eligible stakeholders.
We are pleased to advise that Irelands application for this joint action (JA) was successful, and Ireland is now participating in several different work packages of JACARDI. The Health Service Executive are the identified competent authority in this instance with Croí an accepted affiliated entity within the JA. Currently, we are actively engaging with EU colleagues and European counterparts on those specific work packages. Budgets are now finalised between our officials and the Programme leaders.
The aim of the JA(s) is to reduce the burden of NCDs and related risk factors, both at personal and societal level, targeting or addressing the specifics of CVDs and diabetes and their health determinants, as necessary. The action will implement projects on disease prevention and health promotion, which are expected to reduce the burden of CVDs and diabetes in Member States.
I trust the above provides clarity and adequate information on Irelands participation in the Programme and I thank you again for highlighting this valuable EU initiative.
254. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who are awaiting a first appointment to the adult outpatient's diabetes clinic in University Hospital Waterford; the duration of their time on the list since first referral/diagnosis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11945/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
255. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he could please confirm in tabular form the number of Adult Patients attending University Hospital Waterford for Type 1 Diabetes care in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11946/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
256. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric patients attending University Hospital Waterford for type 1 diabetes care in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11947/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
257. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients attending University Hospital Waterford for type 2 diabetes care in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11948/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
258. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with type 1 diabetes who have attended DAFNE carb counting and insulin adjustments in University Hospital Waterford since it began in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11949/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
259. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients presenting through the University Hospital Waterford emergency department or due to diabetic ketoacidosis; how many of these presenting patients were admitted; whether these patients presenting and admissions were adult or paediatric in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11950/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
