Tuesday, 4 Jul 2023

Written Answers Nos. 705-720

Ambulance Service

Questions (705, 706)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

705. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the National Ambulance Service. [32767/23]

Claire Kerrane

Question:

706. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, the number of paramedics qualifying and entering the National Ambulance Service in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [32768/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.

In line with delivery of the Programme for Government I am committed to providing for both the strategic reform of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and frontline staff capacity increases in the NAS. In this regard the Deputy may wish to be aware that total NAS staffing as at April 2023 was 2,167 WTEs. This represents a staffing increase of over 28% since December 2015. The NAS continues to actively recruit with a successful student paramedic campaign in 2022 resulting in 188 students enrolled onto the BSc course delivered by the NAS college in conjunction with UCC. A total of 128 Student Paramedics are due to commence training in the NAS College in September and 161 Student Paramedics are expected to graduate in 2023 pending successful completion of their education. Furthermore, rolling recruitment campaigns for Qualified Paramedics, Student Paramedics and Intermediate Care Operatives launched in January 2023. To further support staff retention, the NAS has developed the NAS HR People Plan 2022 – 2025 to enhance employee experience and support their retention within the organisation while meeting expectations of health policy in Ireland. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with any further pertinent information it may have on the matter.

Question No. 706 answered with Question No. 705.

Ambulance Service

Questions (707)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

707. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the use of ENTs to make up crews in the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32769/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service and operational matter for the National Ambulance Service (NAS) I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Questions (708, 709)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

708. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided by the National Ambulance Service to the north Roscommon/south Leitrim area given the high number of call volumes in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32770/23]

Claire Kerrane

Question:

709. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide the call volumes for the National Ambulance Service for the north Roscommon, Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32771/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 709 together.

As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 709 answered with Question No. 708.

Hospital Staff

Questions (710)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

710. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, the number of current vacancies across each department in hospitals (details supplied); and the length of time each vacancy has existed. [32772/23]

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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (711)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

711. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of recommendations in the Roscommon Mental Health Services report of 2017 which have been implemented; and the number outstanding. [32773/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (712)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

712. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide in tabular form the number of children on waiting lists for initial appointments/assessments with primary care for speech & language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology; and the average waiting times for each in CHO2 with a breakdown of Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. [32774/23]

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.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (713)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

713. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide in tabular form the number of children on waiting lists with primary care for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology; and the average waiting times for each in CHO2 with a breakdown of Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. [32775/23]

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.

Health Services

Questions (714)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

714. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if the extension of a service (details supplied) is being considered by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32778/23]

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.

Health Services

Questions (715)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

715. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints made in relation to a service (details supplied) in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [32779/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (716)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

716. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who five years ago was referred to Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, Limerick, for knee replacement surgery and has not received an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32781/23]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (717)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

717. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details, by occupation and grade and location of the payments made, to health-care personnel of the one-off Covid-19 recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32803/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Health Services Staff

Questions (718)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

718. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health how much has been allocated in Budget 2023 for the training and upskilling of physiotherapists to work with patients with complex brain injury within the public health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32813/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

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.

Question No. 719 answered with Question No. 543.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (720)

Michael McNamara

Question:

720. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an urgent appointment for surgery at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32828/23]

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.