Written Answers Nos. 708-723
708. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the impact on waiting lists and waiting times for children with scoliosis and spina bifida for the period where arrangements and a scheme were in place to treat children abroad in hospitals in England, Germany and France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35050/23]
View answer715. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis and spina bifida who had procedures carried out by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, in hospitals in Germany and France for the years 2017 to date, the cost to the HSE, broken down by month, by year, by hospital, by country; to outline if such arrangements are still in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35057/23]
View answer716. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if children with scoliosis are currently offered the option of having treatment and surgery abroad as part of arrangements agreed with hospitals in England, Germany and France in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35058/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 708, 715 and 716 together.
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.
709. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline if the Houses of the Oireachtas legislated to deliver free GP care for all children up to 12 years of age; if this is still a commitment from Government; to further outline a timetable to deliver on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35051/23]
View answerThe Government remains committed to the delivery of GP care without charges for all children up to the age of 12 years. The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the expansion of GP care without charges to all children aged 12 years and under in three phases: for children aged 6 and 7 (Section 4 of the Act); for children aged 8 and 9 (Section 5 of the Act); and for children aged 10, 11, and 12 (Section 6 of the Act). Section 7 of the Act sets out the relevant commencement arrangements.
As announced last week, agreement has been reached with the IMO to allow the extension of eligibility for GP visit cards to all children aged 6 & 7 and to people who earn up to the median household income. The extension of GP Visit Cards to children aged 6 & 7 will commence on 11 August.
Furthermore, the extension of cards to those who earn the median household income or less will commence on 11 September, and will be completed in two phases with the second phase commencing on 13 November. It is worth noting that this expansion will provide care for approximately 27,000 additional children aged 8 to 12 years.
710. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline, in tabular form, the number of children with scoliosis who had surgery carried out from 2018 to date, broken down by month, by hospital and by wait time in the following categories: 0 to 4 months, 4 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 months to a year, over a year, over 2 years, over 3 years, over 4 years and over 5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35052/23]
View answerIn 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.
711. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline in tabular form the number of children with spina bifida who had surgery carried out from 2018 to date, broken down by month and by wait time in the following categories: 0 to 4 months, 4 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 months to a year, over a year, over 2 years, over 3 years, over 4 years and over 5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35053/23]
View answerIn 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.
712. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis waiting for surgery from 1 June 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, in tabular form, broken down by overall number on waiting list; the length of time they are waiting as in 0 to 4 months, 4 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 months to a year, over a year, over 2 years, over 3 years, over 4 years and over 5 years, and further broken down by those waiting for spinal fusion, and numbers waiting for other spinal procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35054/23]
View answerIn 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.
713. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments or procedures for children cancelled by a hospital for the years 2018 to 2022, broken down by year, by hospital and by procedure type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35055/23]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
714. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis and spina bifida who had surgeries cancelled from 2018 to date, broken down by month, by year, by hospital and by procedure, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35056/23]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
717. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline what actions he and the HSE have taken and will take following the publication of a report from the Office of the Ombudsman for Children titled scoliosis treatment for Ivy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35059/23]
View answer718. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he, his Department or the HSE met with or corresponded with the Children's Ombudsman following the publication of a report from the Office of the Ombudsman for Children titled scoliosis treatment for Ivy; the nature of any meetings or correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35060/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 717 and 718 together.
It is recognised that acute hospital scheduled care waiting lists are far too long, and that many patients are waiting an unacceptably long time for care. However, progress is being made through the new multi-annual approach to reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and times.
In 2022, some €350 million was allocated to reduce scheduled care waiting lists and waiting times in tandem with bringing forward much needed longer-term reforms. For 2023 this investment has increased to €363 million. Scoliosis and spina bifida continue to be included as one of the priority areas for funding with significant investment provided to increase capacity and staffing.
There is still much progress to be made, and I welcome the publication of the report by the Ombudsman for Children's Office following their investigation of a complaint about spinal surgery services in CHI at Temple Street.
Children’s Health Ireland has advised that it fully accepts the report from the Ombudsman for Children's Office and has developed an action plan to address the recommendations.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in respect of HSE correspondence and actions relating to the report.
719. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time to admission via an emergency department for all patients for the period of January to May for each year 2018 to date in 2023, inclusive, statewide and for each location, in tabular form; the average for all patients, the average for patients aged under 75; and the average for patients aged 75 or older. [35061/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
720. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time to admission via an emergency department for all patients for the period of January to June for each year 2018 to date in 2023, inclusive, statewide and for each location, in tabular form; the average for all patients, the average for patients aged under 75; and the average for patients aged 75 or older. [35062/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
721. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who attended an emergency department for the period of January to May for each year 2018 to date in 2023, inclusive, statewide and by location, in tabular form; the number and percentage of patients who were admitted via an emergency department; the number and percentage who were waiting 0-6 hours, 0-9 hours, 9-24 hours, and 24+ hours; the number for all patients, the number and percentage for patients aged under 75; and the number and percentage for patients aged over 75. [35063/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
722. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who attended an emergency department for the period of January to June for each year 2018 to date in 2023, inclusive, statewide and by location, in tabular form; the number and percentage of patients who were admitted via an emergency department; the number and percentage who were waiting 0-6 hours, 0-9 hours, 9-24 hours, and 24+ hours; the number for all patients, the number and percentage for patients aged under 75; and the number and percentage for patients aged over 75. [35064/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
723. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the maximum patient experience time to admission registered at each emergency department for the period of January to May for each year 2018 to date in 2023, inclusive, in tabular form. [35065/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
