Duncan Smith
Question:548. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the additional resources that will be provided by the National Ambulance Service to the Kerry area. [53527/23]
View answerAmbulance Service
Questions (548)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (549)
Duncan Smith
Question:549. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant optometry and ophthalmology roles in primary care services in CHO9. [53528/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 (550)
Duncan Smith
Question:550. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of day centres for older persons in County Wexford that are funded by the HSE in 2022 and to-date in 2023; and the capacity of each of these day centres, in tabular form. [53529/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Services
Questions (551)
Duncan Smith
Question:551. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will consider rolling out minor injuries clinic in County Leitrim. [53530/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Service Executive
Questions (552)
Duncan Smith
Question:552. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the level of additional core expenditure for new developments, excluding funding for carryover and otherwise maintaining existing levels of services, which have been allocated to Ennis Hospital.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53531/23]
View answerWritten answers
Following the announcement of the budget allocation for my Department, I have now issued a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024. It is not until the conclusion of this process that a detailed breakdown of expenditure will be available.
There has been significant recent investment in Ennis General Hospital, and in particular in the redevelopment of the hospital buildings. This has included:
• A new purpose-built €2m Injury Unit opened in April 2022, replacing an existing unit that had operated out of the main hospital building since 2013. The new Unit has brought an immediate improvement in the clinical environment and experience for healthcare staff and the thousands of patients who use this service every year.
• The equipping of the new Outpatient Department, including the provision of an X-ray room and other diagnostics, completed in 2022 and representing an investment of €1.29m.
• A further €9.95m approved for a new theatre block, including two operating theatres and associated accommodation.
• Funding of €5.2m in 2023 to enable Medical Assessment Units at Ennis General Hospital, Nenagh and St John's to operate seven days per week. This is funding an additional 20 full time staff posts at Ennis General Hospital, significantly increasing the number of slots available for patients to receive medical assessment.
The investment to date reflects my ongoing commitment to driving improvements to services for people in the Mid-West region.
Health Services
Questions (553)
Duncan Smith
Question:553. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of family planning centres in Cork city that are contracted to provide State-funded services only in the years 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [53532/23]
View answerWritten answers
The free contraception scheme for women aged 17 -25 was launched on 14th September, 2022, and expanded to include 26-30 year-olds, inclusive, on September 1st, 2023 and is currently open to women aged 17-30 ordinarily resident in Ireland. The scheme will be expanded to include women aged 31 on January 1st, 2024.
The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, student health and family planning centres and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the HSE Re-Imbursement List, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs: injections, intra-uterine devices and systems (coils) and implants) and emergency contraception in addition to the contraceptive Pill, patch and ring. LARC fittings, removals, injections and check-ups are also free of charge under the scheme.
Approximately 2,400 GPs, primary care, family planning and student health centres and other related community medical facilities and 2,050 community pharmacies have contracts with the HSE to provide services under the scheme
The number and location of family planning centres and related medical facilities contracted with the HSE to provide State funded services relating to family planning is information held by the HSE, therefore, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (554)
Duncan Smith
Question:554. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of health-related recruitment fairs held in the UK where staff from the Mater Hospital were present seeking to recruit additional nurses, physiotherapist and so on in 2022 and to-date in 2023; the number of job offers per recruitment fairs; and the number of job offers accepted per recruitment fair, in tabular form. [53533/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (555)
Duncan Smith
Question:555. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on the hepatitis C Home testing kits; and the number of kits that have been dispatched in CHO3. [53534/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (556)
Duncan Smith
Question:556. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant anaesthetists working in Mallow General Hospital in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [53535/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (557)
Duncan Smith
Question:557. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current vacancies that exist in Portlaoise Regional Hospital; and the length of time each post has been vacant for. [53536/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes.
As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Staff
Questions (558)
Duncan Smith
Question:558. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE ophthalmic registrars at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [53537/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Staff
Questions (559)
Duncan Smith
Question:559. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current staffing number in the community psychology team in Carrick-on-Shannon primary care centre. [53538/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes.
As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (560)
Duncan Smith
Question:560. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of foot surgeries performed at Mullingar Regional Hospital to date in 2023, in tabular form. [53539/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Staff
Questions (561)
Duncan Smith
Question:561. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of current vacancies in community health posts serving the Donaghmede area including occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and so on. [53540/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.