Written Answers Nos. 726-748
726. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken in the transfer of 68 residents from HSE Cherry Orchard Nursing Home to an alternate nursing home in Clondalkin to ensure the least disturbance to the residents, in light of the HIQA findings that some areas of the Cherry Orchard facility are a safety hazard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10463/24]
View answerIn May 2023, a HIQA inspection identified concerns in relation to the flooring in both the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital. These presented a significant potential health and safety risk. A subsequent HSE review indicated that the flooring has underlying structural issues which require immediate remedial work.
The HSE has decided to close both Units and offer the residents a relocation to Clondalkin Lodge, which is a private nursing home, on a temporary basis while the necessary structural works are completed. It is expected that the works will take a minimum of 1 year to complete.
I have been advised that there is no impact on other structures on the campus as the issues relate solely to the two modular buildings Willow and Sycamore units.
The safety and wellbeing of residents and staff is the primary concern. All appropriate options were considered before committing to this move.
The HSE is working in consultation with residents, their families and staff while giving full consideration to health and safety concerns and regulatory compliance.
There is on-going monitoring and risk assessment to ensure that there is no immediate hazard to residents.
The HSE has reassured me that each care plan for this temporary move will include therapeutic input required and a review of charges to ensure that no one experiences adverse financial exposure. All additional charges will be covered by the HSE for the duration of the works.
There will be a medical social worker and an Assisted Decision Making lead available on site for the duration of this move. In addition, all residents have on site details for an independent advocate service should they wish to contact them.
The residents are being moved to more suitable accommodation on a phased basis. The phased move will have due regard to their needs, current proximity to each other and relationships within the unit.
As of 27 February, 40 residents have been currently transferred from Cherry Orchard Campus. 22 residents currently remain on-site.
727. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic and the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Dublin Midlands Hospital Group within ten working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral from the cancer office, in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10467/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
728. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic and the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by RCSI Hospital Group within 10 working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral from the cancer office, in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10468/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
729. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic and the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Saolta Hospital Group within 10 working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral from the cancer office, in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10469/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
730. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic and the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by University of Limerick Hospital Group within 10 working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral from the cancer office, in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10470/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
731. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic and the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Ireland East Hospital Group within ten working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral from the cancer office, in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10471/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
732. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic and the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by South/Southwest Hospital Group within 10 working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral from the cancer office, in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10472/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
733. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as non-urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic; the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Dublin Midlands Hospital Group within 12 weeks of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10480/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
734. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as non-urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by RCSI Hospital Group within 12 weeks of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10481/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
735. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as non-urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Saolta Hospital Group within 12 weeks of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10482/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
736. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as non-urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by University of Limerick Hospital Group within 12 weeks of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10483/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
737. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as non-urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Ireland East Hospital Group within 12 weeks of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10484/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
738. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people triaged as non-urgent who attended a symptomatic breast disease clinic the number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by South/Southwest Hospital Group within 12 weeks of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [10485/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HSE clerical staff currently on career breaks and requesting to return to work are not reinstated due to the HSE recruitment freeze; if these issues will be addressed to allow these staff return to their current positions as they are already employees of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10537/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
740. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a facility will be provided at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10557/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
741. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a proposal (details supplied), if he will consider funding this and rolling it out State wide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10568/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Education.
742. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when the new extension will open at St Joseph's Hospital, Millstreet, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10572/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
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.
743. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for medical card holders to access deep brain stimulation treatment from the initial first appointment to the procedure date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10573/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
744. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if an individual with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder can make an advanced directive or decision to the right to taper their medication; if so, to outline the process to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10574/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
745. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of days per year that the full capacity protocol has been utilised at University Hospital Limerick for the period 2011 to 2024, tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10586/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
746. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will include the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 as priority legislation for the Dáil Éireann Spring 2024 session. [10593/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023, which was introduced by Deputy Mark Ward and Deputy David Cullinane, was before Second Stage in the Dáil on 27 February.
The Government proposed a 9-month timed amendment to the Bill, which was approved by Dáil Eireann, to allow for issues contained in the Bill to be further examined, in consultation with Deputies Ward and Cullinane.
As such, there are no plans to include the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 on the priority legislation list for spring 2024.
Drafting of the Government's Mental Health Bill is in its final months. The forthcoming Government Bill will extend the Mental Health Commission's regulatory powers to all community mental health services, overhaul the involuntary admission and detention process, modernise provisions related to consent to treatment, provide enhanced safeguards for people accessing inpatient treatment, and provide a new, discrete Part that relates exclusively to the care and treatment of children and young people in inpatient settings.
Decisions on what legislation will be prioritised in the spring 2024 session will be decided by Cabinet in the coming weeks, following receipt of recommendations from the Chief Whip.
747. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised in respect of the situation in Cherry Orchard (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10600/24]
View answerIn May 2023, a HIQA inspection identified concerns in relation to the flooring in both the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital. These presented a significant potential health and safety risk. A subsequent HSE review indicated that the flooring has underlying structural issues which require immediate remedial work.
The HSE has decided to close both Units and relocate the residents to Clondalkin Lodge, which is a private nursing home, on a temporary basis while the necessary structural works are completed. It is expected that the works will take a minimum of 1 year to complete.
I have been advised that there is no impact on other structures on the campus as the issues relate solely to the two modular buildings Willow and Sycamore units.
The safety and wellbeing of residents and staff is the primary concern. All appropriate options were considered before committing to this move.
The HSE is working in consultation with residents, their families and staff while giving full consideration to health and safety concerns and regulatory compliance.
There is on-going monitoring and risk assessment to ensure that there is no immediate hazard to residents.
The HSE has reassured me that each care plan for this temporary move will include therapeutic input required and a review of charges to ensure that no one experiences adverse financial exposure. All additional charges will be covered by the HSE for the duration of the works.
There will be a medical social worker and an Assisted Decision Making lead available on site for the duration of this move. In addition, all residents have on site details for an independent advocate service should they wish to contact them.
The residents are being moved to more suitable accommodation on a phased basis. The phased move will have due regard to their needs, current proximity to each other and relationships within the unit.
As of 27 February, 40 residents have been currently transferred from Cherry Orchard Campus. 22 residents currently remain on-site.
As Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I take the health and safety of residents in long-term residential care facilities very seriously. I will not ignore a directive from HIQA stating that there is a fire and safety risk in any facility.
748. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be re-examined, given they did not receive four weeks of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10602/24]
View answerAs 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 recently ended the industrial action which commenced on 6 October 2023. As a consequence, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result of the accumulated backlog, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
