Billy Kelleher
Ceist:503 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the current capacity of beds in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and the capacity over the past five years. [25699/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 September 2011
Ceisteanna (470, 471, 472, 473, 474)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:504 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the current number of staff vacancies in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. [25700/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraBilly Kelleher
Ceist:505 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff employed in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. [25701/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraBilly Kelleher
Ceist:506 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of bed closures in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, over the past year. [25702/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 to 506, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Jerry Buttimer
Ceist:507 Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to roll out a diabetic retinopathy screening programme; if screening will be provided in counties Cork and Kerry; the budget that has been assigned to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25725/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE National Clinical Programme for Diabetes — which includes the care of children and adolescents with diabetes — is established within the Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate. This programme is supported by a multidisciplinary team with representation from a number of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, Podiatrists, GPs and the Diabetes Federation of Ireland.
The National Diabetes Working group is working through a number of key objectives; one of these is the development of a national diabetic retinopathy screening programme by the National Screening Programme (NCSS) — which was formally requested earlier this year by the HSE National Directorate of Clinical Strategy and Programmes to start the development of the retinopathy screening programme. This work has started; however, the development of the programme will inevitably prove protracted given the scale of the work involved in establishing such a new programme — especially given the fundamental principle that quality assured outcomes for diabetic patients is not compromised; and on this basis, it is not anticipated that it will be ready to start in the first quarter of 2012. A budget of €1.6m has been assigned to the project for 2011.