Michael Colreavy
Ceist:45. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the review of the Mental Health Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41002/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMental Health Act Review
Ceisteanna (45)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government and I attach great importance to the review of the Mental Health Act 2001 which is underlined by a commitment contained in the Programme for Government to review the Act, "informed by human rights standards and in consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders".
In June 2011, my colleague with responsibility for Mental Health Services, Minister Kathleen Lynch established a Steering Group to oversee the first part of the review which included undertaking a public consultation exercise and identifying the key areas of the Act to be further examined. The Interim Report of the Steering Group on the Review of the Mental Health Act 2001 was published on 21 June 2012 and is available on my Department's website.
In August this year, Minister Lynch announced the membership of an Expert Group to carry out the second and substantive phase of the review which is principally tasked with fleshing out the Steering Group recommendations. The Group is comprised of 15 people in total and includes expertise from a range of professionals and nominations from key stakeholder organisations.
The Expert Group held its first meeting on the 18th September, 2012 and is expected to produce its report by the end of March, 2013.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (46)
Joe Higgins
Ceist:46. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health in relation to kidney transplant operations in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, at which the waiting time for the procedure has increased from three to six months to 14 months, the measures taken to reduce this delay; the additional resources allocated; his views on the context of the urgent nature of this operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37888/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Beaumont Hospital has a target of three to six months of a waiting time for live-related kidney transplantation. I am advised by the HSE that due to the demands on the service this time has increased to fourteen months.
There is a need to expand live-related kidney transplantation programme. Members of the National Renal Transplant Programme as well as members of the Senior Management team at Beaumont Hospital are actively working with the Department of Health, the HSE and the National Transplant Office to ensure adequate and appropriate resources are in place to increase the rate of kidney transplantation.
Approximately 30 live donor operations will be performed in 2012 and Beaumont Hospital have developed plans and outlined resources to increase this to 100 live donor transplants per annum.
Primary Care Services Provision
Ceisteanna (47)
Niall Collins
Ceist:47. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason the number of primary care teams in Dublin North City dropped from 34 in 2011 to 22 in 2012 according to recent figures released by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40972/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Expenditure
Ceisteanna (48)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:48. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the date on which he approved the €130 million further cuts to the 2012 health budget, including the proposed cuts to personal assistance services for the disabled, the home care cuts and the home help cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40988/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The financial situation in the HSE continues to be extremely challenging. In the short term, to address the 2012 position, a range of measures are being undertaken in order to achieve a balanced budget. These include the use of capital to fund revenue on a once-off basis and the transfer of Department funds to the HSE on a once-off basis. The HSE has been required to review all pay and non-pay savings targets with a view to further targeting all areas which do not compromise patient safety.
The HSE has indicated that it will achieve €130m in savings to address the deficit. Nearly 50% will come from more focused cash and stock management initiatives, savings in medical equipment (non-capital), furniture, education, training, office expenses, travel and subsistence and advertising. €6m of savings will come from the non-reimbursement of certain non-essential products. €60.5m of savings will come from specific service-related measures. These measures are now the subject of intensive discussions with the HSE and local stakeholders. I have instructed the Executive that efficiencies must be achieved in the first instance before patient services are affected and in this regard, patient safety must be paramount.
Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 41.
Special Educational Needs Services Provision
Ceisteanna (50)
Robert Troy
Ceist:50. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the number of special needs assistants being provided to children availing of the free pre-school year this year; and the way this compares to the number of SNAs provided to children availing of the free pre-school year in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40667/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Expenditure
Ceisteanna (51)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:51. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the actions needed to be taken by Beaumont, Mater, Limerick Regional, CUH and Galway Regional hospitals to correct their deficits by the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40960/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Hospitals must concentrate on maximising efficiency and getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. Regional Cost Containment Plans have been in place since the beginning of the year. These plans are continuously monitored and updated in the light of the emerging financial data.
In order to break even by year end the hospitals which are currently running a deficit must fully implement the list of measures set out in agreed cost containment plans, including full delivery of reductions in overtime and agency usage as well as procurement savings. The plans also include measures to ensure that hospital activity levels, which are running over target in many cases, are brought back in line with the National Service Plan targets. Activity over and above this level cannot be funded.
The HSE is continuing to work closely with the hospitals that are operating budget deficits to ensure that the service impact of cost containment is kept to a minimum and to ensure that patient safety remains at the core of all decision making.
As indicated in the HSE Service Plan 2012, activity reductions will vary from hospital to hospital depending on local circumstances. Hospitals with the greatest carry forward financial challenge will find it most difficult to maintain activity levels and some will require a high intensity management process which, in addition to managing significant clinical change, will also focus on targeted cost reductions and maximising income billing and collection.
These hospitals are also being assisted in correcting their deficits through the work of the Special Delivery Unit in my Department, which seeks to improve access to the emergency and elective care system.
Since it was established last year, the SDU has been working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient journeys through the system, through encouraging hospitals to better manage their use of bed days and staffing resources and by streamlining waiting lists, including GP referrals.
Question No. 52 answered with Question No. 22.