Written Answers Nos. 202-208
202. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the plans being put in place to ensure SaorView will be available in all Health Service Executive residences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42172/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
203. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the changes to staffing levels at the emergency Department of Mid-West Regional Hospital during the past six months; the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has to spend more than fifteen hours on a trolley there on 17 September 2012; the trolley count at that hospital on that day; the average trolley count; the average waiting time and the longest waiting time; the efforts he is making to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42173/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July of last year I announced the establishment of the Special Delivery Unit as a key part of my plans to radically reform the health system in Ireland. The Unit’s purpose is to improve access to the emergency and elective care system. Since it was established last year, it has been working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient journeys through the system and by streamlining waiting lists, including GP referrals. I am pleased to be able to say that very significant progress has been made to date by the SDU in relation to both emergency departments and waiting lists.
A major priority has been to improve access to emergency care and I welcome the fact that for significant numbers of patients, the experience in our EDs has been markedly improved. From January to September, the number of patients waiting on trolleys fell by 22.9% compared to the same period last year - that equates to 14,795 fewer patients waiting on trolleys. The 30 day moving average (average number of trolleys over 30 days) has fallen by 37.5% in 12 months, from 328 on 19 September 2011 to 205 on 21 September 2012
On 17 September 2012 in Mid-West Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, there were 16 patients on trolleys at 8 am. The longest wait on that day was 68 hrs. On that day 210 patients were discharged from the ED with 60% of these discharged within 6 hrs.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to you concerning the staffing levels at the emergency Department of Mid-West Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle.
204. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42188/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in this matter. With regard to specific complaints, a formal complaints policy exists, details of which are available on the HSE website: www.hse.ie. In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at the website: www.healthcomplaints.ie. In accordance with this procedure, a complaint should be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred. If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare, or the Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.
205. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions on the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service; the steps he his taking to fill these positions; and the type of expertise he plans to bring to the board by such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42197/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 6 vacancies on the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). Members of the Board perform key roles in relation to the direction, leadership and corporate governance of the IBTS.
Expressions of interest for Board membership were sought through the Public Appointments Service in April and I am considering the applications made in the context of the competencies required by Board members.
Members of the Board would be expected to have experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas: corporate governance, finance, haematology, scientific risk assessment, communication, human resources and marketing.
I intend to appoint all members as quickly as possible.
206. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an up to date report regarding the extent to which the Health Service Executive is re-using hospital equipment that is crutches, specialised hospital mattresses as opposed to discarding or failing to retrieve them after a single use [42216/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
207. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made towards the development of a National Dementia Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42231/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government gives a commitment to develop a National Strategy on Dementia by 2013 which will increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and enhance community based services for people living with this condition.
The first stage of the process was to assemble the research and evidence upon which the strategy will be developed. This was completed earlier this year and the report of the findings Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: a Research Review for Ireland's National Dementia Strategy has been published. A guide for the general public, Future Dementia Care in Ireland: Sharing the Evidence to Mobilise Action was compiled to disseminate the report’s findings and to give a better understanding of dementia. Both the report and the guide are available at www.doh.ie.
A public consultation process which sought the views of interested parties, to help inform the development of the strategy concluded in August and officials are currently examining the responses. Following on from this process a working group will be established to develop the strategy.
208. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Health if he will review the policy of adding fluoride to the public drinking water supply here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWater fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. In 2002 the Forum on Fluoridation, which was established to review this policy, concluded that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, monitors new and emerging issues on fluoride and its effects on health and related matters. It advises that the balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, at the optimal level, does not cause any ill effects and is the safest and most cost effective method of protecting the oral health of the population. Given that the policy has been reviewed by the Forum on Fluoridation and that the Expert Body on Fluorides and Health continues to provide impartial, evidence-based, expert advice on fluoridation, it is not considered necessary to commission another review.
