Written answers Nos. 655-673
655. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies currently in the Clongriffin/Donaghmede primary care teams, Dublin 13; if he will ensure that the vacancies are filled as soon as possible [19062/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 27th March last, I conveyed approval to the HSE to recruit the following posts for Primary Care Teams: 70 Public Health Nurses; 37 Registered General Nurses; 51 Occupational Therapists; 46 Physiotherapists; and 47 Speech & Language Therapists.
It is my firm intention to have these posts filled as soon as possible. Arrangements are now being made within the HSE to coordinate the necessary documentation for submission to its National Recruitment Service (NRS) to proceed with the filling of the posts. The NRS has confirmed that panels are in place for the above grades and they will be in a position to proceed to offer the posts once all the necessary documentation is received. The expectation is that appointments will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
In relation to the specific question about Clongriffin/Donaghmede primary care teams, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy when further information becomes available.
656. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who visited Beaumont Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department, Dublin 9, that paid the €100 charge in the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 [19063/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
657. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the ambulance bus that brings people from Baltinglass, County Wicklow, to St Luke's, Dublin, for radiotherapy daily and collects them and brings them home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19065/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatient transport is the responsibility of the HSE. However, people attending outpatient and hospital appointments are, in general, expected to make their own travel arrangements, using private or scheduled public transport. The exceptions are for dialysis, cancer (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and post-operative transplant patients, where transport may be provided. In these cases, the patient's appointment should be directly related to treatment of the condition.
Following implementation of the HSE's non-ambulance patient transport policy, responsibility for the arrangement and provision of non-ambulance transport has moved from the HSE National Ambulance Service to local health offices in each region. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
658. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of a report being undertaken by the Health Service Executive into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the final report will be published; if the parents of the person concerned have been involved in the investigation; if they have contributed to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19070/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is Health Service Executive (HSE) Policy that incidents that result in death or serious injury are investigated thoroughly using system analysis investigation methodology. The review and care of the named person (RIP) is being carried out in accordance with this policy. Following the investigation of this case the team's report has recently been finalised and is currently being considered by HSE South management . It is anticipated that this process will be concluded within the next week. At that stage the report will be forwarded to the family of the named person and their solicitor. As part of this process a Senior HSE South Manager will meet with the family and legal representative to discuss the findings of the investigation team. I understand that during the course of the review, the HSE invited the family to participate in the review on two occasions, but they declined.
659. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the appropriate officials in the Health Service Executive will meet with the parents of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to devise a plan for their long term care in their own home; and if he will expedite the matter. [19071/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
660. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a report into the charges being imposed on the service users of St Patrick's, Kells Road, County Kilkenny and those that use the community house at Millennium Court and the management and information given regarding stoppages from the bank accounts of clients using the service will be made available in view of the commitment made by the Health Service Executive management at a meeting of Oireachtas members held on 9 March 2013 [19072/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
661. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the closure of a centre for the elderly (details supplied) in Dublin 3; if he will indicate if a new location has been found; the timeframe for same; and when the service will recommence [19088/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
662. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19090/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
664. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding gluten free products;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19106/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) faces a continuing challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, as a result it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of items reimbursable under the GMS and other community drug schemes. This includes gluten-free products.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf. For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, monies spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.
665. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the cost to the State of the rental of continuous positive airway pressure machines for persons with sleep apnoea from private firms rather than purchasing the machines for their use. [19110/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the schemes in question, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
666. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will list the terms of reference and the membership of the oversight committee which he set up regarding the Protection of Maternal Life Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19113/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the sensitivity of the topic, the complex constitutional and legal issues involved, and the political interest in this area, as the Deputy is aware, I have established a dedicated Oversight Committee to supervise the development of the legislation. The purpose of this Committee is to establish and maintain a clear mechanism for internal communications between the Social Inclusion Unit, senior management in the Department and the Ministers in the Department of Health and to ensure that the Ministers in the Department of Health are regularly updated on the progress achieved in the drafting of the legislation. The membership of the Committee is outlined below.
|
Minister for Health |
– Dr James Reilly |
|
Minister of State at the Department of Health |
– Mr. Alex White |
|
Minister of State at the Department of Health |
– Ms. Kathleen Lynch |
|
Secretary General |
– Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin |
|
Chief Medical Officer |
– Dr. Tony Holohan |
|
Social Inclusion Unit PO |
– Ms. Geraldine Luddy |
667. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the proposed heads of the Protection of Maternal Life Bill will be debated by the appropriate Oireachtas committees, Health and Justice, in advance of any decision to publish legislation; if expert witnesses will be called before both Oireachtas committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19114/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children held three days of oral hearings on the implementation of the Government decision following the publication of the Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in A, B & C v Ireland, from 8th to 10th of January this year. On the 31st of January, the Committee furnished a report to the Government summarising the contributions received during the consultative process. The Government has committed to engage further with the Oireachtas Committee when Heads of a Bill have been developed. How the Committee decides to progress the debate is a matter for the Committee itself, upon which it would be inappropriate for me to comment.
668. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter regarding the length of time a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 spent on a trolley in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin [19117/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
669. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the actions that will be taken to remedy the employment records of the North Eastern Health Board who, because of the loss of records from 1974 to July 1981, cannot confirm employment of people during that time and who then cannot claim the contributions they made during those dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19125/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
670. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the progress made by HETAC to expedite the proposal for a protected title for psychotherapist and counsellor to facilitate their inclusion under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 as outlined by him him at the Dáil Select Committee on Health on 9 November 2012 [19137/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Minister for Health may designate a health and social care profession if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. While my immediate priority is to proceed with the establishment of the registration boards for the twelve professions currently designated under the Act, I am committed to bringing counsellors and psychotherapists within the ambit of the Act as soon as possible.
I acknowledge the work done by a number of counsellor and psychotherapist national groups in coming together as the Psychological Therapies Forum to advise as a single voice in so far as is possible. There are a number of issues still to be clarified, however. These include decisions on whether one or two professions are to be regulated, on the title or titles of the profession or professions, and on the minimum qualifications to be required of counsellors and psychotherapists. In relation to the latter, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the successor to HETAC, has established a Standards Development Group for Counselling and Psychotherapy which aims to establish standards of knowledge, skills and competence to be acquired by candidates for educational qualifications that will be required for careers in counselling and/or psychotherapy. This is an essential prerequisite to regulation of the profession. The QQI Report is expected to be completed later this year or early in 2014. In addition, the standards of proficiency to be required of existing practitioners for registration will need to be established and the necessary qualifications prescribed.
Officials of my Department will be engaging with the Psychological Therapies Forum and other relevant stakeholders as soon as the QQI report is available. They will work through the outstanding issues that have yet to be addressed with a view to achieving regulation of the profession as soon as possible in the best interests of the protection of the public. I would like to emphasise that while counsellors and psychotherapists are not currently subject to professional statutory regulation, they are of course subject to legislation similar to other practitioners including consumer legislation, competition, contract and criminal law.
671. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment will be arranged at Waterford Regional Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the fact that they are waiting for an assessment and operation on their knees [19142/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
672. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a bed will be provided as a matter of urgency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny [19143/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
673. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount contributed to date by the State for the construction of the A5 primary road route between Derry and the N2 in the State. [18733/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State has contributed £22 million Sterling to date towards the A5 project.
