Written Answers Nos. 359-372
359. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding situation at a hospital (details supplied) in County Kildare; his views on concerns at the number of patients on trolleys at this hospital; the steps he and the Health Service Executive will take to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43850/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile Naas General Hospital experiences overcrowding in the Emergency Department from time to time, I am assured by the HSE that every effort is made to admit patients to in-patient beds based on clinical need as soon as possible. Compared to the baseline year of 2011, there has been 1,717 fewer patients on trolleys at Naas in the year to date.
The hospital has appropriate escalation policies in place and monitors its activity continuously. The hospital currently has 30 additional beds open,which have remained open all year, and has additional beds open in the Acute Medical Assessment Unit and Day Ward to meet demand from the Emergency Department. The hospital has also appointed 26 staff nurses this year, 14 of which were replacement posts and 12 new posts. The HSE National Recruitment Service is currently in the process of appointing a further eight nursing posts of which six are replacement posts and two are new.
The hospital will continue to engage with the National Acute Services Division and the Social Care Division within the HSE to take advantage of additional capacity initiatives to relieve pressure on the hospital throughout the winter season.
360. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant nursing positions which exist at a hospital (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43851/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra361. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant medical positions which exist at a hospital (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43852/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra362. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant hospital consultant positions which exist at a hospital (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43853/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
363. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (detail supplied) in County Laois will be transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire from Crumlin children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43855/14]
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 (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
364. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will review a situation (details supplied) in which it took three hours for an ambulance to collect an insulin dependent diabetic person. [43859/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
365. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on nursing home care; the amount of money spent on home care in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43866/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.
366. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assistance with medical costs in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
367. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assistance for a terminally ill person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43875/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
368. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will review the application for home help in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 15 in need of domestic physiotherapy due to supernumerary chromosome 8. [43878/14]
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 (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
369. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be updated on their prospects of a transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43887/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
370. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed as agency staff in the hospitals and Health Service Executive. [43889/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the grades agency staff in the hospitals and Health Service Executive are filling while covering maternity leave and long-term sick leave; and the number of agency staff at each grade. [43890/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 371 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
372. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the approximate number of new nursing posts in County Kerry advertised in County Kerry by the Health Service Executive to date in 2014; if this number is expected to rise because of the lifting of the recruitment moratorium; the media that were used to advertise these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43900/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
