Jack Wall
Ceist:130. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7409/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services Provision
Ceisteanna (130)
Freagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
Disability Services Provision
Ceisteanna (131)
Terence Flanagan
Ceist:131. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding potential changes proposed in the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7411/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into multi-disciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years). The key objective of this Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, where these children go to school or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties.
The Programme is a key priority for the HSE’s Social Care Directorate. An additional €4m was allocated in 2014 to assist in implementing the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. Further investment of €4 million will also be made to support the development of therapy services in 2015 (equating to €6 million in a full year). The transition to this new service model is taking place on a phased basis and includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including service users and their families.
My Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the specific operational issue that he has raised. 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.
Social Workers Recruitment
Ceisteanna (132)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a social worker will be assigned to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7413/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a response from the HSE within working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Ceisteanna (133)
David Stanton
Ceist:133. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the policy that exists on the presence of automated external defibrillators in Health Service Executive health centres; the monitoring procedures that are in place to ensure defibrillators are present and in working order; if the Health Service Executive is satisfied that all its health centres currently have working defibrillators on-site; the names of any health centres that do not have working defibrillators on-site; if all health centre staff are receiving regular cardiopulmonary resuscitation training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7417/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been 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 should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Orthodontic Services Provision
Ceisteanna (134)
Robert Troy
Ceist:134. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a consultant orthodontist will be appointed to the Midland Health Board, in view of the delay of providing orthodontic treatment to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [7419/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Hospital Groups
Ceisteanna (135)
Anthony Lawlor
Ceist:135. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made by the Health Service Executive and hospital groups in developing three-year strategic plans; the measures that will be included to facilitate staff who wish to transfer between hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The reform of our acute hospital services into Hospital Groups is an absolute priority for the Government. As the Deputy is aware, one of my Department's priorities for 2015 is to get all of the Hospital Groups up and running as single cohesive entities.
A key step in this regard will be the development of Hospital Group Strategic Plans. The Strategic Advisory Group, established to provide objective advice and expertise on the implementation of Hospital Groups, is currently finalising a guidance paper on developing the strategic plans. This guidance will ensure a coherent approach nationally and will be provided to the Hospital Group Chairs to inform and assist them in developing their strategic plans in 2015. I understand that the Systems Reform Division in the HSE has also been engaging with the Group Chairs and Group CEOs and will be providing them with assistance in the development of their plans.
Essentially, in developing their plans, Hospital Groups will be expected to demonstrate a co-ordinated approach to the planning and delivery of services within and across the hospital groups, with an increased focus on small hospitals managing routine urgent or planned care locally and more complex care managed in the larger hospitals and appropriate deployment of staff is key to achieving this. Hospital Groups are subject to the Employment Control Framework and Public Service Pay Policy in respect of staff numbers, pay, terms, conditions and other relevant matters. However, as part of the drive to empower management, encourage innovation and ensure autonomy with real accountability, it is intended that the HSE will devolve authority to the Hospital Groups to recruit and deploy staff across the Group.
Cancer Incidence
Ceisteanna (136)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:136. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have high medical and / or care needs, while they are fighting cancer, and attending children's wards, in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal and Sligo Regional Hospital. [7460/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Cancer treatment for children in Ireland is led and directed by Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin, who operate a Shared Care Model system with other hospitals.
I am advised by the Saolta University Hospital Group that four children who have cancer are being treated in Sligo Regional Hospital and nine children in Letterkenny General Hospital under the direction of Our Lady's Children's Hospital.
Medical Card Eligibility
Ceisteanna (137)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card has been withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7461/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.