Tuesday, 3 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 436-450

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (436)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

436. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9283/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (437, 438)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

437. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1097 of 17 September 2014, the reason these figures cannot be provided in view of the fact that Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, produced quarterly key performance indicator reports for this in 2011 and in 2012; the reason this practice ceased; if he will provide all available figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9327/15]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

438. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1096 of 17 September 2014, the reason the number of patients covered by health insurance and by medical cards is so low, considering that this covers in excess of 80% of the population; if he will provide revised figures and end-of-year figures for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9328/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.

I understand that the Deputy received responses to these questions from the HSE in October 2014, details of which can be seen on the HSE's website.

In relation to your query on Parliamentary Question No. 1096 regarding end of year figures for 2014, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter. 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 with them.

Organ Donation

Ceisteanna (439)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

439. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding organ donation here; the stage legislation for a soft opt-out system is at; the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9329/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In 2014, 251 transplants were carried out in Ireland. This was facilitated by 63 deceased donors and 40 living kidney donors. There will always be fluctuations in the number of organs donated from deceased donors on an annual basis but I am working to ensure that the necessary steps are being taken to encourage donation where the opportunity arises.

An extra allocation of €2.9 million has been made available to the HSE to facilitate an increase in the levels of organ donation and transplantation, largely through the appointment of 19 whole-time-equivalent personnel. The appointees will include consultants, organ donation nurse managers, organ procurement officers and quality officers. They will work to foster a strong culture of organ donation, optimise conversion rates and ultimately increase the number of transplantations that are carried out each year. Nine of these posts have been filled to date and it is expected that all posts will be filled over the coming months.

Legislative proposals to give effect to the opt-out system of consent are being progressed and it is hoped to finalise the Heads of a Bill this year.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Ceisteanna (440)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

440. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on redeveloping a health centre (details supplied) in County Galway. [9330/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. 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.

Pharmacy Services

Ceisteanna (441)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

441. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health his plans to lead or lend support to a public information campaign to make persons aware of the range of services available at their local pharmacies, which would lead to quicker outcomes for some persons and reduce pressure on emergency departments. [9331/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The development of primary care services is an essential component of the health reform process. In a developed primary care system up to 95% of people's day to day health and social care needs can be met in the primary care setting. Pharmacy services are well placed within the community to provide essential health advice and to support effective care at the lowest level of complexity and in a cost-effective manner. The use of publicity campaigns by pharmacists to promote the use of their services in that context are welcomed.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (442)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

442. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a person's treatment in a hospital in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I acknowledge that the current surge in ED activity is causing difficulty, both in Emergency Departments and subsequent to admission, for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances.

At the outset I would like to express my sincere regret to Mr. Feeney’s family for any distress and upset caused to them throughout this very difficult time. I understand that the hospital view this as a very serious issue, that they are investigating the matter and that they are liaising with Mr. Feeney’s family.

In view of the fact that Beaumont Hospital are investigating the 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 with them.

Nursing Home Inspections

Ceisteanna (443)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

443. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to amend legislation to allow the Health Information and Quality Authority to investigate individual complaints within residential care and nursing homes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, at present, the only complaint mechanism for elderly and vulnerable persons in private nursing homes is to complain to the organisation itself, which is clearly not suitable, and places the person in an even more vulnerable position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9343/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and to monitor safety and quality in Ireland’s health and personal social care services.

Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary and private have been registered and inspected by HIQA. During the course of this Government HIQA’s function has been extended to residential services for those with disabilities and child protection services.

As regulator, HIQA’s remit operates at the level of facilities rather than that of individual complaints, but the requirements at facility level impact very directly on how individual cases are dealt with.

All nursing homes are required to have an accessible and effective complaints procedure, including an appeals process. They must investigate all complaints promptly, and following investigation put in place any measures required for improvement. Records of complaints made are required to be kept. These are available for inspection, thus enabling the HIQA inspector to determine whether the complaints system is sufficiently robust.

In relation to the investigation of individual complaints, HIQA's position is that it considers that, in line with principles of good governance, the investigation of such complaints should remain primarily a role for the service provider. However, HIQA takes into account and uses all information received to inform and plan its regulatory activity, and information on individual cases can provide useful pointers in this context. HIQA’s programme of both scheduled and unannounced inspections is intended to ensure that standards are maintained and where issues of non-compliance arise, that these are addressed and rectified. If a nursing home is found not to be in compliance with the Regulations it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. HIQA also has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of registration on nursing homes.

My Department, in consultation with both HIQA and the service providers, works on an ongoing basis to improve and update the requirements that apply to nursing home care. As part of its ongoing assessment of services in designated centres, HIQA has committed to maintaining a focus on the adequacy of complaints procedures in place in registered services.

Mental Health Services Funding

Ceisteanna (444)

Colm Keaveney

Ceist:

444. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that there was an underspend, as against the original allocation of circa €6 million, in mental health services in the Galway-Roscommon region in 2014; if he will provide an exact figure for the underspend in 2014; the way this underspend occurred; if he will assess its impact on mental health services in the region; if the underspend will be carried forward into 2015 and added to the allocated budget for this year; the amounts allocated to mental health services in each year from 2011 to 2013 in the Galway-Roscommon region; the total actually spent in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9346/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (445)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

445. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current supports available in respect of a family (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9349/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Health Services Access

Ceisteanna (446)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

446. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way a person who requires transport to a hospital appointment and cannot make contact with the Health Service Executive transport section may arrange transport; the reason there are such long delays in making contact by telephone with this section; if he will ensure that telephone calls are answered, or return telephone calls made, within a reasonable period of time, that is, 24 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9351/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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 with them.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (447, 448, 449)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

447. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if there has been a reduction of services provided by an organisation (details supplied) over the past five years; if he envisages that the use of the facilities will be secure, into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9355/15]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

448. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed financial statement in respect of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9356/15]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

449. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health his views on the concerns raised by a number of service users of an organisation (details supplied), that the services are being phased out and the centre is due to close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9357/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 to 449, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy's questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for the questions 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Respite Care Services

Ceisteanna (450)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

450. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health his views on the reduction of available respite care beds for persons with disabilities; the action he is taking to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9358/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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 up the matter with the HSE.