Written Answers Nos. 624 - 644
624. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the length of time temporary beds at a hospital (details supplied) in County Mayo will remain open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19901/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has 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.
625. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who attended the maternity unit at Portlaoise general hospital, County Laois, in each of the past five years that were transferred to other maternity hospitals, such as the Coombe and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19919/15]
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.
626. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of regional and senior management in the Health Service Executive who were aware of the serious difficulties in Portlaoise hospital, County Laois, over the past seven years; the number of these persons who were promoted since; if he is satisfied that this practice continues to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19926/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recent HIQA Report into Portlaoise Hospital raises serious questions and issues relating to the appropriateness and effectiveness of managerial actions.
These issues will be addressed through HSE internal disciplinary procedures. The Director General of the HSE has confirmed that two review processes will be set up to address the recommendations in HIQA's Report; terms of reference have been drafted. The process will involve external reviewers from outside of the HSE in order to guarantee full independence and transparency. One investigation will explore the clinical issues raised by the families affected and the second will examine managerial decision making and risk management issues raised in the Report. Separate procedures involving external professional regulatory bodies are already underway involving some staff of the hospital.
In the interests of fair procedure and natural justice it would not be appropriate for me to intervene or comment on the process.
627. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare suffering from throat cancer, and who as a result of the treatment process requires dental work to be carried out, will have this dental work covered by the person's medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19929/15]
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.
628. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); the reason the Health Service Executive has discontinued its funding of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19931/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for 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.
629. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a person (details supplied) is provided with a hospital appointment. [19932/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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 been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
630. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken in response to reports that patients presenting at Wexford General Hospital with mental health issues, who have also been using substances, are being turned away and told to return when the drugs are out of their system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19954/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have referred your question 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.
631. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if an inquiry has been, or will be, carried out into the case of a person (details supplied) who committed suicide after having presented to Wexford General Hospital in October 2014 with mental health issues while under the influence of substances, in order to ascertain whether best practice was adhered to at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19955/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra632. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the procedures being followed in Wexford General Hospital to ascertain if a patient who is presenting is suicidal, particularly if that patient has a history of suicidal tendencies and self-harm; if he will provide details of the decision made in this regard in the case of a person (details supplied) in October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19956/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra634. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the reason a patient (details supplied) who presented to Wexford General Hospital on 5 October 2014 in a state of mental distress and with suicidal tendencies was assessed by a mental health liaison nurse rather than a psychiatric doctor; the reason the person was not referred to the psychiatric ward at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19957/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 631, 632 and 634 together.
As these are service issues, I am referring your questions 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.
633. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the discussions between his Department and the State Claims Agency regarding any pattern of claims arising from Portlaoise general hospital, County Laois, over the past seven years; the action taken by his Department arising from these discussions in the interest of patient safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19920/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of his research while compiling his Report, HSE Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise Perinatal deaths (2006-date) the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) obtained relevant reports from the State Claims Agency (SCA) in relation to all claims reported to the National Adverse Event Reporting System (NAEMS) as having occurred during the period Jan 1st 2006-December 31st 2013. This data was examined in conjunction with all the other data collated by the CMO.
This data, together with the conclusions and recommendations, are set out clearly in the CMO's Report into the HSE Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise Perinatal Deaths (2006-date) February, 2014.
Overall the CMO concluded that using the available data including in relation to claims on an ongoing basis is a straightforward and useful way for maternity units to monitor trends, so areas of possible concern for the service can be identified early and actions take as required. It is for this reason that the CMO recommended that the HSE should ensure that every maternity service (and later every health provider) be required to complete a Patient Safety Statement which is published and updated monthly. (Overall Recommendation 10 in CMO's Report.)
635. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a much required double hip replacement can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has been waiting over six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19974/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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 been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
636. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hip operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19978/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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 been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
637. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the discussions between the Health Service Executive and the State Claims Agency regarding the pattern of claims arising from Portlaoise general hospital, County Laois, over the past seven years; the action taken by the executive arising from these discussions in the interest of patient safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19921/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HIQA investigation into safety, quality and standards of services provided by the Health Services Executive to patients in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise found that the HSE did not effectively seek and use the information collected by the State Claims Agency to inform its patient safety activities. This echoes the findings of the CMO's Report into perinatal deaths in Portlaoise published in February 2014. To address this, HIQA has made the following recommendation in its Report:
"The Health Service Executive (HSE), the chief executive officer of each hospital group and the State Claims Agency must immediately develop, agree and implement a memorandum of understanding between each party to ensure the timely sharing of actual and potential clinical risk information, analysis and trending data. This information must be used to inform national and hospital-group patient safety strategies."
Work is ongoing between the State Claims Agency and the HSE to optimise the use of the data provided on clinical incidents (including Serious Reportable Events) by the HSE using the National Incident Management System in order to analyse trends and minimise risk in a timely fashion. The process for sharing this data will be agreed as quickly as possible in a Memorandum of Understanding between the relevant parties, as recommended by HIQA.
The HIQA Report also called for the establishment of an oversight group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report. The Minister has approved the composition and terms of reference of this Group.
The Minister has also written to the Director General of the HSE to request the HSE to submit a plan and timetable to implement the HIQA recommendations. This plan will be used by the Oversight Group to monitor the HSE's progress on implementation. A named person in the HSE will have responsibility for reporting on behalf of the Directorate to the Oversight Group each month on progress in implementing the recommendations.
639. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19988/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has 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.
640. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20001/15]
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.
641. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of deaf persons there are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20002/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of deaf and blind persons there are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20003/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra643. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of blind persons there are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20004/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra644. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of deaf and blind persons there are who also have a learning impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20005/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra685. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are receiving the blind welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20364/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 641 to 644, inclusive, and 685 together.
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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
