Written Answers Nos. 186-197
186. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a review of antenatal and gynaecology services at Dungloe Community Hospital in County Donegal has been formally completed; the outcome of this review; his plans to re-instate these services; the time frame for resuming these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43310/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring my recent visit to Arranmore Island this issue was raised by the other Deputies in the area and by the Community Council. Any decision made by the Saolta University Health Care Group will be made with patient safety outcomes to the fore.
However, 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.
187. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not entitled to have a specific drug, Fampyra, covered by the medical card scheme and the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43315/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
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.
188. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will find a permanent placement for a person (details supplied) who no longer can be catered for at his current nursing home, as a matter of urgency; if he will intervene in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43317/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the 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
189. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive an appointment in University Hospital Galway. [43318/15]
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.
190. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance cars in the mid-west area on a 24-hour roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43320/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra191. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance cars nationally; the location of each; the number that are rostered 24 hours a day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43323/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.
With regard to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is waiting for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43340/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
193. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry who is awaiting to be seen for therapy in Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43344/15]
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.
194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of planned day-case and inpatient admissions which were cancelled, by hospital, in each of the years 2013 to 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43360/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
195. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting times in the assessment-of-need process under the Disability Act 2005 in Roscommon primary community continuing care; a breakdown of the length of time it takes from receipt of an assessment request by the Health Service Executive to the issuing of a service statement, within six plus to nine, nine plus to 12, 12 plus to 18, 18 plus to 24, 24 plus to 30, 30 plus to 36 and 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43361/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting times in the assessment of need process under the Disability Act 2005 in Galway primary community continuing care; the length of time it takes from receipt of an assessment request by the Health Service Executive to the issuing of a service statement, within six plus to nine, nine plus to 12, 12 plus to 18, 18 plus to 24, 24 plus to 30, 30 plus to 36, and 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43362/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting times in the assessment of need process under the Disability Act 2005 nationally; the length of time it takes from receipt of an assessment request by the Health Service Executive to the issuing of a service statement, within six plus to nine, nine plus to 12, 12 plus to 18, 18 plus to 24, 24 plus to 30, 30 plus to 36, and 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43363/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.
Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced on 1 June 2007 in respect of children aged under 5 years. In 2008, the then Government decided, in the light of financial circumstances, to defer further implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. However, in light of legal advice following a ruling of the High Court, children born after 1 June 2002 are being treated by the Health Service executive as eligible to apply for an assessment under the Act. Part 2 of the 2005 Act provides for an assessment of the needs of eligible applicants, occasioned by their disability, to be commenced within three months of receipt of an application and completed within a further three months.
The HSE recognises that it faces significant challenges in respect of meeting the statutory time-frames which apply to the assessment of need process, given the number and complexity of cases, and has taken a number of measures to address the issue. While any delay in assessment or intervention for any child is not desirable, it should be noted that the assessment process under the Disability Act can take place in parallel with any intervention which is identified as necessary.
Following the publication of a National Disability Authority report commissioned by the Department of Health and the HSE, a major emphasis is being placed on reconfiguring children’s disability services into integrated multi-disciplinary geographically-based early-intervention and school-aged teams under the HSE’s Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme. 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, including autism, and their families to services, regardless of where they live, what school they go to, or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties. In 2014 an additional €4 million was specifically allocated to drive implementation of the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. A further additional €4m (equating to €6m in a full year) has been allocated to the Programme this year to support its ongoing implementation.
Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Funding is being provided in 2016 to expand the provision of speech and language therapy in primary care and to support the reorganisation and expansion of speech and language and other therapies under the Progressing Disability Services Programme. Full implementation of the Programme is expected before the end of 2016.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with the detailed operational information he has requested. 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.
