Written Answers Nos. 1 - 31
10. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he has received requests for increased capital spending to alleviate the ongoing serious overcrowding and delays in accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40408/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast December, I convened the ED Taskforce to provide focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by ED overcrowding and significant progress has been made to date.
As mentioned previously, HSE figures are showing a 8% reduction in overcrowding this November compared to last. The INMO figures are also showing significant improvement in the second half of November. This contrasts with the position back in August when overcrowding was 40% up compared to August last year. Recent progress is definitely in the right direction and a big improvement on the start of the year when there were 500 to 600 people on trolleys. This Wednesday morning's TrolleyGar report showed 303 patients waiting on trolleys at 8am, with 117 of those patients waiting over 9 hours. The comparable figures for the same day last year were 409 patients on trolleys with 204 waiting over 9 hours, a drop of 26%.
Additional funding of €117 million has been provided in 2015 to relieve pressures on acute hospitals. This includes €74 million provided in April which has supported significant progress to date on reducing delayed discharges freeing up just over 250 beds in our Acute Hospitals and lowering the waiting time for Fair Deal funding, as well as providing additional transitional care beds and home care packages to provide supports for those no longer needing acute hospital care.
The HSE began its winter planning process early this year. In July, following consideration of proposals from hospitals to increase capacity, a further €18 million was provided to support the acute hospital system over the winter period by providing additional bed capacity and other initiatives to support access to care. This additional funding included €8 million capital funding which allows for renovation and reopening of wards, opening of additional acute beds, isolation rooms, rehabilitation beds and transitional care beds.
There has been considerable capital investment in the upgrading and reconfiguration of Emergency Departments in recent years including:
- a new ED in Wexford General Hospital and St Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny;
- a new ED and acute medical assessment unit in the Mater, which opened in 2013
- construction of a new ED underway in Limerick University Hospital, to be completed in 2016;
- newly refurbished and expanded adult ED and provision of a short stay observation unit in the paediatric ED at Tallaght;
- upgrade to South Tipperary General Hospital to provide additional treatment spaces;
- refurbishment of the ED at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan and
- refurbishment of the ED at Mullingar, providing improved facilities for care, to be finished in January 2016.
Beaumont Hospital is also undertaking a feasibility study on the location, size and cost of building a new ED at the hospital and a report on this is expected shortly. All of these investments are intended to improve the experience of the thousands of people attending our Emergency Departments every day.
11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 22 October 2015 regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24, the status of the serious delays in the provision of occupational therapy and other treatments from the school age team in the Dublin South-West area; the measures that were taken to improve the Health Service Executive's situation; his views on the staffing issues in Galro which are resulting in delays in the provision of important treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42716/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government currently provides funding of approximately €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2015. The HSE aims to ensure that the resources available are used to best effect, in order to provide assessment and ongoing therapy to children in line with their prioritised needs. However, it is acknowledged that current waiting lists for some therapeutic supports are high.
In 2013, additional funding of €20m was provided to strengthen primary care services. This comprised of €18.5m for the recruitment of over 260 primary care team posts and over €1.4m to support community intervention team development.
In 2014, the roll out of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme entailed targeted investment of €4m and the provision of 80 additional therapy staff. A further €4m allocation is being allocated in 2015 to continue work on this initiative. The key objective of the Progressing Disability Services 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, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties. Full implementation of the Programme is expected before the end of 2016.
An additional €8m will be provided in 2016 to expand the provision of speech and language therapy through primary care services and to support the reorganisation and expansion of therapy services under the Progressing Disability Services Programme.
I am confident that the additional resources being invested into both primary care and disability services will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services to all children with disabilities, including those who may currently be on waiting lists to access therapy inputs.
The approved complement for the HSE Dublin South West Disability School Age Team has been increased to seven front line posts. While the two occupational therapist posts on the team are vacant, these are in the process of being recruited. The posts are expected to be filled by early next year.
In addition the HSE has informed me that the child referred to in the Deputy’s question is being provided with ten hours of home support by a Behaviour Support Specialist with the necessary input and oversight of Psychologists. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide support to the child and his parents and to develop a behaviour support plan. This arrangement has been in place since September 2015 and is being provided by a private provider contracted by the Executive.
12. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on waiting lists for outpatients and inpatients to see specialists, and the performance of accident and emergency departments in the past five years. [42982/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access for patients is a key performance objective for our health services. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, I put in place maximum permissible waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end.
The HSE was provided with additional funding of €51 million to ensure that these maximum waiting times would be achieved. In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maxima of 99.6% for in-patient/day cases and 92% for outpatients. The latest National Treatment Purchase Fund figures, published on Friday 6 November, continue to show improvements. There are reductions in the total in-patient /day case waiting list, and in the numbers of patients waiting between 15 – 18 months and waiting over 18 months. Outpatient improvements are also evident, with a reduction of almost 5,000 in the overall outpatient waiting lists and of over 3,000 in the number of people waiting between 15 – 18 months for appointments.
We are making progress in relation to emergency care and this is borne out by a reduction of 15%, or over 12,000 people on trolleys since 2011. We are starting to see results from the implementation of the Emergency Task Force Plan and the investment of a further €117 million provided to support the performance of the acute hospital system.
As mentioned previously, HSE figures are showing an 8% reduction in overcrowding this November compared to last. The INMO figures are also showing significant improvement in the second half of November. This contrasts with the position back in August when overcrowding was 40% up compared to August last year. Recent progress is definitely in the right direction and a big improvement on the start of the year when there were 500 to 600 people on trolleys. This Wednesday morning's TrolleyGar report showed 303 patients waiting on trolleys at 8am, with 117 of those patients waiting over 9 hours. The comparable figures for the same day last year were 409 patients on trolleys with 204 waiting over 9 hours, a drop of 26%.
There is much more to do before we will have achieved timely access for patients to emergency and elective care but we are moving in the right direction.
13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to improve access to, and the quality of, treatment for lymphoedema in the south-east region and across the country; when he expects the Health Service Executive report on this matter to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42968/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main treatments for lymphoedema involve lymph drainage, compression bandages and physiotherapy. While these treatments are provided by the HSE it is acknowledged that there is variation in the level of delivery across the country, including the South East region.
In June this year I met with representatives of Lymphoedema Ireland, the HSE and my Department to discuss the supply of, and reimbursement for, compression bandages, the development of an adequate model of care and access to services for lymphoedema patients. A subsequent meeting involving Lymphoedema Ireland and the HSE took place on 19 August.
The HSE has no plans to produce a report on lymphoedema services. However, in April this year the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme published a leaflet on prevention of clinical lymphoedema after cancer treatment. This leaflet focuses on the prevention, early detection and risk reduction of clinical lymphoedema after cancer treatment. It emphasises in particular the importance of early intervention in preventing the progression of lymphoedema in cancer patients. I am advised that new cases of lymphoedema linked to cancer are becoming less common due to improvements in cancer treatment.
The HSE is currently examining the issues raised by lymphoedema patients, in particular in relation to the provision of compression bandages. They are continuing to work closely with Lymphoedema Ireland and a follow-up meeting is planned for early next year.
14. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the 2016 Health Service Executive Service plan will put measures in place to improve the capacity for orthopaedic treatment in the north-east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42990/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe trauma orthopaedic service for the North East is provided in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The elective orthopaedics service for the North East is provided in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, with an outreach clinic in Cavan.
Our Lady's Hospital, Navan provides a regional orthopaedic service for the counties of Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. The service includes joint replacements, hip and knee revisions, arthroscopies, and orthopaedic related injections. This year the hospital has undertaken 1,700 orthopaedic procedures from the start of January to end November. The service currently provides for approximately 440 joint procedures per annum.
Any decisions in relation to increased funding for the delivery of additional orthopaedic services will be taken in the context of the extent of revenue funding available and will be determined as part of the 2016 Service Plan and operational plan processes currently underway. Hospitals have authority to implement efficiencies and service improvements which can facilitate the provision of increased services within existing funding levels.
15. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to facilitate the opening of a specialised heart failure unit in Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42970/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCork University Hospital provides a tertiary referral service for cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery to the southern region. CUH also provides extensive interventional cardiology services and a 24/7 Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory providing 24/7 PPCI. In late 2010, following investment of €85m, the Cardiac Renal Centre was opened at CUH. The development which spans some 13,000m2 over 6 floors, represented a very significant service development in the region.
At this stage I am not in a position to commit to funding a specialised Heart Failure Unit at the hospital. The priority to be afforded to the development of such a dedicated service must, in the first instance, be considered by the HSE, in the context of the development of the Strategic Plan for the South/South West Hospital Group.
16. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to ensure that young persons with mental health issues who are on counselling waiting lists will be seen as soon as possible, and that counselling staff will be supported in helping these persons. [42692/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of children on the waiting list for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has been a particular concern to me, and last March I asked the HSE to undertake a detailed validation of CAMHS waiting lists with the aim of minimising waiting times and, in particular, reducing the number of those waiting over 12 months. This exercise involved very intensive work on the part of the HSE Mental Health Division, including the introduction of a new Standard Operating Procedure for both in-patient and community CAMHS services. These measures must be seen in the context of ensuring the maximum benefit from the very substantial additional investment in CAMHS services under this Government.
In addition, the HSE has been working to enable young people to access more readily counselling services in the primary care setting.
I am pleased that very good progress has been made in addressing the waiting lists under these initiatives. The Waiting List is continuing to fall throughout 2015 as a result of this approach and, as of October 2015, the number of children waiting over 52 weeks has fallen by 50%. In the meantime, children with counselling needs of a more serious nature continue to be referred to CAMHS, as appropriate.
The HSE will continue to work to strengthen Primary Care counselling services by addressing the following key priorities:
- The filling of vacant Primary Care psychologist posts in targeted areas and the recruitment of Assistant Psychologists;
- The adoption of a stepped care model of counselling provision in child and adolescent primary care psychology services; and
- The implementation of the Access to Psychological Services Ireland (APSI) model in an incremental manner for children whereby children will be seen immediately and either offered a low intensity intervention or referred to a more appropriate service (e.g. secondary care mental health services).
In addition, the HSE will examine the feasibility of introducing a Counselling in Primary Care type model for children and adolescents.
17. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans for the expansion of the air ambulance service based at Custume Barracks in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42710/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a Government decision last July, the Emergency Aeromedical Support Service was established on a permanent basis. This very valuable service ensures that seriously ill or injured people in more remote areas, have timely access to appropriate high quality clinical care. The service is targeted mainly at western counties, where the road network may not allow for timely transport to hospital. Helicopter-based transport for those patients allows for greatly reduced transit times, particularly for time-critical transfers, such as STEMI heart attacks, stroke or major trauma. Indeed, approximately one third of the missions to date have been in response to STEMI heart attacks, allowing patients to be treated in a specialist setting within 90 minutes of diagnosis.
My Department is currently developing a Service Level Agreement with the Department of Defence, to set out the scope of support to be provided by the Air Corps. It is intended to keep the operation under review, to ensure a sustainable, long term service arrangement.
18. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will review and revise the rural practice allowance scheme for general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42993/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has recently reviewed its guidelines for dealing with applications for a Rural Practice Allowance from GPs applying for a GMS contract in remote rural areas. The purpose of the new guidance is to ensure consistency, transparency and fairness in decision-making in respect of the relevant discretionary provisions of the GMS contract pertaining to the granting or otherwise of the allowance to new applicants. The new guidance does not, however, affect existing holders of the allowance.
The HSE, Department of Health and Irish Medical Organisation are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the GMS and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs. Among the many topics being looked at by this review process is the issue of supports for General Practice in remote rural areas, including the Rural Practice Allowance.
19. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the level of mental health provision in County Wexford is adequate to meet the needs of the local population; the measures he is taking to resolve the ongoing staffing issues in the county and to attract and maintain quality expertise there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42969/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position in regard to mental health posts nationally was outlined in my Parliamentary Question reply of 22 October last to the Deputy.
The development of the mental health service in Co. Wexford has been underpinned by an overall budget allocation for Waterford/Wexford Mental Health services, which was increased by over €2m in 2015, from an allocation of just over €39m in 2014 to slightly over €41m for this year. The Waterford/Wexford region has received a total of 61 new development posts for mental health since 2012. Many of these posts have been filled, or are at various stages of recruitment. However, there are a number of recruitment challenges in filling some posts, for reasons outlined in my recent reply, including issues around the recruitment of nurses and consultants.
Difficulties in relation to the recruitment of mental health staff, wherever they occur nationally, do not relate primarily to lack of funding. In this context, the HSE reiterate that the number of staff in this service can fluctuate due to various reasons such as retirement or staff moving to take up employment elsewhere. The Executive has sought to address underlying recruitment issues largely relating to Nursing and Medical staff. It promotes an integrated approach to service delivery across the catchment area, with access barriers removed, and is committed to a quality and safe mental health service in all respects. The position should also be facilitated by the easing of the national moratorium on recruitment,and through targeted campaigns by the Executive.
Bearing in mind all the circumstances, including the Government's additional budgetary allocation for mental health in 2016, I am satisfied that HSE remains committed to providing the best possible mental health care in County Wexford.
20. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the situation in Tallaght Hospital in Dublin 24 for staff who engage in whistle-blowing, as in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42939/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe health service is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of care for patients and providing employees with a safe system of work to enable them to deliver a high quality service. The health service is also committed to promoting a culture of openness and accountability so that employees can report any concerns they may have in relation to their workplace. Section 103 of the Health Act 2007, which came into operation on 1 March 2009, provides for the making of protected disclosures by health service employees.
Furthermore, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, which became operational on 15 July 2014, provides a robust statutory framework within which workers can raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing that has come to their attention in the workplace in the knowledge that they can avail of significant employment and other protections if they are penalised by their employer or suffer any detriment for doing so.
Tallaght Hospital has advised that, in any HR scenario, the Hospital has a responsibility to ensure the rights of all parties are upheld and that issues are addressed through due process and in accordance with the HR framework in place within the hospital. It would be inappropriate to comment further on individual hospital HR matters.
Separately to this any patient complaint must be investigated. It is my firm view that patient confidentiality must not be breached or patient information used without permission.
21. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the orthodontics budget directly to Letterkenny University Hospital instead of to Sligo University Hospital, and if he will clarify why he is allowing a situation to arise at Letterkenny University Hospital where the necessary infrastructure and staff are not being provided to the orthodontic department there, and as a result clinics are being cancelled on a continuous basis and waiting lists are growing; why there is no radiography equipment available in-house for the orthodontic department at the hospital; when a full complement of six dental nurses will be made available to the orthodontics department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42719/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOrthodontics services provided by the HSE in the North West are based at Sligo University Hospital. A satellite service is provided to Letterkenny University Hospital. The unit in Letterkenny University Hospital has 3 Orthodontic Specialists and one Orthodontic Specialist who visits from Sligo once a week. This service is led by a Consultant Orthodontist based in Sligo who also visits Letterkenny one day per week. The HSE has no plans to change the funding structure of this service.
Oral/Dental Radiology is currently provided off-site due to a flooding incident in July 2013. Plans are at an advanced stage to begin the process of refurbishing the Radiology Department at Letterkenny University Hospital and returning the different elements of the service to their original location. Works are due to start in mid-2016, with refurbishment works estimated to last for a period of 12 months. There are currently four funded Dental Nurse posts in the Unit in Letterkenny University Hospital and any further staff appointments must be accommodated within the available budget for the service.
22. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if a review has been carried out into the increase in the application of electro-convulsive therapy to patients against their will; the action that is being taken in terms of legislation, policy and medical practice guidelines to address this unacceptable practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42989/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Mental Health Act 2001, the written consent of a patient is required where a programme of Electro-convulsive Therapy (ECT) is to be administered. However where an involuntary patient is 'unable' or 'unwilling' to give consent, the programme may be administered if it has been approved by the Consultant Psychiatrist responsible for the care and treatment of the patient and also authorised by another Consultant Psychiatrist.
The Mental Health Commission recently published 'The Administration of Electro-convulsive Therapy in Approved Centres Activity Report 2013'. The Commission noted that in 85.5 per cent of cases, ECT was administered with the consent of the person. The Commission also noted that there was an increase in the number of treatments that were administered without consent. However when the figures are examined further there was only one single case where both Consultant Psychiatrists agreed that ECT should be administered on the basis of the 'unwilling' criterion and the overwhelming majority were in the 'unable' to consent category. The Mental Health Commission publishes rules regarding the administration of ECT to involuntary patients and adherence to these rules is monitored on an annual basis by the Inspector of Mental Health Services.
The Deputy will be aware that ECT is an individual-specific treatment prescribed by the treating consultant based on the assessment of the patient concerned. Within the profession, it is acknowledged that there exists a cohort of people with severe treatment-resistant depression for whom ECT appears to be the only treatment that offers any real possibility of improvement. This is also supported by NICE Guidelines in the UK and the World Health Organisation. It is also noted from the recent Mental Health Commission report that in over 90% of cases, the Consultant Psychiatrist reported that treatment of ECT resulted in the improvement of the health of the person concerned.
I fully agree that where a person with capacity refuses ECT, this should be respected. To this end, I have prioritised a change to the existing legislation to remove the 'unwilling' criterion from Section 59 of the Mental Health Act 2001. I will shortly bring legislation before the House to bring about this priority amendment. I have recently written to the Deputy with my proposals on amending the legislation and I appreciate the support that the Deputy has indicated he will give to this short Bill. Subject to obtaining and securing adequate Dáil time, I hope to make this amendment before the end of the year.
23. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to improve and develop services at Naas General Hospital in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43007/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital investment in Naas Hospital in recent years has provided a new Central Sterile Stores Department, Minor Injuries Unit, Acute Medical Assessment Unit and an MRI service. The HSE is currently developing a substantial infrastructure project at Naas General Hospital which includes a new endoscopy unit. This project also incorporates the development of the Physical Medicine (Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy) Departments and Oncology Departments. Other recent developments include the refurbishment of a ward to protect Day Services which will result in 11 additional beds being available to accommodate overcrowding in the Emergency Department.
The hospital is engaged with the HSE in the roll out of the National Clinical Programmes, including the Acute Medicine Programme, Emergency Medicine Programme and the Stroke Programme. A Stroke Unit has been established with 24/7 service for stroke thrombolysis treatment. The Productive Ward and The Productive Operating Theatre initiatives have been introduced this year in line with the National Surgical Clinical Programme.
The hospital provides a general acute hospital service as part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. A structured integration of Naas into the Group is underway which will provide further support and opportunities for the hospital in delivering high-quality safe patient care.
24. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health for an update on inpatient and day case waiting times at Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43012/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUniversity Hospital Waterford (UHW) achieved the requirement to reduce the Inpatient / Daycase waiting times to 18 months by the end of June 2015. This reduced, by 109, the number of patients waiting longer than 18 months for procedures. UHW has plans in place to reduce the longest waiting times to 15 months by the end of December 2015 which will address Ophthalmology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Pain and General Surgery waiting lists.
As of 27 November 2015, there were 4,621 adults and 386 children on the UHW inpatient/daycase waiting list. Of these, 454 patients are on the waiting list longer than 15 months. The largest number of patients are on the ophthalmology inpatient/daycase lists which mainly consists of patients waiting for cataract surgery. The plan currently being implemented for these ophthalmic patients includes:
- the treatment of patients in routinely available hospital and theatre sessions;
- the provision of additional weekend sessions between now and the end of the year;
- the outsourcing of the balance of patients in order to reduce waiting times to a maximum of 15 months by the end of the year.
The hospital is also in the process of reopening theatre sessions that were closed for cost containment purposes in 2011/2012.
25. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on nurses in emergency departments voting by 92% in favour of strike action as a stand against continuing overcrowding, inadequate staffing and the ongoing compromising of patient care. [42981/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe INMO ballot result by nurses working in Emergency Departments is disappointing especially given that actions proposed in the Emergency Department Task Force Plan are beginning to take effect. The ED Taskforce Implementation Group which is co-chaired by the Director General of the HSE and Liam Doran (INMO General Secretary) has implemented a range of measures and others are in train.
We have a plan to address Emergency Department overcrowding which was developed by the ED Taskforce which is currently being implemented and is beginning to achieve results. Additional funding of €18 million has been provided to support the acute hospital system over the winter period by providing additional bed capacity and other initiatives to support access to care. A total of 129 hospital beds which had been closed for refurbishment or for infection control purposes during 2015 are to be re-opened and 91 of these hospital beds have already been re-opened. A further 301 beds are being added to support the acute hospital system over the winter period across various locations, including Limerick, Drogheda, Galway and North Dublin, and 107 of these additional beds have also been opened.
Staffing levels are being addressed. The number of consultants has grown significantly in recent years to 2,719 WTE. This includes an additional 320 in the last five years, notwithstanding the economic crisis. The number of nurses employed has increased by over 759 in the past 12 months and there are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. These include offering full time permanent contracts to the 2015 degree programme graduates, and an international recruitment campaign.
Industrial action will not resolve the current difficulties and the focus must remain on implementing the Task Force plan.
26. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on a commitment to fund the refurbishment of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon and St. Patrick's Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42711/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced an additional €300m capital allocation for refurbishment or replacement of social care facilities for older persons’ units and disability units to allow such facilities to comply with relevant National Standards by 2021. The HSE is formulating its plans for the application of this funding, and once these plans are ready they will be discussed in detail with the Health Information and Quality Authority. In advance of that process it is not possible to comment on any individual facility.
27. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if there are additional provisions being made for support services for persons experiencing drug and alcohol issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42691/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy in the area of drugs is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The overall objective of the Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a partnership approach involving all the key stakeholders.
The provision of appropriate and timely treatment services is a key goal of the Strategy. Recent figures indicate that the majority of clients over the age of 18 access drug treatment within one calendar month of assessment. There is much wider coverage of needle exchange services outside the Dublin area, with more than 130 community pharmacies recruited and trained. In a major effort to reduce drug-related deaths, the HSE is undertaking a pilot project to make the life-saving drug naloxone more widely available to treat overdoses. Naloxone reverses the effects of drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone if someone overdoses.
The National Drugs Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (NDRIC), chaired by the HSE, is working to roll out on a national basis the National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework, which promotes interagency working and care planning for service users. The HSE Service Plan for 2015 includes an additional €2.1m for addiction services targeting vulnerable problem drug users. These measures include enhanced provision for residential detoxification and rehabilitation facilities.
The HSE is committed to implementing the actions of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. It aims to ensure that addiction services operate within the person-centred care planning process of the National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework.
As Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, I will be leading the development of a new drugs Strategy for the period after 2016 to meet the challenges into the future. My intention over the coming months is to lay the groundwork for a concise and focused policy, placing a clear emphasis on the practical implementation of actions. An examination of the approach to drugs policy and practice in other jurisdictions will also help to identify any additional evidence-based approaches which might be considered in an Irish context.
28. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the 2016 Health Service Executive service plan will provide for a 24/7 cardiac unit in Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42987/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly with regard to the information sought; however you may wish to note that 24/7 consultant medical cover for cardiac patients is provided at University Hospital Waterford.
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.
29. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Health for an overview on surgical waiting lists at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogehda, County Louth, and at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, County Meath, as of 1 November 2015, 1 November 2014, 1 November 2012 and 1 November 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42715/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for the collection, collation and publication of Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists. Waiting list information is published on the NTPF website at the end of each month. The information is presented in different report formats, i.e. by National/Trend, by Hospital/Group, and by Specialty.
The most recent Inpatient/Day Case waiting list data for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda & Our Lady's Hospital Navan, for end of October 2015, may be found at http://www.ntpf.ie/home/pdf//2015/10/hospitals/in-patient/0500.pdf and the most recent Outpatient Waiting List may be found at http://www.ntpf.ie/home/pdf//2015/10/hospitals/out-patient/0500.pdf.
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.
30. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of additional medical and nursing staff that have been recruited at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, County Laois, in 2015 to date; the plans for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43005/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant developments have been undertaken to strengthen the governance and management model at the Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise. This includes the appointment of a General Manager and Director of Nursing and a clear governance relationship within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
A key focus for the management team is on the ongoing recruitment and retention of staff for the hospital. This is being undertaken on an ongoing basis to fill vacant positions as they arise. In nursing the hospital has recruited:
- 16 Midwifery staff,
- 3 Emergency Department Nursing Staff,
- an advanced Nurse Practitioner, and
- Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care and Respiratory Care.
Key Clinical appointments include additional consultant posts in Anaesthetics, Surgery, physician with interest in Endocrinology, and a Paediatrician. The Hospital has also recruited an additional Occupational Therapist and Pharmacist.
A workforce plan is currently being developed to identify staffing requirements for 2016.
31. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the lengthy delays for children accessing disability assessments and subsequent services in the Cork north Lee area; the efforts he is making to reduce assessment and service waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42971/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with special needs, including early intervention services, and to improving access by these children to assessments and therapeutic interventions insofar as possible within available resources. Health related therapy supports and interventions for children, such as speech and language therapy, can be accessed through both the HSE’s primary care services and its disability services, depending on the level of need. Significant additional resources have been invested in recent years in the State’s primary care and disability services with a view to enhancing therapy service provision.
Additional funding of €20m was allocated in 2013 to strengthen primary care services and to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line posts, including over 260 additional posts for Primary Care Teams. In addition, the HSE has introduced a number of initiatives specifically in relation to speech and language therapy services that are aimed at improving access to these services, such as therapists increasing clinic based work and providing family centred interventions in a group, as opposed to a one-to-one setting, whenever possible.
The HSE is also 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, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties. An additional €4 million was allocated in 2014 to assist in implementing the Progressing Disability Services Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. Further investment of €4 million (equating to €6 million in a full year) has been provided 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. Within this context, funding of €8 million is being provided in 2016 to expand the provision of speech and language therapy through primary care services and to support the reorganisation and expansion of speech and language and other therapies under the Progressing Disability Services Programme. Full implementation of the Progressing Disability Services Programme is expected before the end of 2016.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in respect of the specific operational matters 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.
