Written Answers Nos. 65-75
65. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if the 2016 Health Service Executive service plan will expand the services available at Ennis general hospital in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42995/15]
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.
66. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the next Health Service Executive service plan will provide adequate supports for much needed disability services in the Carlow and Kilkenny area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42996/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to protecting frontline health and personal social services needs for people with disabilities. The 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.
In 2015, the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2014, by providing the following specialist disability services:
- residential services to around 9,000 people with a disability;
- day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- respite residential support of 190,000 overnights for people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- 3.9 million hours of Personal Assistant/Home Support Hours.
Additional funding of €6 million has been allocated in the HSE National Service Plan in 2015 to provide day places for an estimated 1,400 young people finishing school and rehabilitative (life-skills) training. €4 million in additional funding has also been allocated in the Plan to deliver an increase in the services for children with disabilities and reduce waiting lists under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme.
The financial position in relation to the HSE National Service Plan for 2016 has yet to be finalised. It is not possible at this time to give an indication of the funding to be allocated by the HSE through the Disability Services Programme in the Carlow and Kilkenny areas.
67. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the extent of the current address of the individual needs of those persons who are being allocated a wheelchair; if it is intended to legislate for this area, in order to ensure that every consideration is given to the comfort of the user and the appropriateness of each wheelchair issued, given the ambition, hopes and interests of each individual and their personal circumstances and needs; if any intended legislation will provide for a register of wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42905/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides assistive devices to people with disabilities, who are medical card or Long Term Illness card holders, to enable them to maintain their health, to optimise functional ability and to facilitate care in the primary care setting. Other people with disabilities can be assessed and apply for assistance towards the provision of a recommended piece of equipment. Assessments are carried out by a range of multidisciplinary staff; for example, assessments for mobility aids would generally be carried out by an occupational therapist and/or a physiotherapist.
Provision of any equipment is based on detailed information received and with the assistance of prioritisation guidelines to ensure that people with the most urgent assessed needs have their needs met first, within a set monthly budget. All professionals providing community-based services, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and public health nurses, will be aware of the prioritisation criteria and will provide any necessary and urgent items of equipment following appropriate assessment as soon as possible. However, the Health Service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it, and this is a major challenge for all stakeholders, including the HSE, voluntary service providers, services users and their families.
In relation to mobility equipment, occupational therapists carry out assessments and review applications in light of the individual’s current and ongoing needs, with the priority being to provide functional mobility for indoor and short-distance outdoor use. Therefore the equipment recommended by the clinician will be appropriate to the needs of the individual. The provision of wheelchairs is not a demand-led service, and requests are prioritised according to need and according to resources. A client is prioritised according to clinical need. If the referral is for essential equipment, then it is deemed a P1 (high priority). If resources are available, equipment is sanctioned based on highest assessed prioritisation. Wheelchairs are issued based on client need and functional abilities rather than any specific waiting time.
The HSE has no plans at present to develop a register of wheelchair users. However, the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database (NPSDD), established in 2002, holds information to assist the Department of Health and the HSE in providing appropriate services designed to meet the changing needs of people with a physical or sensory disability. The NPSDD contains over 24,000 records of individuals using or requiring physical or sensory disability services. Information is collected on a voluntary basis and records the number of assisted mobility aids, including wheelchairs, used by people who are registered on the database.
68. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken to attract a greater number of general practitioners to rural counties like Donegal, and how he will retain medical staff in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42929/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 and the retention of GPs in such areas.
With regard to the retention of medical staff in the Donegal area, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter. 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.
69. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if the next Health Service Executive service plan will provide for a dementia case worker in the Kildare local health office; the number of dementia-related intensive home care packages being provided in County Kildare in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43006/15]
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.
70. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if he will address the failure to use the operating theatres in Ennis general hospital in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42994/15]
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.
71. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the plans in place for the future of the emergency department at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43004/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dublin Midlands Hospital Group is committed to securing and further developing the role of Portlaoise Hospital as a constituent hospital within the group. Substantial investment and enhancement measures have been put in place to ensure a safe level of services at the hospital. Some of its services are receiving significant investment. These include maternity, paediatric emergency triage, medicine, day surgery, in addition to a new acute medical admissions unit and day ward space which is under construction.
Other improvements at the Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise include a number of additional consultants posts (anaesthetics, surgery, emergency medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics, physicians) and 16 midwifery posts.
The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group is currently engaged in an internal validation process of a draft plan for the hospital which will inform any changes that will happen at Portlaoise Hospital. Following approval in principle of the draft plan by the HSE Acute Services and the Department of Health, a comprehensive communication, stakeholder engagement and implementation planning process will commence.
I wish to assure the Deputy that any change to services at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, including ED services, will be undertaken in a planned and orderly manner with a view to maximising patient safety, sustainable service and improving patient outcomes. This will take account of existing patient numbers, demands in other hospitals and the need to develop services at Portlaoise in the context of overall service reorganisation within the Hospital Group.
72. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the proposals in place to tackle the increase in the number of persons on trolleys in St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43013/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraED overcrowding is a priority issue for the Government. Last December I convened the ED Taskforce to assist in dealing with the challenges presented by ED overcrowding. Significant progress has been made to date on the ED Taskforce implementation. Additional funding of €117 million has been provided in 2015 to relieve pressures on acute hospitals.
In preparation for the 2015/16 winter period, hospital groups have provided comprehensive winter resilience plans to the HSE. This approach is intended both to avoid unnecessary admissions to acute hospitals and to expedite discharges from hospital efficiently. Following discussions between the Director General of the HSE and myself on how best to address ED congestion with all of the available resources, a National Directive has been issued under the terms of the Accountability Framework which sets out the mandatory minimum response required. The purpose of the Directive is to ensure that ED congestion is recognised as a key issue for the whole hospital, primary and community care services and that the response to such congestion is consistent across all acute hospitals.
In relation to the number of persons on trolleys at St Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, 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.
73. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health to ensure that there is one fully operational primary care team for every 1,500 children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42679/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Primary Care Strategy 2001 outlined that Primary Care Teams (PCTs) would be established, with each covering a population of between 3,000 and 7,000 people. Initially, the HSE established 530 PCTs nationally based on an extensive mapping exercise involving a whole population approach. Since then, various exercises were carried out in relation to re-mapping, efficiency evaluation, resource reallocation and engagement with stakeholders, resulting in the number of PCTs being reduced to 485. Almost 600 additional staff were recruited and assigned to the PCTs. There are currently over 3,000 staff members reconfigured across the 485 PCTs.
A range of services for children are delivered by the PCT members in a coordinated way and in keeping with relevant policies and government priorities.
As set out in the Primary Care Strategy, PCTs have been designed and planned on a whole population basis. There are no plans to organise PCTs on the basis of age categories.
74. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he is investigating the possibility of using neurofeedback training for children who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behavioural problems and other related disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42693/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is as service matter 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.
75. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Health further to a Dáil debate (details supplied) on 12 November 2015, if he will update Dáil Éireann on his ambitions to provide equal access to pre-school children with disabilities; his efforts to ensure that 15 children in County Meath will be able to avail of the free early childhood care and education scheme year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42501/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. While certain flexibilities had been built into the ECCE Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs was conscious for some time of the difficulty experienced by some children with a disability in accessing and benefitting fully from this Programme. With this in mind, he requested that an Inter-Departmental Group, led by his Department, be established with a brief to bring forward recommendations to address this issue. Representatives of my Department and the Health Service Executive participated on this Group.
The Group has concluded its work and its recommendations have been fully accepted by Government. As part of Budget 2016, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced the necessary funding to implement the new model of supports for children with a disability with costs for these supports estimated to be €15 million in 2016 and full year costs estimated to be €33 million from 2017 onwards.
The model of supports was launched on 18 November last by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with my full support and the support of my Government colleague Jan O'Sullivan T.D., Minister for Education and Skills. I believe that this Group has identified a practical, workable model for meeting the needs of children with a disability and the allocation of funding is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to supporting such children. The new model will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention.
Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Building on additional investment in recent years, funding of €8 million is being provided to the HSE in 2016 to expand, inter alia, the provision of speech and language therapy in primary care and the further development of early intervention therapy services under the Progressing Disabilities Programme. It is anticipated that the development of early intervention services in particular, as part of the roll-out of the new inclusive pre-school supports model, will help children with a disability to access mainstream pre-school settings.
It should be noted that while the HSE has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to participate in the ECCE Programme, it has, to date, worked at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability service providers to address individual needs as they arise. This has been done, for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited cases at local level, disability services have also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing assistant supports where possible and where resources are available.
My Department has asked the HSE for a report on the specific matter raised by the Deputy pertaining to pre-school children in County Meath. I will be in further communication with the Deputy in due course.
