Written Answers Nos. 126-135
126. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he has withdrawn funding for the new rehabilitation unit at Roscommon Hospital which was intended to be a ten-bed unit operating as a satellite centre for the national rehabilitation unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15092/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRoscommon University Hospital is a Model 2 hospital within the Saolta University Healthcare Group, and provides the majority of hospital activity, including extended day surgery, selected acute medicine, local injuries, a large range of diagnostic services (including endoscopy, laboratory medicine, point of care testing and radiology) specialist rehabilitation medicine and palliative care. The Hospital has 86 in-patient beds (including the Acute Mental Health Unit).
The future growth in healthcare will be in the areas of ambulatory care (including chronic disease management and day surgery), diagnostics and rehabilitation and model 2 hospitals will specialise in providing these services. As such, Roscommon University Hospital’s activity levels will increase in the coming years to meet the changing health requirements of the population. Roscommon University Hospital plays an essential role as a model 2 can as part of the Saolta Healthcare Group of hospitals.
The Specialist Rehabilitation Unit planned for Roscommon Hospital was included in the HSE Capital programme, 2015, to commence on completion of the Endoscopy Unit also planned for Roscommon Hospital. The Endoscopy Unit opened on a phased basis on 1 June 2016.
Approval was granted to progress planning of the rehabilitation unit in 2015. The total planned budget for the project was €7.87 million. The Saolta Hospital Group has advised that the spatial plan for Roscommon Hospital was approved in the first quarter of 2016. Assembly of a project team, with involvement of hospital and estates personnel, is underway currently.
My Department has asked for an update on the project.
127. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the funding services (details supplied) in County Carlow received, given that it is the third highest in national area, by residence, of suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15098/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
128. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic operations performed on persons from County Kerry in 2015; the number carried out on persons from County Cork in 2015 at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15099/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation 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.
129. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to urgently examine and to put in place adequate resources to improve the long orthopaedic waiting times, currently standing at 12 to 18 months for urgent cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access for patients is a key objective for our health services. The 2016 HSE Service Plan undertakes to maintain 2015 levels of service in respect of scheduled care and to continue to address waiting times as part of the regular performance and accountability process. The HSE seeks to ensure that those whose clinical needs are most urgent are prioritised accordingly, whilst managing the needs of those who have been waiting longest for routine treatment in chronological order. As of 31 May 2016 there were 10,634 people on the waiting list for Orthopaedic procedures. 38.5% (4094) are waiting less than 3 months. 62.1% (6605) people are waiting less than 6 months. 5.3% (561) are waiting in excess of 15 months which is the maximum waiting time determined by the previous Minister for Health.
A Scheduled Care Governance Group has been established in the HSE to coordinate key initiatives to reduce waiting times and the number of patients awaiting treatment. Actions overseen by this Group include driving greater adherence to chronological scheduling, relocation of low complexity surgical procedures to smaller hospitals and administrative and clinical validation procedures to ensure that patients are available for treatment.
Each Hospital Group has been mandated to designate a key person to lead and support waiting list management improvements, so as to advance towards compliance with maximum waiting times.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide €15m to the NTPF in 2017 to address waiting lists and my Department will engage with the NTPF and the HSE regarding the development of this initiative.
In relation to the specific question raised, 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.
130. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of nursing home beds to 3,800; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15106/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of home help and home care packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15107/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
This Government is committed to enhancing the quality of life of older people, supporting them in their homes and communities and, when required, providing access to quality long-term residential care.
In 2016, the Health Service Executive has a core provision of €324m for home support. An additional €20m has also been allocated to maintain the increase in service levels during 2015 to 10.4 million home help hours, 15,450 home care packages, 130 intensive home care packages and 313 transitional care beds. In addition a further 60 clients with dementia will be supported with co-funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies under the national dementia strategy. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to increasing funding for home care packages and home help year on year. I am pleased to say that yesterday’s announcement, by my colleague the Minister for Health, of the Government's approval of a revised health estimate includes funding for the winter initiative to address overcrowding in Emergency Departments and increased resources for home care.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, with a net budget of €940m is expected to support 23,450 clients on average per week, representing an increase of 649 clients per week on the 2015 outturn. The Programme for Government has committed to increased resources to maintain waiting times for funding approval at current levels.
132. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of recruiting 621 additional midwives; the cost of recruiting 239 obstetricians and gynaecologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15108/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly 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.
133. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on primary care facilities in the constituency of Dublin South West, including those at pre-planning stage or those which have applied for planning permission; to provide details of existing primary care centres in the constituency and future plans. [15110/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has been requested to reply directly to you on this matter as it is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
134. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of reducing prescription charges by 50 cent, by prescription; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15116/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of lowering the drug payment scheme monthly limit from €144 to €132; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15117/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.
I intend to consider these matters in the context of the commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government to significantly reduce the cost of medicines, having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures. Detailed costings will be required as part of this process, in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore these matters have 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 these matters with them.
