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Tuesday, 18 Oct 2016

Written Answers Nos. 1-35

Palliative Care Services Provision

Ceisteanna (23)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

23. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health when funding will be allocated for a full time palliative care social worker in Longford-Westmeath, considering the willingness of a hospice (details supplied) to fund the position for three years and the acknowledgement of the HSE in 2012 that this position is essential and that it would be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30300/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is the Government's intention that people will be provided with the type of palliative care services that they need regardless of what diagnosis they have, how old they are or whether they die in a hospice, an acute hospital, a nursing home or at home.

Significant progress has been made in recent years in improving access to specialist palliative care services. Several new hospices have opened and community specialist palliative care home care teams have been boosted. The HSE is working with local hospice groups in several locations, including the Midlands, to ensure equity of access to specialist palliative care across the country.

I am pleased to confirm that the HSE has given approval to fill the palliative care social worker post in Longford/Westmeath for a period of three years. North Westmeath Hospice has agreed to fund the post for the three year period. The post is currently with the HSE's National Recruitment Service and is expected to be filled early in 2017.

I am informed by the HSE that the Chief Officer of CHO 8 has had a series of positive engagements with the Hospice organisations across the Midlands counties and has made progress on priorities such as the filling of social work and nursing posts in the specialist palliative care home care teams. A joint working group has also been established by CHO 8, the acute hospitals in the Midlands, and the national lead for palliative care to address the unique challenges the Midlands region faces in seeking to develop specialist palliative care. This joint working group will focus on developing staffing and capital resources in the Midlands in the coming years.

Questions Nos. 24 to 28, inclusive, answered orally.

Mental Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (29)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

29. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the targets in place for child and adolescent mental health service teams staff levels in community healthcare organisation, CHO, Area 3 in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30672/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

There are 67 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Teams and extra services for special service needs have also been introduced in recent years. The HSE is committed to addressing all Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service needs, including the 16-18 age cohort. Using additional funding provided in recent years, the staffing and range of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service teams has been significantly expanded. This will continue in 2017 using the additional funding for mental health services recently announced in Budget 2017.

Community Healthcare Organisation Area 3 covers Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and East Limerick. The most recent survey of the staffing of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services carried out in October 2016 recorded staffing at 53.7 whole time equivalents. A further 13 additional staff are currently being recruited. A Vision for Change recommended that there should be a total of 6 Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams in the Mid West area and I can confirm that there are 6 teams in the Mid West Mental Health Services.

The question of enhancing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, including teams in the Mid West, will be further examined in the context of finalisation of the Health Service Executive Service Plan for 2017 in the coming weeks.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Ceisteanna (30)

John Curran

Ceist:

30. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the lack of provision of primary care centres in Clondalkin and Lucan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30293/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a decisive shift towards primary care to provide better care close to home for communities around the country. Primary Care Centres are an integral part of this because of the range of multi-disciplinary services they can provide and the role they can play in keeping people who don't need to be in an acute setting out of hospital.

All potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered or provided or available, subject to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering healthcare services with HSE staff. The operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing and these factors are outside the control of the Health Service Executive.

I can advise the Deputy that in Clondalkin, Primary Care Services are provided from three Health Centres - Boot Road, Rowlagh and Deansrath. In Lucan, Primary Care Services are provided from two Health Centres - Lucan Village and Rosse Court.

The planning permission for the proposed Primary Care Centre in Lucan, which was to be delivered by the operational lease mechanism, was rejected on appeal by An Bord Pleanála. As a result, the HSE has withdrawn the agreement for lease and is currently investigating alternative options for the provision of a Centre in the area.

The HSE’s Boot Road Health Centre site in Clondalkin was identified for redevelopment as a Primary Care Centre. However, following planning process delays and the preparation of detail design and tender documents, the developer, who also owns an adjoining site, was unable to source the required finance to develop the entire site, as intended. A number of interested parties have contacted the HSE in relation to the development of a Centre for Clondalkin and I am confident that agreement to provide a new Primary Care Centre in the area will be achieved.

The HSE will ensure that the services currently being delivered from the Boot Road Health Centre will continue to be delivered in the area until a new Primary Care Centre is developed.

The planned Primary Care Centre for Rowlagh and North Clondalkin, which is to be provided by direct build, is subject to planning permission being granted for the development.

Mental Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (31)

James Browne

Ceist:

31. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the targets in place for community psychiatry of old age service teams staff levels in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30651/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The most recent survey of the staffing of Psychiatry of Old Age Services carried out in December 2015 recorded staffing at over 300 whole time equivalents. This does not include a further 30 additional Psychiatry of Old Age posts approved through Programme for Government Funding, and which are currently being recruited.

A Vision for Change recommended that there should be a total of 552 staff. The additional posts currently being recruited will both be used to add to existing teams and in some cases provide for development of new teams.

The HSE will shortly submit its National Service Plan for 2017 which will utilise the total funding available, and in particular the increased funding provided by Government, to further implement A Vision for Change.

Hospitals Building Programme

Ceisteanna (32)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

32. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health regarding the planning for a new hospital for County Galway on the grounds of Merlin Park, in view of the fact that the capacity of the existing hospital is number one on the risk register and that the clinical director and the chief executive officer of the hospital and the management of a group (details supplied) have all confirmed that a new hospital is necessary, if this was discussed or raised at his recent meeting with the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30394/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Galway University Hospitals comprise of University Hospital Galway (UHG), a model 4 tertiary referral centre, and Merlin Park Hospital, a model 2 hospital, both located in the city of Galway.

A number of significant projects have been completed in UHG in recent years. These include the Clinical Research Facility, the upgrade of the Maternity Unit and the CF out-patient department.

In addition, major developments currently underway include construction of a 75 bedded Clinical Ward Block and an Adult Acute Mental Health Unit. Planned developments include a Radiation Oncology Project, new Blood and Tissue laboratory facilities and replacement of the current cardiac catheterisation laboratories, CT Radiotherapy and Radiology facilities.

Further, the Programme for a Partnership Government states that a new ED for UHG is currently being designed with a view to funding for construction being provided as part of the 2017 Capital Plan Review. The Saolta University Healthcare Group has advised that a cost benefit analysis in respect of this project is being finalised.

Given previous and on-going investment at the University Hospital Galway site, it would not represent value for money to develop a new hospital in the region. Accordingly, further investment in particular hospitals will be considered based upon the strategic priorities put forward by the Saolta University Healthcare Group and the competing demands on the Acute Hospitals Infrastructure Programme nationally.

The establishment of hospital groups provides opportunities to ensure that the most effective delivery of services is achieved across both the UHG and Merlin Park Hospital sites and that planning across sites ensures they are developed in line with the priority needs of the region.

Discussions at my recent meeting focused in particular on the immediate priorities of a new Emergency Department and the 75 bed clinical ward block.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Ceisteanna (33)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

33. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if resources for the nursing home support scheme will be increased in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

Funding of €940 million will be available for the Scheme in 2017. This is an increase of €18.5 million on the projected outturn for 2016. In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government the funding provided will mean that approved applicants will have access to funding within approximately 4 weeks. The Scheme will support an additional 500 people in 2017 increasing the number supported to just over 23,600 by the end of the year.

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Ceisteanna (34)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

34. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health his views on the September 2016 figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund which showed that 2,964 persons are waiting more than 12 months for an outpatient appointment in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30666/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A key challenge for our health system is to ensure that patients have timely access to health services, in light of increasing demand. This Government is committed to a sustained focus on improving wait times, particularly for those waiting longest.

The key issue is how long they wait. According to the September waiting list data published by the NTPF, 78% of patients on the outpatient waiting list for Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore are waiting less than 12 months for their appointment and nearly 89% are waiting less than 15 months.

My Department works closely with the HSE and the NTPF to implement measures to reduce waiting times. At my request, in August, the HSE developed an action plan to reduce, by year end, the number of patients currently waiting 18 months or more for an impatient / daycase procedure.

Also the NTPF is currently implementing an Endoscopy Initiative which aims to ensure that, by year end, no patient will be waiting 12 months or more for an endoscopy procedure.

Furthermore, €7m of the Winter Initiative funding is to be utilised to fund a targeted waiting list programme to provide treatment for patients waiting for orthopaedic, spinal and scoliosis procedures.

Finally, the Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest-waiting patients. €20m is being allocated to the NTPF, rising to €55m in 2018. Planning of this initiative is at an advanced stage by the NTPF, my Department and the HSE.

General Practitioner Contracts

Ceisteanna (35)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

35. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health the status of the negotiations on general practitioner contracts; if there is a plan for the key components; the details of same; and the deadline for the completion of the contract negotiations. [30688/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision of general practitioner services will be a key element in facilitating this process.

Engagements to date have seen the Department of Health, HSE and IMO agree a number of service developments including: the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes; an enhanced support framework for rural GPs, which is expected to double the number of qualifying GPs to about 330; and a revised list of special items of service under the contract to encourage the provision of more services in the primary care setting. These measures, combined with the under-6s and over-70s initiatives, will increase the financial support for general practice.

Preparations for the next phase of discussions on a new GP contract are under way. These discussions will address a wide range of issues, including the role of GPs in delivering chronic care within the community. I expect that further engagement with GP representative bodies on these matters will take place this year. As with any negotiation-type process, the engagement may take some time. While I am of course anxious to see good progress made, it is not my intention to set a deadline for completion of discussions.

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