Written Answers Nos. 245-259
245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be provided with a date for cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34222/16]
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 HSE, 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.
246. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34229/16]
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a person (details supplied) will receive treatment for a thyroid condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34264/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is insufficient information provided in the question and details supplied to establish the nature of the appointment or service the Deputy is referring to.
If the Deputy would like to provide additional information into the nature of the service the individual in question is trying to access, I would be happy to refer the query to the HSE for examination.
248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 29 September 2016, the means whereby a person (details supplied) can avail of psychology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34267/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
249. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 300 of 2 November 2016, the progress of the interdepartmental agency working group established to progress the recommendations contained in the review of the nursing homes support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34288/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group which was set up to progress the recommendations contained in the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme has held five meetings to date, with a sixth meeting scheduled for late November 2016. The Working Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and, when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
Significant progress has already been made in relation to the implementation of recommendations relating to the administrative reforms to the Scheme. A specific date has not been set for the Group to conclude its work, but an initial report on its progress was submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Health in September 2016. Any significant changes deemed necessary to the Scheme will require legislation and will accordingly be addressed together at the conclusion of the Review implementation process.
250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 413 of 25 October 2016, the amount of funding that will be made available to community groups and businesses to deliver the actions of the obesity policy and action plan 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34301/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Obesity Policy provides an opportunity to work across Government, sectors of society and communities. As part of the increased health budget, 5 million Euros will be allocated to the Healthy Ireland Fund which will provide for projects in a variety of settings such as education, workplaces and communities. This will support actions taken across a number of sectors including education, environment, active transport, social protection and agriculture, all designed to create a healthier Ireland.
In addition, the Department of Health is currently engaging with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the development of the HSE service plan. Key elements include the development of prevention and treatment services and the implementation of the HSE’s ‘Healthy Eating, Active Living’ (HEAL) programme which will include investing in evidence based community projects and work.
Healthy Weight for Ireland – Obesity Policy and Action Plan, 2016 – 2025, contains 60 actions which will be implemented, monitored and evaluated over the lifetime of the policy.
251. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of times that the full capacity protocol has been deployed at Letterkenny University Hospital in 2016; the process for implementing this protocol at the hospital; and the effect on wider services at the hospital when it is deployed. [34302/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
252. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the numbers of beds at Letterkenny University Hospital for each of the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34303/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
253. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the numbers of nurses at Letterkenny University Hospital for each of the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34304/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
254. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the total numbers of staff at Letterkenny University Hospital for each of the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34305/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
255. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of times that the full capacity protocol has been deployed, by hospital group, at each of the hospitals in 2016; the process for implementing this protocol at the hospital; and the effect on wider services at the hospital when it is deployed. [34306/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
256. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatients at each of the hospitals for each of the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34307/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
257. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses at each of the hospitals for each of the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34308/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra276. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of staff at each of the hospitals for each of the years 2004 to date in 2016. [34356/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 276 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
258. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses newly recruited in public and voluntary hospitals to date in 2016; the full year cost of their recruitment; and the net increase in nursing numbers resulting from this recruitment. [34332/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
259. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists newly recruited to date in 2016; the sectors of the health service under which they have been recruited, that is, primary care, acute and disability services; the full-year cost of their recruitment; and the net increase in speech and language therapist numbers resulting from this recruitment. [34333/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra262. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists currently employed in each CHO in tabular form; and the equivalent figures for the same date in 2014 and 2015. [34336/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 262 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
