Written Answers Nos. 115-125
115. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health to set out the level of spare capacity in terms of acute beds in the private hospital system; if he has considered taking private hospitals into public ownership to address the crisis in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no remit in terms of the oversight of private hospitals, nor does the State have any legal right to take private hospitals into public ownership.
With regard to bed capacity in the private hospital system, in 2007, the PA Consulting Bed Capacity Review listed available bed capacity in private hospitals as 1,926. Recent unpublished reports would indicate that private capacity is approximately 2,100.
I recently met with the Private Hospitals Association to discuss how private hospitals can contribute to meeting urgent health priorities, including demand for emergency care and waiting list management. There is considerable experience of private hospitals assisting in addressing lengthy waiting times for scheduled care. Acknowledging the challenges in scheduled care provision, Budget 2017 makes specific provision for the treatment of longest-waiting patients. Funding of €20 m is being allocated to the NTPF in 2017, rising to €55 m in 2018 and I am aware that the NTPF has been engaging with private hospitals in this regard.
In addition, in response to significant pressures in EDs in the early New Year, the HSE introduced a series of enhanced measures under the Winter Initiative. One such measure has involved availing of additional capacity in certain private hospitals to support the public hospital system.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5 m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. Around 3,000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly. In addition to this day case initiative, the NTPF will be working closely with my Department and the HSE to agree an approach regarding utilisation of the remaining 2017 allocation.
During 2017 the HSE will continue to work with the NTPF and the Department to ensure the best use of public hospital capacity and the private hospital system to meet the needs of patients waiting for inpatient, daycase and outpatient services.
118. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 24 January 2017 to outline the assistance his Department provides to those with rare diseases in terms of research funding and other assistance to patients and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question is best addressed in the context of an update on implementing Ireland's National Rare Disease Plan.
The National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland (2014 - 2018) recommended that an Oversight Implementation Group of relevant stakeholders, including patients' groups, be established to oversee and monitor implementation of the plan's recommendations. This group was established by my Department in 2015 and it has met on a number of occasions.
One of the principal recommendations in the Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases. This programme was to be responsible, over time and among other functions, to facilitate timely access to centres of expertise – nationally and internationally; and to assist with developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be sufficient expertise in Ireland.
In line with this recommendation, a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases was established in 2013 under the National Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division of the HSE. The programme is a joint initiative between the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. This clinical programme is a channel for assisting with the advancement of a number of other recommendations in the plan, such as those on National Centres of Expertise for rare diseases. In this vein, the programme assisted the HSE Acute Hospitals Division with development of a framework for the designation of Irish Centres of Expertise in line with the recommendations stipulated in the national plan.
The Rare Diseases National Plan also recommended that ‘the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases through a National Office for Rare Diseases develop the clinical and organisational governance framework that would underpin care pathways and access to treatment for rare disease patients, particularly in the context of transition from paediatric to adult care'.
As such the National Clinical Programme has developed a draft transition model of care which is currently in the consultation stage.
The National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and the Department of Health encouraged designated Centres of Expertise to participate in European Reference Networks (ERNs) for Rare Diseases in line with the national plan. ERNs are European networks connecting health care providers and centres of expertise so that international expertise on specific rare diseases may be pooled together for the benefit of patients. Any centre applying for membership of an ERN must have strategies in place to ensure that care is patient-centred; that patients' rights and preferences are respected; and must show a research component to their work.
Hence, the recommendations in the national plan that related to empowering and protecting patients and carers, and research on rare diseases will be fulfilled in part through this process. It is expected that ERNs will have a major structuring effect by linking thematic expert centres across the EU.
With the encouragement of the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases, Acute Hospital Divisions in the HSE and the Department of Health, five centres of expertise were designated last June during the first round of calls from the European Commission for participation in European Reference Networks. Two of these designated centres applied for membership of ERNs for the first round of calls.
In 2014, the Minister for Health announced €850,000 for investment into charity-led research priorities, which particularly benefits rare disease research. Five charities were to provide matching funding bringing the total investment to €1.9 million. They were to share €850,000 in State funding to take part in international research into rare medical conditions. In 2016, the next cohort of projects was funded by the State with €1.686 million, matched by charity funding of €1.224 million. The total funding of €2.91 million is shared between 14 charities. The next round of this joint funding initiative will open this year. The EU commission now intends to explore the possibility to further strengthen the collaboration between Member States and the Commission in the area of research on rare diseases.
The establishment of a National Rare Disease Office (NRDO) featured prominently in the recommendations of the Rare Disease plan. The national office was established by the HSE in June 2015. Its work is currently led by the NCPRD Clinical Lead, supported by an Information Scientist, part-time Administrative Officer, part-time Genetic Counsellor and by a 0.2 FTE Consultant Geneticist. It is, among other functions, providing up-to-date information regarding new treatment and management options, including clinical trials. In addition, the post of Information Scientist for the office is being funded jointly by the HSE and the EU Commission.
The NRDO has already performed a preliminary situation analysis of the existing rare disease registries and is in the process of assigning these known registries on our national Orphanet site, which is the international rare disease reference and information portal funded by the EU. The EU Commission has started the development of a European Platform on Rare Diseases Registration. Its principal goal is to enable sharing and use of rare diseases' patient data across Europe, among the multitude of existing patient registries, within and across rare diseases.
The national plan for Rare Diseases recommended that the Health Identifiers Bill and the Health & Patient Safety Bill be published. The former was published in 2013 and enacted in 2014. It is now being implemented by the HSE. A revised and much expanded General Scheme of a Health Information and Patient Safety Bill was approved by the government in November 2015 and published on the Department's website.
Two recommendations referred to training in rare diseases for healthcare professionals. The Department of Health has contacted formally the various healthcare representative and professional bodies about implementing these recommendations.
Finally, rare diseases have already been tabled on the agenda for North-South meetings. Therefore, future work to deepen cooperation between both jurisdictions on rare diseases is anticipated.
119. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health to set down his Department’s estimate of the cost of compensating hospital consultants in the wake of the HSE decision not to appeal the 2015 ruling of the Employment Appeals Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4650/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE decided not to appeal two awards made under payment of wages legislation to two consultants. Separately and distinct from the EAT cases, about 500 consultants have initiated High Court cases in respect of the increase that they would have expected from 1 June 2009 and also moneys in respect of the increase expected to be paid from 1 June 2008, but not made until 1 January 2009. The then Minister determined in June 2009 that the State could not afford to meet the costs of the increase that was due from 1 June 2009 and the increase was not sanctioned for payment.
It is the Government’s intention that all further cases will be vigorously defended. The Departments of Health, Public Expenditure & Reform and Finance, who are all now parties to the cases, are working with the Attorney General’s Office to progress a comprehensive and robust defence of any such claims, in the public interest.
121. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason there has been a reconfiguration of physiotherapy services in east Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4678/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
122. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health to set down the total cost of recruitment for nurses and midwives recruited between December 2007 and December 2016; if he will provide this information in respect of recruitment from EU and non-EU countries, including the costs of any recruitment agency; the cost of HSE staff or voluntary hospital staff who travelled to conduct interviews and adaptation costs for those recruited upon arrival here; the cost of accommodation and subsistence during that period; the cost of HSE and voluntary staff engaged to precept the non-Irish-trained nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
123. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to enable children and young persons in counties Sligo and Leitrim to have access to an out-of-hours child and adolescent mental health service team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4674/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
125. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to the budget announcement of additional funding being made to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to outline the evaluation mechanisms in place to ensure value for money; the evaluation mechanisms in place to ensure satisfactory outcomes and number of treatments in accordance with the funding allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
Embedded in all NTPF initiatives are procedures to report on the type, nature and cost of treatments commissioned, including controls to ensure quality patient treatment, value for money and efficient processes. My Department will also implement a robust monitoring framework in this regard.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5 m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. Around 3,000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly.
In addition to this daycase initiative, the NTPF will be working closely with my Department and the HSE to agree an approach to the remaining 2017 allocation as well as planning the approach for the significant increase in the allocation to address long waiting in 2018.
The HSE is currently developing a 2017 Waiting List Action Plan for inpatient/daycase procedures to ensure that no patient is waiting more than 15 months by the end of October. This Plan is being developed in conjunction with the NTPF's proposal for utilisation of its remaining €10 m funding for patient treatment in 2017. A similar plan is being developed for outpatient appointments. I expect to make known the details of both plans in the coming weeks.
