Written Answers Nos. 634-648
634. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a psychology appointment with the HSE's psychology disability department in Clonmel for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10265/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
635. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation in Tallaght hospital in which equipment required for PH testing is currently inoperative, resulting in the suspension of the testing at the hospital; when the equipment will be replaced in view of the fact that it is on the Capital and Equipment list for 2017; if he will ensure the fast-tracking of procurement of this equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10276/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons that have been affected by a situation in Tallaght hospital in which equipment required for PH testing is currently inoperative, resulting in the suspension of the testing at the hospital; the way those persons who were referred to Tallaght for this test will be dealt with; the location and when they can they receive these tests; the waiting times expected as a result of this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10277/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 635 and 636 together.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
637. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if his Department has withdrawn the HSE national lottery grants for 2017; and if so, if he will make alternative funding options available to the groups and organisations involved in the provision of health and personal social services that depend on such funding for the important services they provide. [10288/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE continues to provide grants to health agencies and other organisations from National Lottery funds. Details of the scheme are available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/natlotterygrants/.
638. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if persons who need access to the life-changing drug Respreeza have the option of accessing it abroad via the cross-Border directive health care scheme. [10298/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Directive 2011/24/EU on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare aims to ensure EU citizens may access safe and good quality healthcare services across EU borders. The Directive establishes a framework for cross border healthcare between EU/EEA states to facilitate patients to access care in another Member State in accordance with their entitlements in their own country. Under the Directive, known as the Cross Border Healthcare Directive (CBD), insured patients are entitled to have the costs of cross-border healthcare services reimbursed if the healthcare service in question is among the benefits to which they are entitled in their Member State of affiliation. As such, it allows Irish residents to avail of healthcare in other EU or EEA (excluding Switzerland) Member States that they would be entitled to within the public health system in Ireland, which is not contrary to Irish legislation
Therefore, as this drug is not currently available within the public health system in Ireland, it would not be possible to avail of it abroad under the Cross Border Directive.
639. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the areas in which the community mothers programme is still in operation; the number of staff allocated to this programme; and his plans for the restoration of this programme in view of its effectiveness in the past. [10301/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from the HSE that TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, has responsibility for the Community Mothers Programme. As such, the Deputy may wish to put this question to my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, as TUSLA falls under the aegis of her Department.
640. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses per health area with a breakdown in respect of those providing older persons services and those providing children's services. [10302/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
641. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the process and timeframe to introduce a new GMS contract which would facilitate the expansion of general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10350/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Previous engagements have resulted in a number of service developments including the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult GMS patients with Type 2 Diabetes, an enhanced support framework for rural GPs, 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 universal GP care initiatives, have increased the financial support for general practice.
The next phase of discussions on a new GP contract is under way and initial engagement with GP representative bodies began in January. As with any negotiation-type process, and given the range and complexity of the issues to be discussed, 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.
642. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if, further to assessment and diagnoses by the HSE, he will provide the number of children currently awaiting the services of a speech and language therapist; the number of these children that have been waiting for more than six months, more than one year and more than two years, by area basis, in tabular form. [10351/17]
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.
643. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the October 2016 HSE performance report will be published; and the reason for the delay in its publication. [10354/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the HSE is expecting to publish its Performance Report covering the period October-December, 2016 in the coming days.
As the Deputy is aware, the HSE has been publishing its Performance Reports (PRs) on a bi-monthly basis in 2016. According to this schedule, the October-November PR would have been published in January, 2017. However, it was decided that in order to complete the reporting cycle for 2016, the Performance Reports for October, November and December 2016 would be published together. Publication will continue on a quarterly basis in 2017.
644. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current policy in respect of developmental checks on newborn babies following their arrival home; the age at which these are carried out; the current coverage of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10358/17]
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.
645. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting operations and follow-up appointments for knee and hip operations at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10363/17]
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.
646. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on the pre-planned hospital waiting list and the pre-admit hospital waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10365/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that as of 31st January 2017, there were 18,058 persons on the NTPF Pre-Admit List for Inpatient/Day Case procedures and 13,490 persons on the Inpatient/Day Case Planned Procedures List.
Once a patient has been added to a waiting list, they are actively waiting for a date ‘To Come In’ and receive their care and/or treatment. The Pre-Admit list detail the number of patient who have an appointment date for their treatment. A patient placed on a waiting list for a Planned Procedure is a patient who has had an initial episode of care requires recall for further stage, or a series of admissions, or a timed procedure in the future as part of the ongoing clinical care and/or treatment. Procedures under this category are usually part of a planned sequence of clinical care determined by clinical criteria.
Two weeks ago I committed to asking the NTPF to work towards the publication of Pre-Admit and Planned Procedures Waiting Lists. In this regard, the NTPF will review and advise me on appropriate format for publication for these two different categories of patients.
647. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Health the criteria used in making the decision to change the operating times of Arklow and Baltinglass ambulance stations in 2012; the methods of informing the public of such changes; when there will be a full restoration of a seven day a week service from the stations in Arklow and Baltinglass, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10368/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
