Written Answers Nos. 216-233
216. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the funding that will be allocated in 2017 in relation to his commitment to build a new emergency department at University Hospital Galway; the timeframe for the various stages of advancing the project, including an expected completion date, and when the first patients will be seen in a new emergency department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12523/17]
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.
217. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have received treatment and the amount of money that has been spent to date in 2017 as a result of the allocation in budget 2017 for persons on hospital waiting lists to receive treatment in private hospitals, by hospital and by the hospital in which they received treatment; the number of additional patients who will be treated for the remainder of 2017; the total amount of money to be spent in 2017 under this allocation; if there is to be a increased expenditure on this method of reducing waiting lists for hospital treatment in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12529/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the reduction of waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of the Government’s key priorities, €20 million has been allocated to the NTPF in the Budget 2017, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of €5m of this funding 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. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process. The NTPF is currently undertaking a tender process to identify participating private hospitals and expects that patients will start to receive their appointments in March. The majority of daycase procedures delivered under this Initiative will be in the areas of ENT, Ophthalmology, General Surgery Dental, Urology and Vascular Surgery.
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. The Plan is being developed in conjunction with the NTPF's approach for utilisation of its remaining €10m funding for patient treatment in 2017. The Draft Plan is currently being reviewed by my Department and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF towards its finalisation.
During 2017 the Department will continue to work with the HSE and NTPF 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.
218. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on hospital waiting lists for treatment at the time the National Treatment Purchase Fund scheme was suspended, broken down by hospital, speciality and length of time on waiting lists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12530/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004. Since its establishment, the NTPF has carried out a range of functions including: arranging the provision of hospital treatment; maintaining and validating waiting list data; and making arrangements in relation to the price for long-term residential care services under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.
Since 2012, the NTPF's role has focussed on: the maintenance, audit and quality assurance of waiting lists; pricing under the Nursing Home Support Scheme; and supporting the HSE in the delivery of a number of waiting list initiatives. During this time, its annual budget allocation has been aligned with these functions.
The NTPF facilitated a number of insourcing initiatives in 2012 and 2013. Its budget for patient care was significantly reduced starting from 2014. The waiting list numbers for 2014 onwards are published by the NTPF broken down by hospital, specialty and wait time and are available to view at NTPF.ie.
219. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the position regarding eye cataract surgery for a person (details supplied); if this person will be eligible under the cross-Border health care scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12539/17]
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 Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level. Public patients may access the healthcare they require in either the public or private healthcare system of another Member State under the Cross-Border Directive (CBD). Access to healthcare abroad is based on patients following public patient pathways, i.e. they must demonstrate they have followed the equivalent public patient pathways that a patient would follow if accessing public healthcare in Ireland. It is important to note that reimbursement is confined to the costs of the care itself and that the rates of reimbursement cannot exceed the cost of provision of the care if it were provided in the Irish public health service. Referral for care under the CBD may be made by a GP, a hospital consultant and certain other HSE clinicians. The CBD excludes certain health services, e.g. services of public health, long term care, organ transplantation, etc. All persons on public waiting lists, other than for such exempt health services, are eligible for the Scheme. Full details are available on the HSE website.
As the issue of waiting times for surgery comes under the remit of the HSE, I have forwarded on your question asking the HSE to respond directly to you.
220. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [12557/17]
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.
221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when respite care will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12563/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12564/17]
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.
223. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on nursing home care in 2015 and 2016; the amount expected to be spent in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12581/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently in nursing home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12582/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra225. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing an additional 100 nursing home beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12583/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 225, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
226. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on home help and home care packages in 2016; the amount ring-fenced for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12584/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently availing of home care supports; the number who meet the criteria for home care supports who have been refused them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12585/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing home help hours and home care packages by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12586/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 228, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
229. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours currently provided by the State; the associated cost; the estimated cost over one year of increasing personal assistant hours by 500,000 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12587/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra230. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the PAS waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12588/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports to people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. The commitment is outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant services available to people with disabilities. In their National Service Plan for 2016, the HSE exceeded the expected activity level for Personal Assistant hours which was 1.3 million hours, by approximately 200,000 hours. This reflects the responsive nature of the service provided and takes account of assessed need over time, as individual needs change. I understand that in 2017, the HSE expects to deliver 1.4 million Personal Assistance hours, an increase of 100,000 hours, to 2,357 adults with a physical and/or sensory disability.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for a more detailed direct reply to the Deputy.
231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of adults currently on waiting lists to be assessed by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12589/17]
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.
232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on waiting lists to be assessed by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12590/17]
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.
233. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing an additional 250 speech and language therapists, 100 occupational therapists, 100 physiotherapists and 150 psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
