Wednesday, 22 Mar 2017

Written Answers Nos. 183-195

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (183)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

183. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the details of his Department's approach regarding recent issues at a disability service (details supplied) in Portrane, with particular regard to the poor condition of accommodation for service users and investigations into reported irregularities in the bank accounts of some users; the action he will take to ensure the most vulnerable in society, who are in the care of the HSE, are protected from such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14285/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE). Accordingly I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

HIQA Inspections

Ceisteanna (184)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

184. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the action that was taken by HIQA following receipt of a letter by a person (details supplied) which contained allegations of theft and malpractice at a nursing home. [14295/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The functions of the Minister for Health in relation to HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services are prescribed in the Act, and in this respect the Chief Inspector is independent in the exercise of these functions. Under the Health Act 2007, HIQA is legally responsible for monitoring, inspecting and registering all nursing homes in Ireland to ensure that residents are safe and receive a high quality of care. Nursing homes are monitored and inspected to ensure that they meet the requirements set out by the Health Act 2007, and by the regulations and national standards. If a concern is raised about a nursing home, HIQA reviews all information received to inform its on-going risk-based regulation activities. However, HIQA does not have the legal power to investigate individual concerns or complaints. HIQA does not comment on individual concerns or specific issues.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (185)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

185. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be issued with a date for an orthopaedic operation; the reason for the delay in issuing a date for surgery in view of the fact that this is an urgent case; if the person can undergo this surgery in another hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (186, 188)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

186. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be provided for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing a date for this procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14325/17]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

188. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be provided for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing a date for this procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14327/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 188 together.

Under 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.

Hospitals Car Park Charges

Ceisteanna (187)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

187. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend an initiative (details supplied) to all public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14326/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

There is a significant demand for car parking at all hospitals. Consequently, the efficient management of parking spaces and traffic flow on hospital campuses is of crucial importance. This is to ensure on-going availability of parking spaces; free flow of traffic on campus; unobstructed access for emergency vehicles at all times; proper use of spaces designated for drivers with disabled permits; and proper use of spaces designated as drop off points near the hospital entrance.

The HSE has advised that income from car parking charges in most statutory hospitals and some voluntary hospitals forms an integral part of the hospitals budgetary policy and is invested back into services provided at the hospitals. Income is also used to fund the upgrade and upkeep of the car parks, including security and management systems.

Arrangements for car parking generally is an operational matter for the HSE. The HSE has also advised that it does not provide guidelines on hospital parking and each hospital/hospital group implements their own guidelines. I understand that some hospitals continue to provide reduced rate parking rates for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship.

Question No. 188 answered with Question No. 186.

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Ceisteanna (189)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

189. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the level of speech and language services in the Dublin 24 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14328/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Hospitals Data

Ceisteanna (190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 206)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

190. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of patients outsourced at St. James's Hospital, Dublin, for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14332/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

191. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at St. James's Hospital, for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14333/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

192. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting times at St. James's Hospital, Dublin for each of the years 2011 to 2015 and to date in 2017, by year, speciality and in wait time-bands (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14334/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

193. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on trolleys at St. James's Hospital for each of the months of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14335/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

194. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on trolleys at St. James's Hospital for each of the months of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14336/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

195. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the operating budget for St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2009 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14337/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

197. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the total agency spend at St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2013 to 2015 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14339/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

198. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nursing positions in place at St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14340/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

199. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of beds operational at St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2009 to 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14341/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

200. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient hospital cancellations at St. James's Hospital for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

201. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient hospital cancellations at St. James's Hospital for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

202. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient and outpatient appointments where the patient did not attend at St. James's Hospital for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14344/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

203. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of theatres operational at St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2011 to 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14345/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

206. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of times the full-capacity protocol was initiated at St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2011 to 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14348/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 195, inclusive, 197 to 203, inclusive, and 206 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.