Written Answers Nos. 225-242
225. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the detail of the incident which led to the death of a person (details supplied) in the psychiatric unit of Roscommon University Hospital in June 2013. [17174/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
226. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the freestyle libre sensor for measuring blood sugars will be made available on the GMS and long-term illness cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17178/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
227. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there are dental services available in the south Roscommon area; if not, the reason there are no services available; and the expected timeframe as to when there will be a dentist appointed to the post. [17179/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
228. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17184/17]
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.
229. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there is a threat of closure to Elphin health centre and Strokestown health centre in County Roscommon; his plans to wind down services in one or both health centres following completion of the new Boyle primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17188/17]
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.
230. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a matter (details supplied); if more hours can be provided at the hospital in Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17190/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Maternity Strategy recognises that smaller maternity services cannot, and should not, operate in isolation as stand-alone entities. Those units cannot sustain the breadth and depth of clinical services that the populations they serve require without formal links to larger units. Accordingly, Maternity Networks are being established across Hospital Groups. Through the development of the networks, and the sharing of expertise within the networks, the operational resilience of smaller units can be strengthened and such units can be supported to provide safe quality services.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
231. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the shortage of the BCG vaccine here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17191/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is currently a worldwide shortage of BCG vaccine. The vaccine has not been available in Ireland since the end of April 2015. Consequently, BCG vaccination clinics in HSE Clinics and Maternity hospitals have been postponed.
There is only one licensed supplier of BCG vaccine to Ireland. The manufacturer has had difficulties in the production of the BCG vaccine. Since this problem became apparent, the HSE National Immunisation Office has been in regular contact with the manufacturer to ascertain when the vaccine might be available. The HSE also asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which licenses and regulates all human medicines in Ireland, to source an alternate supplier of the BCG vaccine. Efforts have been made to find a company who can provide the vaccine for use in Ireland which satisfies all the HPRA requirements on safety and efficacy but no suitable alternative BCG product has been found.
The supplier has indicated that supplies of the vaccine are not expected to be delivered into Ireland until later in 2017. When there is confirmation of the date of new supply, the HSE will be guided by the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee on its administration.
232. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health when the provision of services and supports to persons (details supplied) in need of home care services who meet the criteria for the home help and home care package but who have been placed on a waitlist for the service due to lack of resources will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
233. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health when the provision of occupational therapy services to a person (details supplied) in need of bath aid assessment whereby referral cannot currently be acted upon due to demand on the service will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17198/17]
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.
234. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged zero to 18 years of age currently on waiting lists for an appointment with their local child and adolescent mental health team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17206/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
235. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children aged zero to 18years of age for an appointment with their child and adolescent mental health team by HSE area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17207/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
236. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged zero to 18 years currently on waiting lists for a speech and language assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17208/17]
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.
237. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children aged zero to 18 years of age for speech and language assessment by HSE area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17209/17]
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.
238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged zero to 18 years of age currently on waiting lists for speech and language therapy treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17210/17]
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.
239. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children aged zero to 18 years of age for speech and language therapy treatment by HSE area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/17]
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.
240. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on waiting lists for an initial assessment of need to determine severity of a condition or disability from the early intervention teams within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17212/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra241. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children aged zero to 18 years of age for an initial assessment of need from the early intervention teams within the HSE, by HSE area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17213/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for 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. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
242. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if progress as been made by the HSE in attempts to establish a new diagnostics centre in the new academic and primary care centre in Tallaght; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17249/17]
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.
