Written Answers Nos 232-251
232. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the funding provided under the capital plan for Beaumont Hospital; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18776/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government includes the following commitments in relation to the Beaumont capital projects:
- “We will commence the design of a new ED in Beaumont later this year with a view to funding for the construction being provided as part of the 2017 Capital Plan Review”.
- “The new Government will immediately proceed to the design and planning stage for a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Beaumont Hospital Dublin for inclusion in the 2017 Capital Plan review. The HSE Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Programme will make further recommendations in the next few months, following a survey of centres and will complete a CF model of care policy”.
My Department is supportive of the new Emergency Department and Cystic Fibrosis Unit and has been engaging with HSE Estate and HSE Acute Hospitals Division (AHD) regarding these. There is a rigorous process for the development of healthcare projects governed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines, principally the Public Spending Code, and EU Directives. All proposed projects must be submitted to the HSE’s Capital and Property Steering Committee for approval and prioritisation prior to inclusion in its multi-annual Capital Plans.
I have been advised by the HSE that relevant submissions are being progressed for consideration by this Steering Committee, and that, after that stage, funding will be made available in the HSE Capital Plan 2017 for preliminary design works such as appraisal, project brief, design feasibility studies etc. and to progress the projects generally.
During 2017 my Department will continue to work with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme. My Department is also conducting a Bed Capacity Review which will assess projected health care needs over the next decade and the associated infrastructural requirements to meet these needs.
233. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new primary care facilities (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18777/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new primary care facilities (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the development of 80 new primary care facilities (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 235, inclusive, together.
The Government is fully committed 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. Primary Care Centres (PCCs) facilitate the shift from acute care towards primary care because of the range of multi-disciplinary services they can provide and the role they can play in keeping people who don't need to be in an acute setting out of hospital.
During the period of the Government’s Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021, as part of the €3 billion for investment in Health infrastructure, additional primary care facilities will be provided across the country. This will build on the 99 PCCs already operational, of which 56 were delivered since March 2011.
The mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. All potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered-provided-available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition, the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances, including the feasibility of implementation.
The latest information provided to me by the HSE is that there are currently 37 projects in construction or at advance planning stage under the three delivery methods - 14 through Public Private Partnership (PPP), 12 direct build by the HSE and 11 by way of operational leasing. In addition, there are a further 47 at early planning stage, all by operational lease. In relation to the 14 PPP projects, the HSE will pay the PPP company a total annual unitary charge payment of circa €17m, in monthly instalments. At the end of the 25 year contract, the centres will be handed over to the HSE who will become responsible for the facility management services provided by the PPP company.
The HSE’s 2017 National Service Plan (Appendix 4) details the projected construction, equipping completion and operational dates for 22 PCCs that are under construction and to be completed in 2017 or Quarter 1 2018. It is not possible to provide the value of the investment of the PCCs to be delivered through the operational lease mechanism. Successful developers may build a new facility or modify existing buildings to meet the HSE's requirements or specification.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of PCCs, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy on projects underway - in addition to the 22 referred to above - and on expenditure to date on direct build PCCs.
236. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for invest in replacement, upgrade and refurbishment of long-term care facilities for the old and disabled; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18780/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the State's capital programme Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 which was announced in late 2015, additional funding was allocated for the replacement and refurbishment of community nursing homes and long term residential care facilities for Persons with a Disability. Building on Recovery allocated an additional €237m for community nursing homes and an additional €100m for long term residential care facilities for Persons with a Disability, over and above the funding already included in the Capital Plan for these programmes. Over the next five years, this will provide for the replacement and refurbishment of 90 public nursing homes across the country and some facilities for long term residential care facilities for Persons with a Disability. In addition, Building on Recovery also provided for a health public private partnership (PPP) project in the amount of €150m. Following analysis, the currently most appropriate project for this PPP project is a bundle of community nursing homes.
Significant work has been undertaken by the HSE in determining the most appropriate scheduling of projects over the 5 year period from 2016 to 2021, within the phased provision of funding, to achieve compliance and registration with HIQA. All healthcare infrastructure developments, including this development, must comply with DPER guidelines and EU directives and will require a lead-in time to complete the various stages. These stages include appraisal, project brief, design feasibility, detailed design, some of which may overlap, the review of costing estimates and finalisation of financing.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure to date on these programmes.
237. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for system-wide investment in information communication technology; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18781/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital allocation for eHealth and information and communications technology (ICT) in the 2017 capital plan is €55.0m and is informed by the eHealth strategy published by the Department of Health in December 2013. Some of the key priority areas in 2017 are:
- The refreshment and replacement of existing technology (ongoing);
- Medical Laboratories Information System (MEDLIS) (funding projected to 2021);
- National Ambulance Services – equipment replacement programme (ongoing);
- Maternal and Newborn Information System (MN-CMS) (funding expected through to 2023); and
- National Finance System (funding expected through to 2021).
Of the €55.0m capital allocation, current ICT capital expenditure to end March 2017 has been €10.2m and the full allocation is expected to be spent in the current year. The capital provision for eHealth and ICT projected to 2021 are set out below and allows for a multi-annual rolling programme of work on multiple projects.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
€55.0m |
€62.0m |
€70.4m |
€85.0m |
€87.1m |
The capital provision set out in the table above does not include provision for the full costs outlined in the New Children’s Hospital ICT business case nor for the national Electronic Health Record (EHR) business case. My Department is working closely with the HSE, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other stakeholders in evaluating the EHR business case and working to secure increases in public investment in eHealth in the context of the Mid-Term Capital Review that will be completed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by Autumn 2017.
238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18851/17]
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.
239. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the cross-border healthcare directive can be used for the treatment of Lyme disease in another EU member state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18854/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. In line with practice in other EU Member States, the HSE, through the National Contact Point (NCP) office, provides information for patients on the Cross-Border Directive on its website - http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/ - and also by phone. The principal function of the NCP (which is the mechanism specified under the Directive for the dissemination of information on the Directive by Member States) is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost and the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements.
The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
240. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a colonoscopy in the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda; the number of persons on the waiting list over 1 year and 2 years, respectively; if the hospital has an adequate number of gastroenterologists to perform such procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18883/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
241. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position of a dedicated respiratory doctor or consultant in the Lourdes hospital in Drogheda that specialises in COPD; his plans for 2017 in this area for the Lourdes hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18885/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
242. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if he travelled abroad as part of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the locations he travelled to; the duration of the trip; the cost of the trip, including travel and accommodation in addition to other expenses incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18897/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis year, I did not travel abroad as part of the 2017 St Patrick's Day celebrations and did not, therefore, incur any costs in this respect.
243. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages that were applied for and approved in counties Louth and Meath in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18903/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
244. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied). [18906/17]
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 Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
245. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18913/17]
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.
246. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); if he will expedite this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18920/17]
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.
247. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the HSE's negotiations on the provision of a drug (details supplied); if persons that trialled the drug will continue to avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18921/17]
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.
248. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the HSE policy with regard to the payment of the qualification allowance (details supplied). [18928/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra249. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if the HSE policy regarding payment of the qualification allowance is standard throughout all regions of the HSE; and if not, if it is at the discretion of the individual managers or area managers. [18929/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra250. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the policy of the HSE in counties Louth and Meath regarding the payment of the qualification allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18930/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 250, inclusive, together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
251. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the grants or funding available to help persons purchase hearing aids for children in situations in which more than one person in a particular family requires a hearing aid. [18931/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE does not provide grants for the purchase of hearing aids. Under Section 67 of the Health Act 1970, the HSE is required to provide free audiology treatment and appliances to children in respect of defects noticed at child and school health examinations and also to adult medical card holders and their dependants. All children who require amplification for the management of chronic temporary or permanent hearing loss are eligible and receive high quality hearing aids free of charge through their local HSE community audiology service.
