Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 366-380

Health Services

Ceisteanna (366)

John Curran

Ceist:

366. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if provision has been made for improvements to a health centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21463/17]

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.

Maternity Services

Ceisteanna (367)

Hildegarde Naughton

Ceist:

367. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health if the maternity unit at Mayo General Hospital is the only one in the Saolta University Healthcare Group without the allocated services of a lactation consultant; his views on whether the services of such consultants are important; and, if so, the reason new mothers in this specific area are being deprived of those services. [21464/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Breastfeeding figures at first Public Health Nurse (PHN) visit and at three months are reported quarterly in the HSE Performance reports. Figures for 2016, listed in the HSE March 2017 Management Data Report, show that 56.8% of babies were reported as breastfeeding at first PHN visit (shortly after discharge from hospital), with 38.8% still breastfeeding at 3 months.

The Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 – 2021 (HSE, 2016) sets out the priority areas to be addressed over the next 5 years to support more mothers in Ireland to breastfeed and to contribute to increases in breastfeeding rates. Included in its action points is the appointment of Clinical Midwife Specialist Lactation Consultants in all maternity hospitals/units.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (368)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

368. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of private inpatient and outpatient appointments and procedures carried out in public hospitals in each of the years 2014 to 2016, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21468/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (369)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

369. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants carrying out private practices, appointments and procedures in public hospitals in each of the years 2014 to 2016, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21469/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Mental Health Commission

Ceisteanna (370)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

370. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the recommendations from the Mental Health Commission regarding psychiatric services at University Hospital Waterford which have been implemented; the detail of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21470/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

National Maternity Hospital

Ceisteanna (371)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

371. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if dedicated space for private practices will be made available at the new national maternity hospital; if this will result in a cost for the taxpayer; if so, the estimated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21471/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

There is no differentiation between public and private in-patient rooms in the designs for the new hospital. Indeed, all in-patient rooms are of a similar design. In order to support the current commitment in the consultants' contracts, some private outpatient consulting space will be provided. The charge to consultants for the use of those rooms is an operational matter and will be determined in due course.

Currently, persons who opt to be treated privately on admission to a public hospital are liable for the consultants fees and hospital charges arising for that episode of care, whether paid for by the patient or by a health insurer on their behalf.

Hospital Consultant Remuneration

Ceisteanna (372)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

372. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost to the taxpayer of consultants carrying out private practices in public hospitals in each of the years 2014 to 2016, by group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21472/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

National Children's Hospital

Ceisteanna (373)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

373. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the locations persons attending the new national children's hospital will park to attend outpatient appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21474/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The urgent care centres to be developed on the campuses of Tallaght Hospital and Connolly Hospital are an integral part of the new children's hospital, providing urgent care as well as outpatient services including rapid access general paediatric clinics. The aim is to improve geographic access to urgent care for children in the Greater Dublin Area and support primary and community care paediatrics, as well as reducing Emergency Department and outpatient attendance at the main site. Each centre is expected to cater for a minimum of 15,000 outpatient attendances per annum.

Parking is available at both sites for outpatient appointments. A multi-storey carpark is provided at Tallaght Hospital close to the main door and Emergency Department. At Connolly Hospital, the main public car parks are located at the front of the hospital building and a small number of parking spaces are available at the rear of the hospital building. 

At the main hospital at St James's, an underground carpark is being built which comprises 675 spaces dedicated for family use, including outpatient appointments.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

374. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the advertisement for the midwifery lead on the national women and infants health programme was restricted to candidates working exclusively within the HSE that filed an expression of interest; if so, the reason therefor. [21475/17]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

375. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a post (details supplied) was not subject to the established practice of being advertised nationally and internationally on an equitable basis in order to attract candidates of the best possible calibre. [21476/17]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

376. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if there was a previous internal advertisement for the post of midwifery lead on the national women and infants health programme; and if so, if this previous advertisement contained a job description and remuneration equivalent to the HSE national obstetric lead. [21477/17]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

377. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the person or body that was responsible for the decision to exclude eligible national and international candidates outside the HSE from applying for the job of midwifery lead on the national women and infants health programme. [21478/17]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

378. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the decision was made to circulate the notice of the job of midwifery lead on the national women and infants health programme internally; and the criteria which was set for internal candidates. [21479/17]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

379. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on recruitment of the midwifery lead on the national women and infants health programme. [21480/17]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

380. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will undertake immediately to reopen and advertise the role of midwifery lead on the national women and infants health programme nationally and internationally and at a level equitable to the obstetric lead. [21481/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 380, inclusive, together.

The National Women and Infants Health Programme has been established in the HSE to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services, strengthening such services by bringing together work that is currently undertaken across primary, community and acute care.

In relation to recruitment for the Programme, I understand that a first recruitment process commenced late in 2015 and was unsuccessful at that time. I have been advised that, pending the running of a further recruitment process, and in light of the importance of having a full leadership team in place, an interim appointment has been made for the Director of Midwifery post. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly to provide a more detailed reply to these queries.