Written Answers Nos. 447 - 468
447. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been invited to take part in BowelScreen since the programme began in 2012, in tabular form; the number of persons that have taken part; the number of incidences of bowel cancer detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21799/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, offers free bowel screening to men and women aged 60-69. The number of clients within this target cohort that have been invited to take part in BowelScreen since it began in 2012, the number of clients who consented to participate in the programme, the number of clients who carried out screening with a home test, and the number of cancers detected are outlined in the table.
|
- |
2012/13 |
2014 |
2015 |
- |
- |
2016 |
|
- |
Overall |
Overall |
Overall |
New Invitees |
Previous Invitees |
Overall |
|
No. persons invited to take part in BowelScreen |
59,684 |
205,899 |
223,045 |
247,292 |
33,197 |
280,489 |
|
No. persons that have consented to participate in BowelScreen Programme |
27,164 |
87,595 |
92,494 |
86,760 |
28,452 |
115,212 |
|
No. persons that have carried out screening home test and returned to BowelScreen |
25,775 |
83,228 |
87,437 |
81,387 |
27,971 |
109,358 |
|
No. of clients with bowel cancer detected |
98 |
239 |
184 |
- |
- |
N/A |
448. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons within the target cohort, that is women and men aged 60 to 69 years of age, that have been invited to take part in BowelScreen since the programme began in 2012, in tabular form. [21800/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme offers free bowel screening to men and women aged 60-69. The number of clients within this target cohort that have been invited to take part in BowelScreen since it began in 2012 is outlined in the table.
|
Invitees |
2012/12 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016* |
|
No. of eligible men and women aged 60-69 invited to BowelScreen |
59,658 |
170,294 |
220,500 |
279,466 (Initial 246,588) (Subsequent 32,878)** |
*Provisional figures for 2016.
** 32,878 clients who had previously participated were reinvited for a subsequent screening in 2016.
451. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the €45,000 paid to the master of the National Maternity Hospital in addition to their salary as a medical consultant derives from a hospital fund set up to pay medical staff based on capitation fees paid by the State in respect of obstetric beds plus other income; if so, the source of that income; if that fund, howsoever constituted, pays a percentage to the master, the assistant masters and the medical consultants; if so, the percentage which is payable to each of the aforementioned categories; and if none of the foregoing applies to the €45,000 paid to the master, the source or sources from which that payment derives. [21813/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the master of the National Maternity Hospital is allocated 20% of the hospital's private gynaecological patients and caesarean section patients; if not, the current percentage; and his plans to support the mastership system as agreed for the new National Maternity Hospital. [21814/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.
The National Maternity Strategy notes that the Mastership system is unique to the three Dublin maternity hospitals and has served the country well. While the system may evolve over time with the changing governance structures for maternity services, there are no plans to change the Mastership system at present. In relation to the other queries raised, as these are operational matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
453. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when the narcolepsy centre in St James's Hospital will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21854/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills continue to work together to provide a wide range of services and supports for those affected. St James Hospital has put together a proposal for a national service for patients with all forms of narcolepsy in adults and in children transitioning from the pediatric services. The development of this service is being prioritised by my Department in the 2018 Estimates process.
454. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the ophthalmology waiting list in County Louth; the average waiting time for an outpatient appointment; the average waiting time for a procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21855/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that Ophthalmology waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m 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 and patients are already receiving appointments.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.
The HSE is currently finalising the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review, which aims to reorganise primary eye-care services with an increased emphasis on maximising delivery of a comprehensive service in primary care, thereby creating capacity in hospitals to provide more complex ophthalmology services.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to provide the specific details to you directly.
455. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting ophthalmology services in each hospital, in tabular form; the number of persons on the waiting list over 6 months, 12 months, 24 months and in excess of these times for both outpatient appointments and for actual procedures respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21856/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that Ophthalmology waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m 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 and patients are already receiving appointments.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.
The HSE is currently finalising the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review, which aims to reorganise primary eye-care services with an increased emphasis on maximising delivery of a comprehensive service in primary care, thereby creating capacity in hospitals to provide more complex ophthalmology services.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to provide the specific details to you directly.
456. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the reason the review of primary eye care services has yet to be published; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
457. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by ophthalmic consultants in recent media reports regarding treatment times for persons diagnosed with the wet form of macular degeneration; and his plans to address the concerns with regard to waiting times for a simple injection as a form of treatment. [21858/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that waiting times for Ophthalmology, including treatments for wet form macular degeneration, are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m 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 and patients are already receiving appointments.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.
The HSE is currently finalising the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review, which aims to reorganise primary eye-care services with an increased emphasis on maximising delivery of a comprehensive service in primary care, thereby creating capacity in hospitals to provide more complex ophthalmology services.
458. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons diagnosed with the wet form of macular degeneration in 2017; the number of these persons currently awaiting treatment; the average waiting time for same; the number of these persons currently awaiting a follow up outpatient appointment; the average waiting time for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21859/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that waiting times for Ophthalmology, including treatments for wet form macular degeneration, are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m 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 and patients are already receiving appointments.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.
The HSE is currently finalising the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review, which aims to reorganise primary eye-care services with an increased emphasis on maximising delivery of a comprehensive service in primary care, thereby creating capacity in hospitals to provide more complex ophthalmology services.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to provide the specific details to you directly.
459. 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. [21902/17]
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.
460. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if appointments for gastro bypass surgery in St Colmcille's Hospital, Dublin, have been postponed due to a lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21904/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
462. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the details of HSE plans to set up specially designed prefabs in an effort to address the trolley crisis, in view of recent media reports; the hospitals which have been selected; the resources and funding which have been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21916/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has put in place a National Framework for temporary alternative accommodation at Hospital Sites as just one part of a broad range of measures undertaken under the Winter Initiative Plan 2016-2017 aimed at alleviating pressure on our EDs. As of yet there have not been any decisions made in relation to the opening of temporary alternative accommodation in specific locations but any such decisions will be based on the procurement process as set out in this National Framework and submissions made by hospitals and hospital groups to the HSE as part of their budgetary processes.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Winter Initiative provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. This Initiative was developed to manage the expected winter surge in demand for hospital care in an integrated way across Primary, Acute and Social Care. This Initiative concluded in March.
A range of practical measures to address ED overcrowding were implemented, including 90 additional beds, aids and appliances for over 4,450 patients, around 1,000 extra homecare packages and 615 additional transitional care bed approvals.
During this Initiative, delayed discharges reduced from 638 in September 2016 to a low of 434 at the end of December and were maintained below 500 from mid-December through to end February. This had a positive impact on ED overcrowding and trolley numbers, in freeing up beds for use by patients awaiting admission to hospital.
Since the start of 2017 there have been approximately 5% less patients waiting on trolleys nationally compared to the same period last year. I can assure the Deputy that there continues to be a very strong focus on reducing ED overcrowding and my Department and the HSE are currently engaged in a process to commence winter planning for next year and to achieve an improvement trajectory in ED performance.
463. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons interviewed for nursing posts at St Joseph's Hospital in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number which were successfully hired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21917/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
464. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the consultation which took place between the HSE, the management and staff at St Joseph's Hospital, patients and other groups regarding recent bed closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21918/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
465. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when additional funding will be made available to occupational therapy services in counties Westmeath and Longford, in order to reduce the current eight month waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21925/17]
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.
466. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when dental services will be restored to Monksland County Roscommon under the HSE, whereby school age children can be seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21932/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
467. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) will be seen in the dental clinic in Monksland, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21933/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
468. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to reduce Strokestown, County Roscommon to a one doctor town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21934/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
