Written Answers Nos. 457-474
458. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide support services for persons in the west of Ireland affected by acquired brain injury (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23160/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive's (HSE's) National Service Plan for 2017 contains a priority to finalise and progress implementation of the framework for the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy. Full implementation of the Strategy will, of necessity, be a longer term project. The Department of Health has agreed with the HSE that the focus initially will be on implementation in the community, which is in keeping with the Programme for Government commitment.
The HSE has committed to undertake a mapping and gap identification exercise for the country as a whole in order to establish a clear picture of where specialist rehabilitation services are currently being delivered and where the demands are for these services. The HSE's Social Care Division and the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinical Programme will work together to form an action plan, under the HSE's Clinical Strategy and Programme Division. A National Steering Group made up of stakeholders representing all interested parties will be responsible for the governance and implementation of the action plan.
Moving forward, it is acknowledged that further investment in rehabilitation services at acute hospital, post-acute and community level is required to meet the ongoing needs of clients all across the country.
As the Deputy's question regarding support services in the West of Ireland for people with acquired brain injury relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide physiotherapy and occupational therapy support services for persons in the west of Ireland post-stroke (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23161/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
460. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the cost of running the on-site laundry service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda; the estimated cost to outsource the laundry service at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/17]
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.
461. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if HSE regional laundries have been outsourced; if so, the cost and the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23163/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have forwarded your question to the HSE for direct reply.
462. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if behavioural therapy is available to children in all counties; if not, if children who have been identified as needing such therapy can have it provided in a neighbouring county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
463. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the expected publication date of an autism strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23165/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1996 successive Governments have promoted the overarching principle governing the planning and delivery of health services and supports for adults and children with disabilities including autism of integration and mainstreaming, as much as possible, with services and supports for the rest of the population. The Government’s agenda in this regard is clearly set out in the current National Disability Strategy (NDS) which is based on a non-condition specific approach to the delivery of public services and the mainstreaming agenda.
The Department of Justice and Equality has responsibility for providing a focal point for the promotion and co-ordination of disability policy. In this context, the Department coordinated the development of a Programme of Additional Actions in relation to Autism in conjunction with the National Disability Authority through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform.
The Programme of Actions on Autism is in keeping with the cross disability, whole of government, social model of disability approach set out in the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (2013-2016) but recognises that an increased understanding of autism across the public sector is required to ensure that the implementation of the NDSIP addresses the needs of people with autism on an equal basis to other people with disabilities.
464. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of Respreeza. [23170/17]
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.
465. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23171/17]
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.
466. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if surgery can be expedited for a person (detailed supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/17]
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.
467. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an allocation for home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
468. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issue of inadequate parking for nurses and staff at Children's University Hospital Temple Street (details supplied); the steps he has taken along with Dublin City Council to resolve this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23183/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
469. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide for an adequate local ambulance service for north-west Connemara, County Galway, where persons endure long wait times for an ambulance from call out time to time of arrival at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23201/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI met the Group referred to by the Deputy on 20 February last to hear their concerns regarding ambulance response times in the communities of Connemara.
I have been advised by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) that it is improving regional coverage and deployment across Connemara and West Mayo. Emergency resources are now deployed on a regional, rather than on a local basis, and the NAS is moving away from ambulance provision from fixed bases to dynamic deployment. This means that resources can be used across a region, so that if demand increases in one area, other resources can provide cover as required. New bases have been established at Tuam and Mulranny and a deployment base has been established in Loughglynn.
The Capacity Review, published last year, identifies particular difficulties serving rural areas. The Review indicated that the only practical way to improve first response times in rural areas is through voluntary Community First Responder (CFR) schemes. The further development of a comprehensive national programme of CFR schemes has therefore been prioritised in the HSE National Service Plan 2017. The NAS continues to work with local CFR Groups across the country to enhance services and greatly values their continued commitment and support.
In addition, the NAS is supported by the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS), a helicopter based transport service, which was established on a permanent basis in 2015 and provides rapid access to appropriate treatment for very high acuity patients, specifically where land ambulance transit times would not be clinically appropriate. The service operates seven days a week in daylight hours and is specifically targeted at the West, with the highest demand for the EAS coming from Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
The issue of voluntary ambulance groups responding to calls was also raised at my meeting with this Group. I have been advised that in order for the NAS to dispatch a voluntary ambulance, the voluntary provider must meet the required Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) standards. I would therefore encourage the local voluntary providers to work with the NAS to progress this approach.
I wish to assure you that the NAS is committed to the provision of a safe, patient focused pre-hospital emergency care service and will continue to develop services in the West and across the country.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to additional annual investment in terms of ambulance personnel and vehicles. €7.2m additional funding was provided to the NAS in 2016, including €2m development funding. An additional €3.6m has been provided in 2017, which includes €1m to fund new developments.
470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for a cataract operation will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23205/17]
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.
471. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a medical card application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/17]
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.
472. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the service which will replace a drug treatment project (details supplied) that is being wound down in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23214/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 January 2014, operational and financial responsibility for the ADAPT Community Drugs Team was transferred to the HSE. In the circumstances, I have referred this matter to the HSE for direct reply.
473. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of autism liaison nurses currently employed in County Wexford; if they are employed on a full-time or part-time basis; the recommended client to liaison nurse ratio in the community; the frequency with which the liaison nurse is required to make contact with each client and family; and the number of autism liaison nurses that would be needed to comply with the recommended client to liaison ratio and the number of required contacts with persons and families. [23216/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
474. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the amount of expenditure on litigation claims against his Department and the HSE in each of the years 2011 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017; the number of claims awarded in court and settled out of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of claims against the Health Service Executive and my Department is delegated under the National Treasury Management Agency Act to the State Claims Agency (SCA), which has a statutory mandate to investigate and manage these cases to completion. The Annual Report of the National Treasury Management Agency notes that the SCA resolves the majority of claims by negotiating a settlement, either directly with the plaintiff's legal advisors or through a process of mediation. In 2015 97% of clinical negligence cases which were handled by the SCA were settled without the necessity for a contested court hearing.
The SCA has supplied a report on the information requested by the Deputy. The data is extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a system which it hosts for the Health Service Executive, other healthcare enterprises and Delegated State Authorities.
The following tables show details on claims finalised for the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health from 1 January 2011 to 11 May 2017 under the following case outcomes: Settlement Agreed, Case Discontinued/Claim Statute Barred, Indemnity Received, Outside the SCA remit, Case Dismissed and Court Award. A claim in this context refers to a notification of intention to seek compensation for personal injury and/or property damage where it is alleged that the State was negligent. The application may be in the form of a letter of claim, an InjuriesBoard.ie application or a written or oral request. A finalised claim refers to when a claim and all other matters associated with it have been agreed, e.g. costs. There may still be some associated payments and reimbursements outstanding on finalised claims.
Table 1 Number of Claims by Claims Finalised Year (2011 - 2017)
Number of Claims
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013* |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 to 11/5/17 |
Total |
|
|
Settlement agreed |
343 |
376 |
461 |
540 |
566 |
658 |
292 |
3236 |
|
Case Discontinued/Claim Statute Barred |
148 |
169 |
189 |
255 |
362 |
362 |
197 |
1682 |
|
Indemnity Received |
54 |
58 |
58 |
149 |
105 |
269 |
24 |
717 |
|
Outside SCA Remit |
22 |
15 |
13 |
25 |
30 |
19 |
14 |
138 |
|
Case Dismissed |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
9 |
2 |
45 |
|
Court Award |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
17 |
3 |
48 |
|
Grand Total |
573 |
628 |
732 |
985 |
1082 |
1334 |
532 |
5866 |
*Please note that in 2013 there was one case that was 'Settlement Agreed' after a Court award appeal
Table 2 Paid Total by Claims Finalised Year (2011 - 2017)
Paid Total (€’000)
|
YEAR |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 to 11/5/17 |
Total |
|
Settlement agreed |
56,370 |
56,769 |
61,478 |
77,282 |
77,380 |
91,293 |
47,074 |
467,646 |
|
Case Discontinued/Claim Statute Barred |
753 |
903 |
878 |
606 |
2,300 |
701 |
2,135 |
8,276 |
|
Indemnity Received |
606 |
491 |
310 |
563 |
389 |
162 |
436 |
2,957 |
|
Outside SCA Remit |
0 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
18 |
|
Case Dismissed |
283 |
255 |
571 |
359 |
297 |
1,565 |
38 |
3,368 |
|
Court Award |
808 |
3,519 |
2,567 |
2,934 |
1,472 |
2,645 |
7,143 |
21,088 |
|
Grand Total |
58,820 |
61,948 |
65,804 |
81,744 |
81,843 |
96,368 |
56,826 |
503,353 |
Definitions for the terms used in the tables:
(i) 'Settlement Agreed', - i.e. a negotiated settlement has been agreed with the Plaintiff for damages or an Injuries Board award accepted. This category includes some claims that go to court and are either settled on the steps of the court or are settled during the court case but before the case concludes;
(ii) 'Case Discontinued'/Claim Statute Barred', i.e. The claim against the State Authority was discontinued and/or withdrawn by the Plaintiff, or the Statute of Limitations rendered the claim Statute Barred and prevented the claim from proceeding;
(iii) 'Indemnity Received' i.e. The SCA obtained a full indemnity, in respect of the claim, on behalf of the relevant State Authority from the Insurers of a negligent Third Party motorist;
(iv) 'Outside State Claims Agency Remit' i.e. These claims were not managed by the SCA;
(v) 'Case Dismissed': A judge has dismissed a Plaintiff's claim at the conclusion of the trial;
(vi) 'Court Award': A judge has made an award of damages to the Plaintiff at the conclusion of the trial.
It should also be noted that the figures in respect of paid totals relate to the amount of money paid on a claim over its lifetime. This may include payments made in previous years. It includes damages, legal costs and other expert costs. The data includes all Health Service Executive locations (including voluntary) and excludes Tusla.
