Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1189. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cataract operations carried out in Munster (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services Provision
Ceisteanna (1189)
Freagraí scríofa
In relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1190)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1190. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27224/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Health Services Staff Recruitment
Ceisteanna (1191)
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:1191. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the HSE plans to fill a vacant post (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27233/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Ceisteanna (1192)
Robert Troy
Ceist:1192. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27236/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Hospitals Data
Ceisteanna (1193)
Eugene Murphy
Ceist:1193. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures carried out at the new endoscopy unit at Roscommon county hospital since it was established in June 2016 to date in 2017, by month, in tabular form; the average length of stay for a person; the number of staff currently employed at the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27239/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Question No. 1194 answered with Question No. 1002.
National Children's Hospital Expenditure
Ceisteanna (1195)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:1195. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of the benchmarked post tender construction costs of the new children's hospital against comparable construction costs for major acute hospitals internationally; the name of the major acute hospitals that were used for the purposes of such comparisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the statutory body charged with delivery of the capital project. The NPHDB benchmarked the post-tender construction costs of the new children's hospital against construction costs for major acute hospitals internationally. This exercise demonstrated that construction elements of the project compare favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale. I have asked the NPHDB to respond to you directly regarding the benchmarked post tender construction costs and the name of the major acute hospitals that were used for the purposes of comparisons.
National Children's Hospital
Ceisteanna (1196)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:1196. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of the business case made with respect to the new national children's hospital project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27246/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following completion of the tender evaluation process for the main hospital and satellite centres construction, the NPHDB updated the Final Project Brief and Definitive Business Case to incorporate the updated costs. The Final Project Brief builds on all of the work done for the project to date and is a concise description of the backdrop to, and strategic case for, the new children’s hospital and satellite centres programme, setting out its scope both in terms of the physical investment in buildings, equipment and ICT and with regard to how the new hospital and satellite centres will operate. It also sets out the project objectives and benefits, and provides an overview of other technical, administrative and financial information. Three documents inform the Final Project Brief:
- The Design Brief which describes the scope and scale of the buildings.
- The Definitive Business Case (DBC) which sets out a detailed financial analysis of the full costs of the new children’s hospital and satellite centres. The associated benefits of the programme are also considered in full in the DBC. The DBC presents the case for investing in the new children’s hospital and satellite centres programme including the investment in the capital element, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and an integration programme.
- The Programme Execution Plan which documents the programme delivery methodology for the capital, ICT and integration programmes.
On 26 April I announced that the Government has approved the investment required to enable the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to award the construction contracts for the building of the main children’s hospital on the St James’s Hospital campus and the two Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care Centres on the Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals campuses.
The NPHDB is continuing to ensure that every stage of the project is delivered in accordance with national policy to optimal design and value for money, and along with the Children’s Hospital Group Board, continues to work closely with the HSE and my Department to deliver this much-needed world-class hospital.
Medical Card Data
Ceisteanna (1197)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:1197. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications that are waiting to be processed. [27251/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Medical Card Delays
Ceisteanna (1198)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:1198. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a medical card application to be processed. [27252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Medical Card Data
Ceisteanna (1199)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:1199. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications from County Louth currently waiting to be processed; the length of time they have been waiting to be processed; and the expected timeframe for processing these applications. [27253/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Medical Card Administration
Ceisteanna (1200)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:1200. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed to process medical card applications; the number of staff vacancies that exist within this complement; and the length of time that these vacancies have existed. [27254/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Medical Card Administration
Ceisteanna (1201)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:1201. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been put in place to tackle the backlog in processing medical card applications; and the expected timeframe to clear the backlog. [27255/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Long-Term Illness Scheme
Ceisteanna (1202)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 227 of 6 October 2016, the reason for the delay in amending the application form for the long-term illness scheme in order to replace offensive terminology used to define a recognised condition under the scheme; his views on whether legislative changes are required to complete this action; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the approved medication section of the LTI scheme web page on the HSE's website has also to be changed to reflect the HSE's usage of the more appropriate term of intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27256/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The term mental handicap, as used on the Long Term Illness Scheme application form, reflects the wording used in S.I. No. 277/1971 - Health Services (Amendment) Regulations 1971, which prescribed conditions to which the scheme applies.
Officials in my Department have sought legal advice in relation to amending the wording on the LTI application form. This process is ongoing and the Deputy's concerns are being considered in that context.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (1203)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the details of the budget allocations which have been provided to a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal for each of the years since its establishment and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27257/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (1204)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to utilising agency staff working at a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal to fill vacant permanent positions at the unit; if a request to use agency staff in this way was received by the HSE from the service provider; if so, the dates that the requests were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27258/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 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.
Hospital Groups
Ceisteanna (1205)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:1205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the oversight of the performance of hospital groups by the HSE and the accountability of the performance of hospital groups to him in view of the fact that a large number of parliamentary questions related to issues within hospitals and patient services are being referred for answer to the hospital groups themselves; his views on whether this may create an issue with respect to proper accountability and impartiality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27267/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE is responsible to the Minister for delivering the performance set out in its National Service Plan. To assist it in delivering on its commitments, the HSE has revised and enhanced its Performance and Accountability Framework for 2017. The Framework sets out how the HSE including the national divisions, the hospital groups and individual managers will be held to account for their performance.
It makes explicit the responsibilities of health service managers in the four equally important domains of performance which are: access to services; the quality and safety of those services; doing this within the financial resources available; and effectively harnessing the efforts of the workforce. The emphasis of the Framework is on recognising good performance, improving performance at all levels of the health service and ensuring that individual managers are held to account for their performance.
My Department oversees and monitors the HSE's implementation of its performance accountability framework and monitors implementation of the HSE corporate plan and annual national service plans.
Diabetes Strategy
Ceisteanna (1206)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:1206. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to fully implement the paediatrics diabetes model of care published in December 2015; the timeframe for all vacant posts in the paediatric diabetes services nationally to be filled; the timeframe for a paediatric diabetes consultant to be appointed to Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27272/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Question No. 1207 answered with Question No. 1060.