Written Answers Nos 1208-1227
1208. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when posts will be filled for which funding is available to fully implement the paediatrics diabetes model of care published in December 2015; when the post for paediatrics diabetes consultant will be filled in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27294/17]
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.
1209. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by each hospital group for nursing recruitment in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of trips taken abroad for recruitment; the countries which were visited; the cost of each trip; the number of nurses recruited by each hospital group from these trips; the number of nurses which commenced employment following recruitment process in each hospital group; and the number still in employment 12 months later in each hospital group. [27325/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1212. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will have access to therapy that has been recommended for them. [27363/17]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1213. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the extra funding for extra staff that will be required under the progressing disability plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27372/17]
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.
1214. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps which have been put in place to ensure that non-clinical services, such as home teaching and preschool support staff, will be protected under the progressing disability plan. [27373/17]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1215. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if 5,000 children with disabilities will now be included in the service from a present number of 2,500 with regard to the implementation of the progressing disability strategy in the CHO9 area; the way in which the staff and extra services will be provided to cater for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27374/17]
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.
1216. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to ensure that specialist service providers are not undermined in the move to the progressing disability strategy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27375/17]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1217. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the number of persons on waiting lists for operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27382/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
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 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 their implementation is ongoing. It is expected that the Inpatient / Daycase and Outpatient Plans will considerably reduce the number of patients waiting 15 months or more for inpatient and daycase treatment or for an outpatient appointment by the end of October. The Scoliosis Action Plan aims to ensure that no patient is waiting more than four months by the end of 2017. Under these Plans, since early February, over 14,200 patients have come off the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List and nearly 49,000 patients have come off the Outpatient Waiting List.
In addition, last December I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of funding in the region of €5m, for an initiative focused on those waiting longest for Daycase treatment with a view to ensuring that in excess of 2,000 patients waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure will have received an offer of an appointment for their procedure by the end of June. The NTPF has advised that to date over 2,500 patients files have been transferred to private hospitals under this initiative, 631 patients have accepted an offer of treatment in a private hospital and that 178 patients have received their procedure.
1218. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the decision to establish a cap of €130 on reimbursements to persons availing of the cross-border directive EU 2011/24 for outpatient diagnostic procedures; if the cap of €130 is a breach of the directive; if all diagnostic procedures carried out by the HSE or commissioned by the HSE from private providers are priced at €130 for accounting purposes only; if a ready reckoner will be established by the HSE similar to the one used by consultants to assist persons in establishing the HSE costs for procedures carried out under the EU directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27403/17]
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.
1221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a wheelchair by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27409/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1222. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the date of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27410/17]
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.
1223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of private investigation firms listed on all of the payment systems of the HSE for the past five years and to date in 2017; the number of those private investigation firms that were engaged to carry out work on behalf of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27411/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1224. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure there will be adequate residential capacity for those persons who require higher-level or more complex care as part of a review into the nursing home support scheme. [27421/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1225. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that all elements of care which are currently included in the nursing home support scheme will remain unchanged. [27422/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1226. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce changes to the appeals process of the nursing home support scheme. [27423/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1241. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the current pricing system for long-term residential care facilities will be maintained [27486/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1224 to 1226, inclusive, and 1241 together.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Scheme covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of everyday living;
- Laundry service
There are no plans to amend the services covered by the Scheme.
The legislation underpinning the Nursing Homes Support Scheme requires each private nursing home to negotiate and agree a price for long-term residential care services with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme. The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of its function, and negotiates with each nursing home on an individual basis. The NTPF may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process with the objective of setting a fair price which delivers value for money to the individual and the State. In negotiating with nursing homes, the NTPF has regard to:
- Costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the nursing home and evidence of value for money;
- Price(s) previously charged;
- Local market price; and
- Budgetary constraints and the obligation on the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.
When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. A number of issues have been identified for more detailed consideration, including a review of pricing mechanisms by the NTPF, with a view to:
- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;
- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.
The issue of an appeals process will also be considered in this context.
A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the review of the pricing system for private long-term residential care facilities. This Steering Committee is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the NTPF, and work in this area is well advanced.
In relation to the pricing system in public residential facilities, Section 33(2) of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 provides for the HSE to charge for the cost of care in long-term residential care settings. The components that make up the cost of care are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
1227. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists for children who are assigned to County Louth; the number of occupational therapists for children who have been employed in County Louth in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017; the recommended number of children one occupational therapist should be responsible for under current guidelines or best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27425/17]
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.
