Tuesday, 20 Jun 2017

Written Answers Nos 1292-1307

Preschool Services

Ceisteanna (1292)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1292. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a place at a preschool can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27763/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Ceisteanna (1293)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

1293. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the freestyle diabetes testing device will be approved for public funding on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27765/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

HSE Agency Staff

Ceisteanna (1294)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1294. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE employ agency staff in view of the fact that most of the agency staff are on a HSE panel awaiting a full-time position with the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27766/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Ceisteanna (1295)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1295. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 483 of 23 May 2017, the additional capital investment in patient equipment and monitoring equipment that would be required in all hospitals to bring stroke units to quality standards and to meet requirements for approximately 400 stroke unit beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27767/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospitals Discharges

Ceisteanna (1296)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1296. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average number of delayed discharges per hospital per month due to the lack of home care packages for each of the years 2014 to 2016 as an update on information in a document (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27768/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Home Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (1297)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1297. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of home care package recipients per 1,000 population over 65 years of age by CHO in each of the years 2014 to 2016 as an update on information in a document (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27769/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Home Care Packages Administration

Ceisteanna (1298)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1298. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the steps that were taken on the recommendations of the Department of Health and Children evaluation of home care packages, November 2009; the recommendations that were acted upon; the way in which they were implemented; the steps that were not acted upon; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27770/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

An independent evaluation of Home Care Packages published by the Department in December 2009, indicated that while the Initiative had achieved its basic objectives since its introduction in 2006, various planning and delivery improvements were required overall. These related, for example, to standardising access and process, and various aspects of governance, including management and financial information.

In 2010 the HSE finalised National Guidelines and Procedures for the Standardised Implementation of the Home Care Package Scheme. These Guidelines incorporated the recommendations from the evaluation. A Best Practice Group including representation across the HSE Areas was established and operated for about two years to support the implementation of the Guidelines. The implementation of the Home Care Package Scheme, in accordance with these Guidelines, helps to ensure that each application for the Scheme is processed and assessed in a consistent way. To assist further, a suite of standard documentation was developed and circulated to support the Guidelines.

A new Procurement Framework for Home Care Services came into effect in mid-2012. This framework, which requires service providers to meet defined minimum standards applied to services procured by the HSE from external providers and the process was most recently repeated in 2016. Providers of home care services are monitored through Service Level Agreements with the HSE. They are required to provide a prescribed range of information in relation to the services they provide, and are supervised through regular local operational meetings and reviews of clients' care plans. The purpose of these measures is to promote quality and safety and to ensure a more standardised approach to service provision nationally. Home Care Services are reviewed regularly by the HSE. In addition, the HSE has in place a complaints procedure that is available to all service users.

Quality improvement and monitoring of services are on-going. In 2017 the HSE has provided each Community Health Organisation (CHO) with an additional resource and guidance to support this function. The HSE monitors the resources assigned to and utilised for home care services including Home Care Packages. It also monitors and reviews the care provided to individual clients by HSE professionals such as public health nurses.

The procurement of a national IT system was not progressed as new developments in home care began to emerge in the period 2011 to date. These developments include the negotiation of a new contract for HSE employed home helps, discussions on the potential amalgamation of the Home Help service and the Home Care Package scheme into a single funded service to streamline access for clients, and consideration of the regulation of home care. In this regard, the Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to determine what type of home care scheme is best for Ireland. This process will consider the future design of both the funding and regulation systems for these crucial services.

In light of the considerable on-going work on the future regulation and financing of home care it would be prudent at this time to hold off on decisions on the nature and scope of an IT system. The development and implementation of an IT system across home care remains an important objective, however, and in the interim, work is on-going with the CHO Areas to ensure that data collection is based on standard definitions and timelines.

Finally, the HSE commissioned a consultancy firm to perform an activity and resource review of Home Care Services, including Home Help and Home Care Packages. The review looked at a number of service improvement initiatives and at models of service delivery, both in Ireland and internationally. The review is available at www.hse.ie.

Home Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (1299)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1299. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 23 May 2017, the number of persons aged under 65 years of age of those in 2015 and 2016 in receipt of home help, of whom 4,291 and 4,121 were persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Home Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (1300, 1301, 1302)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1300. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for home care packages that were submitted by persons under 65 years of age in 2016 in CHO 1; the number of these applications which were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27772/17]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1301. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for home care packages that were submitted by persons under 65 years of age in 2016 in CHO 4; the number of these applications that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27773/17]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1302. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for home care packages that were submitted by persons under 65 years of age in 2016 in CHO 6; the number of these applications that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27774/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1300 to 1302, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (1303)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1303. Deputy Barry Cowen 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. [27776/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (1304)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1304. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27777/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (1305)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

1305. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 9 May 2017, the reason for each of these declines; if additional resources are required for community-based mental health teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27787/17]

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.

Suicide Prevention

Ceisteanna (1306)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1306. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter with regard to a person (details supplied) concerning further education opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27788/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (1307)

James Lawless

Ceist:

1307. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the services, facilities and staffing levels that will be allocated to the new primary health care facility due to open in Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27791/17]

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.