Written Answers Nos. 674-693
674. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the psychiatric and mental health services and facilities currently available at the Cherry Orchard hospital, Our Lady's Children's Hospital and the Coombe women and children's hospital; the number of consultants, specialists and nurses working in these services and facilities; the role of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35012/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
675. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the agency spend at Cherry Orchard hospital, Our Lady's Children's Hospital and the Coombe women and children's hospital in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35013/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
676. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a child psychologist within the primary care services of Kildare north is expected to be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35020/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
677. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which a power failure at Beaumont Hospital caused a person to require resuscitation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35022/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sympathise with the individual and the staff who were affected by the power outage in Beaumont Hospital on 18 June 2017.
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly to provide you with more details of the circumstances of the outage. I have also asked the HSE to provide a report to me.
678. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to ensure that the home care package is underpinned by statute; the consultation he has had in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35035/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to promoting care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. In this regard, the Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home care services.
The statutory scheme for home care will introduce clear rules in relation to what services individuals are eligible for and how decisions are made on allocating services. For that reason, developing a new statutory scheme will be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home care services. It will also help to improve access to the home care services that people need, in an affordable and sustainable way. The system of regulation for home care will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard.
As an initial step, the Department commissioned the Health Research Board to undertake an evidence review of the home care systems that are in place in four other European countries. This review was published on 11 April. The Review will help us to learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions and will inform the debate and future consideration of approaches to formal home care financing and regulation here in Ireland.
Another important step in this process is the public consultation on home care services which I, along with Minister Harris, launched on 6 July. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers. It will also allow us to find out what people think about current home care services as well as the public’s views on what the future scheme should look like. The consultation paper is available online at http://health.gov.ie/consultations/ and I encourage all those with an interest in home care services to make a submission to the consultation.
A report of the findings of this consultation process will be published and the findings will be used by the Department in the development of the new home care scheme.
679. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if any of the approximately 780 HSE-funded section 39 charitable organisations that are regulated by the Charities Regulatory Authority held investments in the tobacco industry through the common investment fund up to the end of 2016; if so, his views on this; his further views on the appropriateness of investment in the tobacco industry by organisations under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35036/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra680. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged directly with the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the investments held in the tobacco industry by the Courts Service; his views on this; his further views on the appropriateness of investment in the tobacco industry by organisations under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35037/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 680 together.
The Department of Health does not undertake investments of any sort, either pension or other investment funds. I have contacted the HSE regarding, the HSE funded section 39 charitable organisations that are regulated by the Charities Regulatory Authority in relation to whether they held investments in the tobacco industry through the common investment fund up to the end of 2016, and asked it to reply directly to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply within fifteen working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow-up the matter with the HSE.
In relation to guidelines on investing in the tobacco industry, Ireland has ratified and is a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is the first global public health treaty. It is an evidence -based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and was developed by countries in response to the globalisation of the tobacco epidemic. It aims to tackle some of the causes of that epidemic and Ireland has made very good progress in implementing the FCTC to date.
Article 5.3 of that legally binding Convention states the following:
“In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law”.
Guidelines for the implementation of the above-mention Article 5.3 were developed to assist parties. Paragraphs 4.7 and 7.2 of the guidelines state the following:
“4.7 Government institutions and their bodies should not have any financial interest in the tobacco industry, unless they are responsible for managing a Party’s ownership in a State-owned tobacco industry.
7.2 Parties that do not have a State-owned tobacco industry should not invest in the tobacco industry and related ventures.”
My Department has informed Government Departments of their obligations under the guidelines.
681. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time occupational therapists providing services in counties Leitrim and Sligo in 2016 and to date in 2017. [35049/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra682. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of part-time occupational therapists providing services in counties Leitrim and Sligo; and the number of hours per week they worked in 2016 and to date in 2017. [35050/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra683. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time occupational therapists in counties Leitrim and Sligo who are on leave; the length of time they have been on leave; and the date they are due to return to work. [35051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra684. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of part-time occupational therapists in counties Leitrim and Sligo who are on leave; the type of leave; the length of time they have been on leave; and the date they are due to return to work [35052/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 681 to 684, inclusive, together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
685. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide adequate cover for occupational therapists in counties Leitrim and Sligo to go on leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35053/17]
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 Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
686. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding. [35063/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
687. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) from County Louth whose consultant has requested that they be provided with a glucometer scanner in order that they would no longer have to prick their fingers for glucose readings; and if he will provide this equipment to this person. [35071/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
688. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 392 and 397 of 27 June 2017, if he will request the HSE to provide the details requested in the initial questions in view of the fact only figures for those aged under 65 years of age were supplied in its answer as opposed to all age cohorts as was requested. [35072/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly the Deputy providing figures for the number of persons treated for a full or partial limb amputation for all age cohorts.
689. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an operation. [35090/17]
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.
690. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the detail of the public waiting list for MRI scans in each applicable hospital in counties Louth, Meath and Dublin. [35092/17]
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.
691. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the cost of a long-term residential care place for a person (details supplied) in a centre in County Kildare. [35094/17]
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.
692. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the cost of residential weekend respite care from an organisation for a person (details supplied) with severe autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35095/17]
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 Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
693. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of hospices and palliative care units that receive funding from the HSE as section 39 entities; the number of beds in each hospice and palliative care unit; the number of WTE staff employed in each; and the funding provided by the HSE in 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [35096/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
