Written Answers Nos. 934-953
934. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS that do not have a consultant psychiatrist in position; and the length of time the position has been vacant, by catchment area and CHO. [35773/17]
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.
935. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve recruitment of senior psychologists and consultant psychiatrists into the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35774/17]
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.
936. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the monitoring system in place to oversee the implementation of standard operating procedures in the HSE and specifically in mental health. [35775/17]
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.
937. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the establishment of a dedicated advocacy service for mental health patients and the annual running costs thereafter. [35776/17]
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.
938. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to other proposed or completed sales in which no business case or business proposal was created despite it being a requirement in the HSE protocol that they be created (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35777/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the health care property estate is a service matter.
939. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the care groups, community groups or public bodies that were informed that land (details supplied) was excess to HSE's requirements prior to the property transaction application form being completed in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35778/17]
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.
940. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his views on the hiring of persons (details supplied) to ease staffing issues at a hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35783/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
941. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the recruitment of nurses and additional personnel at Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35784/17]
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.
942. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of a new primary care centre in Monaghan town; if it cannot be built in front of Monaghan hospital, as originally planned, if the €9 million ring-fenced for this project in 2013 will be spent in County Monaghan; if these funds can be invested in Monaghan hospital if plans for a primary centre cannot go ahead at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35785/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation. While the Government's objective is to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost-effective health care service the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care centres is dependent on a number of factors. Some of these factors are outside the control of the Health Service Executive. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered / provided / available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff.
The HSE proposes to develop a new primary care centre on the St. Davnet's Campus in Monaghan town. A design team has been appointed and is currently compiling a Feasibility Study.
Future investment in health care infrastructure, including this project, must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs, having regard to the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. As there will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer, capital funding is not ring-fenced by project in order to ensure that the HSE has flexibility within its capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of construction projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. This enables the HSE to leverage its capital allocation efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of priority projects for the funding available.
943. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 6 July 2017, the legal standing of the patient waiver form. [35788/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs stated in the response to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 6 July 2017, "The HSE levies the appropriate charge for private patients in public hospitals in accordance with the Health (Amendment) Act 2013. The private patient waiver form to which the Deputy refers has no legal standing in relation to the application of these charges."
944. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost of removing the prescription charge for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35793/17]
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.
945. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the amount each hospital has paid year on year to private ambulance companies since 2011. [35802/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
946. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application by CH8 for a community intervention team. [35803/17]
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.
947. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the new palliative consultant will commence employment with Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, MRHM. [35804/17]
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.
948. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when approval for capital funding to accommodate a new MRI scanner in Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, will be sanctioned (details supplied). [35805/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of an MRI scanner for the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar is part of a project to extend the radiology department. The project is in line with the overall Development Control Plan for the hospital, which is currently being finalised. The design team was appointed earlier this year and is currently finalising the design feasibility. It is hoped that an application for planning permission will be lodged later this year.
The project is currently funded to design stage only. Further funding for the next phase of development of this project is dependent on the costing and timing of the project, the availability of resources in the context of many other demands across the country, the future capital envelope for the health service and the overall priorities for future service development in the Ireland East Hospital Group. It is proposed that there will be a mid-term review of the State’s capital envelope, which will assess progress and review emerging pressures and demands. It is expected that this mid-term review will be completed in 2017.
There has been fundraising for this project by the Friends of Mullingar Hospital which I understand has raised in the region of €150,000.
949. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if two additional emergency department consultants to ensure 24-7 emergency services in Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, MRHM, will be approved. [35806/17]
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.
950. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35817/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
951. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the drug Spinraza will be made available to sufferers of spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35818/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
952. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be transferred to another hospital for treatment in view of the waiting times for the procedure in the local hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35819/17]
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.
953. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason no replacement was put in place for a person (details supplied) in Tullamore hospital; the measures the HSE will put in place to alleviate the increased waiting times for persons as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35820/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the HSE to respond to her directly.
