Written Answers Nos. 994-1013
994. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1081 of 2 May 2017, the average waiting time for this type of surgery; if this report is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36070/17]
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.
995. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 241 of 2 June 2016, if this report is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36071/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government includes the following commitments in relation to the Beaumont capital projects:
- “We will commence the design of a new ED in Beaumont later this year with a view to funding for the construction being provided as part of the 2017 Capital Plan Review”.
- “The new Government will immediately proceed to the design and planning stage for a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Beaumont Hospital Dublin for inclusion in the 2017 Capital Plan review. The HSE Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Programme will make further recommendations in the next few months, following a survey of centres and will complete a CF model of care policy”.
My Department is supportive of the new Emergency Department and Cystic Fibrosis Unit and has been engaging with HSE Estates and HSE Acute Hospitals Division (AHD) regarding these. There is a rigorous process for the development of healthcare projects governed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines, principally the Public Spending Code, and EU Directives. All proposed projects must be submitted to the HSE’s Capital and Property Steering Committee for approval and prioritisation prior to inclusion in its multi-annual Capital Plans.
I have been advised by the HSE that relevant submissions are being progressed for consideration by this Steering Committee, and that, after that stage, funding will be made available in the HSE Capital Plan 2017 for preliminary design works such as appraisal, project brief, design feasibility studies etc., and to progress the projects generally.
My Department is working with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme, the outcome of which is expected in the context of Budget 2018. My Department is also conducting a Capacity Review which will assess projected health care needs over the next decade and the associated infrastructural requirements to meet these needs.
996. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to approve the Entresto drug for use by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36087/17]
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.
997. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36089/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
998. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of child psychologists in County Laois; and the number of days they work each week. [36090/17]
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.
999. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health his plans for the inclusion of Melatonin as a prescription drug under the general medical card scheme, specifically in instances where this drug is prescribed to children in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36091/17]
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.
1000. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when the gratuity payment due to certain home help workers will be made in lieu of pension payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36092/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to Home Help workers who are employed by voluntary providers of home help services which are funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004.
I advised the Deputy previously that as these home help workers are not employed by the HSE, the HSE and the Department have no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff including any pension arrangements.
The Deputy is also aware that a joint working group was established, as agreed as part of the 2015 Lansdowne Road talks, to consider a number of issues in relation to section 39 organisations. Unfortunately it was not possible to reach an agreement between the parties on the issue of gratuity payments.
1001. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the details of a service (details supplied); his plans to increase funding in this area to provide more places nationally and particular in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36105/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1002. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the number of staff vacancies in Donegal hospitals either university or community (details supplied); the details of medical staff across all departmental headings, nursing staff, auxiliary nursing staff, nursing aid, general hospital maintenance and cleaning staff and other grades; the details of the change in staff numbers in all hospitals named in each of the years from December 2008 to December 2016; his plans for restoring staffing numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36107/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1003. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) with a medical card is covered for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36108/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1004. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for St Joseph’s hospital, Stranorlar; his further plans for keeping all 78 short and long-term stay beds which are based in wards (details supplied) in the hospital; the timeframe for staff restoration in order to facilitate this commitment at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36109/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1005. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans to retain the long-term bed capacity at Lifford community hospital; his further plans to bring the hospital up to the required standards to ensure its future survival; the delivery of such proposals; the stage at which those plans are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36110/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1006. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for retaining all long-term bed capacity at Ramelton community hospital; his further plans for the long-term future of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36111/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 to 1006, inclusive, together.
Many public units are housed in buildings that are less than ideal in the modern context, but notwithstanding this, the care delivered to residents is generally of a very high standard. It is important therefore that we upgrade our public bed stock and this is the aim of the 5 year Capital Investment Programme for Community Nursing Units which was announced last year. This provides the framework to allow for an enhanced programme to replace, upgrade and refurbish these care facilities, as appropriate. Significant work was undertaken to determine the most optimum scheduling of projects within the phased provision of funding to achieve compliance with National Standards. By the end of 2016 I understand that 14 projects were operational and a further 12 are expected to be operational by the end of this year.
Under this Programme it is proposed to build a new 130 bed community nursing unit in Letterkenny by the end of 2021, through a Public Private Partnership or alternative funding model, to replace existing long-stay accommodation including that provided at St Joseph's, Stranorlar and Ramelton and Lifford Community Hospitals.
Operational responsibility for delivering the programme is a matter for the HSE. The Executive has advised that the Letterkenny project is currently at Design Feasibility stage with a projected completion date of 2021. As part of the preparatory work for the development of the new community nursing unit, I understand that the HSE is undertaking a review of the three Community Hospitals, referred to by the Deputy with a view to identifying any options for their future use.
1007. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on mental health within County Donegal in each of the years 2008 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36112/17]
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.
1008. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for restoring the cardiac rehabilitation programme to the previous centres of Dungloe and Ballyliffen which operated until 2010 but that have been suspended since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36113/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1009. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for retaining the Woodville specialist dementia care unit at St Joseph’s hospital Stranorlar, County Donegal; his further plans for restoring staff numbers at the unit and improvements for the specialist dementia unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36124/17]
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.
1010. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not receiving the correct home help. [36136/17]
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.
1011. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when discussions regarding the new Translarna medication to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy will be approved in view of the fact persons with very severe medical conditions are confined to wheelchairs and urgently need this medicine as it can be life changing; the timeframe in respect of negotiations; when the medicine will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36137/17]
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.
1012. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [36146/17]
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.
1013. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the details of each body or organisation that is scheduled to receive in excess of €1 million from his Department's Vote of expenditure or the group of votes of expenditure connected with his Department in 2017 for the provision of services by the body or the organisation concerned; the amount involved in each case; if there is a signed service-level agreement in place in respect of the services to be carried out by these bodies or organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36159/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health provides grants to a number of organisations, details of which are published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2017 (Vote 38), available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website at www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/.
Part III of Vote 38 gives details of the agencies directly funded by my Department. These are primarily research, developmental, consultative, supervisory, regulatory and advisory bodies, rather than bodies providing social services to the public. Letters of Determination issue to each agency at the beginning of the year setting out the funding and monitoring arrangements. Service Plans are produced by each agency identifying the range of services planned for the year within the approved budget allocation and these are monitored by my Department.
Last October my Department wrote to the HSE setting out its 2017 net expenditure determination together with key considerations to inform the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the National Service Plan (NSP). The net non-capital expenditure that may be incurred by the HSE for the financial year 2017 is €13,911.979 million. The HSE subsequently submitted the NSP setting out the level of health services to be provided within the available funding.
In 2016 just under €3.8 billion of the HSE’s total expenditure related to grants to outside agencies. The legal framework under which the HSE provides grant funding to agencies is set out in the Health Act 2004. The HSE has a Governance Framework in place which incorporates national standardised documentation and guidance documents that enables the HSE to contractually underpin the grant-funding provided to all Non-Statutory Service Providers. This Framework seeks to ensure the standard and consistent application of good governance principles, which are robust and effective, to ensure that both the HSE and the Providers meet their respective obligations. It is reviewed and updated as required. Service Providers which provide services under either Section 38 or Section 39 of the Health Act and which are in receipt of in excess of €250,000 annually are required to sign a standard Service Arrangement.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with details of the relevant agencies to which it provides funding.
