Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1074. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of elective inpatient discharges in each public and voluntary hospital during the first six months of 2017. [36380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospitals Discharges
Ceisteanna (1074)
Freagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1075)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1075. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of haemodialysis patients treated in acute hospitals during the first six months of 2017. [36381/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1076)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1076. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of haemodialysis patients treated in contracted centres during the first six months of 2017. [36382/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1077)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1077. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of home therapies dialysis patients treated during the first six months of 2017. [36383/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospitals Discharges
Ceisteanna (1078)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1078. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost through delayed discharges during the first six months of 2017. [36384/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Stroke Care
Ceisteanna (1079)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1079. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of acute stroke patients who have spent all or some of their hospital stay in an acute or combined stroke unit during the first six months of 2017. [36385/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Stroke Care
Ceisteanna (1080)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1080. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the percentage of persons with confirmed acute ischaemic stroke who receive thrombolysis during the first six months of 2017. [36386/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1081)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1081. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the acute hospitals that have a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, outreach programme. [36387/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
Health Services Data
Ceisteanna (1082)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1082. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons attending the rapid access lung clinic in designated cancer centres during the first six months of 2017. [36388/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A total of 1,540 patients attended the rapid access lung clinics between January 2017 and May 2017. Data for June is not yet available.
Health Services Data
Ceisteanna (1083)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1083. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons attending rapid access prostate clinics in cancer centres during the first six months of 2017; and the number of persons attending such clinics who attended or were offered an appointment within 20 working days of receipt of referral in the cancer centres over the same time period. [36389/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A total of 1,264 people were seen in rapid access prostate clinics to end-May 2017, the latest figures available. Of these, 598 were seen within 20 working days of receipt of referral in the cancer centre.
HSE Agency Staff Expenditure
Ceisteanna (1084)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1084. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive spent on agency staff each month to date in 2017; the equivalent figures for each month in 2016; the proportion of the HSE’s anticipated agency staff expenditure for 2017 that has been incurred to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36390/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
Prescriptions Charges
Ceisteanna (1085)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1085. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount collected in prescription charges for medical card prescriptions in each of the years 2011 to 2016; and the amount projected for 2017. [36391/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Disability Services Funding
Ceisteanna (1086)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:1086. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the amount it would cost to provide individualised budgets to persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36394/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In line with a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, I established a Task Force last year to consider the issue of personalised budgets for people with disabilities. The Task Force includes officials from the relevant Government Departments and agencies, HSE, academic and policy experts, stakeholder organisations and a wide range of people with lived experience of disability and disability services (both intellectual and physical). The Task Force has been asked to recommend an approach and an implementation strategy for the introduction of personalised budgets by the end of 2017. Issues relating to cost are included in the Task Force workplan and will be outlined in its final report.
Emergency Services Provision
Ceisteanna (1087)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:1087. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the amount it would cost to reinstate all the downgraded and closed accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36398/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The establishment of Irish acute hospitals into a small number of Hospital Groups aims to provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner, and to allow integration and improve patient flow across the continuum of care.
Hospital Groups are making significant progress in working together to progress from being disparate individual hospitals to integrated groups with a more coordinated approach to the planning and delivery of services across all the hospitals in the group. This allows for a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care, while ensuring that patients who require true emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals.
Currently there are 26 adult acute hospitals which have a 24/7 ED, and within the context set out above, no exercise has taken place to examine the cost of opening further services.
Medicinal Products Licensing
Ceisteanna (1088)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:1088. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36427/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act a licence is required to import cannabis, which is a Schedule 1 controlled substance, into Ireland. Under the Act the import licence application would need to be made by an Irish registered doctor, for the purposes of fulfilling a prescription for treatment of his or her patient, where the proposed course of treatment has been endorsed by the consultant responsible for the management and oversight of that patient’s response to the treatment over time.
It is the professional decision of the clinician, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe or not prescribe any particular treatment for a patient under their care.
I wish to draw the Deputy’s attention to the advice provided to me by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, earlier this year. Dr Holohan advises that the independence of the doctor-patient relationship is a fundamental principle upon which medical practice is based and that it would be neither appropriate nor ethical for the Minister for Health to seek to influence this relationship.
Dr Holohan further advises that the clinical considerations that inform the judgement of a consultant who is caring for a patient are matters which are subject to patient confidentiality, and as such neither I nor my officials have any right to enquire into them. Specifically, it would be wholly inappropriate for a Minister for Health to seek to instruct or influence any doctor to prescribe a particular treatment.
Question No. 1089 answered with Question No. 1065.
Autism Support Services
Ceisteanna (1090)
Mary Butler
Ceist:1090. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting lists for occupational therapy assessments for children with autism between six and 18 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36433/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Autism Support Services
Ceisteanna (1091)
Mary Butler
Ceist:1091. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to run parent workshops in an area (details supplied); the basis of the workshops; the proposed content of those workshops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36436/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (1092)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1092. 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. [36448/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Hospital Consultant Contracts
Ceisteanna (1093)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:1093. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the details of the arrangements in contracts between his Department, the HSE and hospital consultants in the carrying out of private work in public hospitals; the contractual arrangements in place to protect against private work impacting on consultants' public work; the arrangements in place to ensure that operations for private patients do not displace operations on patients on the public list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36466/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.