Written Answers Nos. 311-330
311. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Cork on a waiting list for occupational therapy; the number awaiting occupational therapy services for up to 12, 24 and 36 months and over, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43564/17]
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.
312. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43565/17]
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.
313. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43566/17]
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.
I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2018 announced a total allocation of €55m for the National Treatment Purchasing Fund (NTPF) for 2018, which more than doubles their 2017 total allocation of €20m.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE, in conjunction with the NTPF, to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have been published and their implementation is ongoing. The Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient Plans focus on reducing the number of patients waiting 15 months or more for inpatient and daycase treatment or for an outpatient appointment by the end of October. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
314. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled; if the HSE will supply sufficient funding in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43578/17]
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.
315. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the supports available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43580/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
316. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the assistance which can be provided to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43585/17]
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.
317. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to a centre (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to cover the costs of extending the services being offered and the cost of dealing with referrals from Tusla and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43588/17]
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.
318. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when the FreeStyle Libre system will be made available under the long-term illness scheme for persons with diabetes; if availability will not be restricted only to persons with type 1 diabetes but will be made available to every person on multi-daily insulin injections based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
319. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to address the concerns of a person (details supplied) about funding for basic standards of stroke care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43596/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Clinical Programme for Stroke (NCPS) has been in place since early 2010. The vision of the programme is to design standardised models of integrated care pathways for the delivery of clinical care to ensure sustained quality clinical operational management. Overall, the NCPS aims to improve quality, access and cost-effectiveness of stroke services in Ireland.
Some of the achievements of this programme in improving access to services to date include:
National 24/7 access to safe stroke thrombolysis
Emergency thrombolysis is provided to patients in all parts of the country, via improved hospital and ambulance protocols, health professional training and the appointment of new stroke physicians. The national stroke thrombolysis rate has increased from 1% in 2006 to a rate of 12% (2016).
The NCPS has developed a number of initiatives including a telemedicine programme to allow delivery of expert thrombolysis therapy in smaller level three hospitals. It has been involved in the training of over 250 doctors nationally to deliver thrombolysis therapy and has participated in a training programme for Stroke in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Improved access to stroke unit care
Access to stroke unit care has been shown to improve stroke patient outcomes through reduced mortality rates, reduced dependency and shorter lengths of stay in hospital by patients. Since the commencement of the NCPS, nine new stroke units have been opened, bringing the total number of stroke units in acute hospitals to twenty-two. Two further stroke units are currently in development with a third at planning stages.
This is a major improvement from the first national stroke care audit report in 2006 which reported one stroke unit in the country. However stroke units are typically too small and the recent national Audit showed that only half of stroke patients admitted spent any time in a stroke unit.
Admission to a stroke unit is a National Key Performance Indicator. In 2016, 65.6% of Stroke patients were admitted to a Stroke Unit.
The HSE are considering the further development of Stroke Units in the context of the 2018 Service Plan.
Early Discharge of Stroke Patients
It has been recognised internationally that Early Supported Discharge of stroke patients from hospital improves outcomes, reduces need for long term care and increases acute hospital capacity by freeing up beds. It is estimated the 10-25% of patients could benefit from an ESD service.
The programme has helped establish 3 small but effective ESD teams in Dublin and Galway. In 2016, 137 patients were discharged to ESD services representing 15.6% of total stroke discharges. It is estimated that there was an average reduction in length of stay of 10.4 days per ESD patient.
Funding for increasing capacity in the three operational sites has been secured for 2017 with further funding secured to support the establishment of two further teams in University Hospital Limerick and Cork University Hospital. Recruitment of these ESD staff is ongoing. University Hospital Limerick is due to commence its ESD Service in the latter part of 2017.
As part of the phased introduction of ESD, the NSP has recommended a further 9 teams, to be established over a three year period and is under consideration in the context of the 2018 National Service Plan.
Emergency Endovascular Therapy – Thrombectomy
Thrombectomy is an emergency endovascular procedure that permits patients with severe strokes caused by clots occluding the major vessels of the brain and neck to have these clots removed using specialist devices. HIQA has completed a Health Technology Assessment which found that this intervention is value for money.
Provision of emergency endovascular thrombectomy is available in Beaumont Hospital and Cork University Hospital.
To date, the number of patients undergoing this procedure has risen annually, on average almost 50% increase each year: 2015 = one hundred and twenty two cases, 2016 = one hundred and seventy two cases, 2017 – end of August = one hundred and fifty four cases. These patients have been referred from 20 different hospitals around the country.
The expansion of thrombectomy is under consideration in the context of NSP 2018.
The Stroke Manifesto published by the Irish Heart Foundation has been noted and it will be one of the factors that will contribute to the ongoing policy development in this area.
320. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if all nursing posts that have been filled in the Roscommon mental health service within the past two years were advertised; if so, the locations where these positions were advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43599/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra324. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff employed in the Roscommon mental health service in September 2017; the number employed in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43603/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra327. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff in the Roscommon mental health services employed by an employer other than the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43606/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra329. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact there are persons in the community who need the supports of the Roscommon mental health services; the number of nursing staff available to those persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43608/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of clerical staff in the Roscommon mental health services to offer clerical assistance to nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43611/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 324, 327, 329 and 332 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
321. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if all nursing posts that have been filled in the Castlerea mental health service within the past two years were advertised; if so, the locations where these positions were advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43600/17]
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.
322. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if all nursing posts that have been filled in the Ballaghaderreen mental health services within the past two years were advertised; if so, the locations where these positions were advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43601/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra325. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff employed in the Ballaghaderreen mental health service in September 2017; the number employed in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43604/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra326. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff in the Ballaghaderreen mental health services employed by an employer other than the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43605/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra330. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons in the community who need the supports of the Ballaghaderreen mental health services; the number of nursing staff available to those persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43609/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of clerical staff in the Ballaghaderreen mental health services to offer clerical assistance to nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43612/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 322, 325, 326, 330 and 333 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
323. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff employed in the Castlerea mental health services in September 2017; the number employed in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43602/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra328. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing staff in the Castlerea mental health services employed by an employer other than the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43607/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact there are persons in the community who need the supports of the Castlerea mental health services; the number of nursing staff available to those persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43610/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of clerical staff in the Castlerea mental health services to offer clerical assistance to nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43613/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 323, 328, 331 and 334 together.
As these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
