Written Answers Nos. 385-403
385. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the expected budget increase for home help services nationally for the year 2018; if an increase in this budget will result in more positions available for qualified personnel to work in home help services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49218/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn budget 2018 a further €37 million has been made available for older people services, comprising €5m funding in 2017 and €32 million next year, to further strengthen supports for older people, particularly to facilitate speedier discharge from acute hospitals over the winter period. A significant proportion of this additional funding will go towards home care services. The Department is working with the HSE to prepare the 2018 National Service Plan. Pending agreement of the Plan I am not in a position to comment either on the funding that will be made available for dementia care or the specific services that will be provided.
386. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of both in-post and vacant whole-time equivalent speech and language therapists in the Dublin south city LHO; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment areas of Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham. [49221/17]
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.
387. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of both in-post and vacant whole-time equivalent social workers in the Dublin south city LHO; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment areas of Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham. [49222/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
388. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of both in-post and vacant whole-time equivalent public health nurses in the Dublin south city LHO; and the number of these accessible to persons in the catchment areas of Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham. [49223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
389. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners in the Dublin south city LHO who have signed up to the free general practitioner service for the under sixes scheme; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment areas of Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham. [49224/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
390. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children aged under 18 years of age for speech and language assessment in the Dublin south city LHO; and the number of these within the catchment areas of Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham. [49226/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for children aged under 18 years of age for speech and language therapy treatment in the Dublin south city LHO; and the number of these within the catchment areas of Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham. [49227/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
As these questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
392. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of both in-post and vacant whole-time equivalent speech and language therapists in the Cork south Lee LHO; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment area of Douglas. [49228/17]
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.
393. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of both in-post and vacant whole-time equivalent social workers in the Cork south Lee LHO; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment area of Douglas. [49229/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
394. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of both in-post and vacant whole-time equivalent public health nurses in the Cork south Lee LHO; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment area of Douglas. [49230/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
395. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners the Cork south Lee LHO who have signed up to the free general practitioner service for the under sixes scheme; and the number of these accessible by persons in the catchment area of Douglas. [49231/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
396. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children under 18 years of age for speech and language assessment in the Cork south Lee LHO; and the number of these within the catchment area of Douglas [49233/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children aged under 18 years of age for speech and language therapy treatment; the number in the Cork south Lee LHO; and the number of these within the catchment area of Douglas [49234/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together.
As these questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
398. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to include the flash glucose monitoring system for diabetics in the general medical services scheme through the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49240/17]
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.
399. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the school leaver's process and respite services for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49260/17]
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.
Health Service Executive (HSE) Disability Services engages in a detailed and person centred process with a wide range of agencies every year, to identify the most appropriate service provider and quantum of service, to meet the individual needs of each school leaver. This process takes place over a number of months and is led by the needs of each individual school leaver. In addition, HSE Disability Services also engages with individual school leaver families to listen to any concerns they may have regarding the process and works with both the families and agencies to seek an appropriate placement for the school leaver.
Currently day services are transitioning to a new approach outlined in the policy New Directions. Through the implementation of New Directions, work is on-going to develop a standardised pathway for all young people with disabilities and it is envisaged that this work will likely recommend earlier transition planning between educational and health care practitioners to facilitate a more seamless transition for these children and their families.
The changed day services that are evolving as a result of this new policy implementation will mean that school leavers entering day services in 2017 and in future years will experience the benefits of the New Directions approach to service delivery.
Interim Standards for New Directions have also been developed and will be phased in using a continuous quality improvement approach over the coming years.
As the remaining issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
400. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health given the recent publication in the media (details supplied) of the action plan for Portlaoise hospital report, the reason it has not yet been made public by his Department; the reason he has not issued a response to the report since it was finalised in December 2016; the level of consultation with local staff and service users on the issue; his views on the medical bodies' concerns of risks to patients in terms of critical care, patient transfers and consultant recruitment in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49262/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most important issue in relation to consideration of services at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise is that patient safety and outcomes must come first. Reports on Portlaoise hospital in recent years have pointed to the need for reconfiguration of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff that can safely meet their needs. Since 2014, the focus has been on supporting the hospital to develop and enhance management capability, implementing changes required to address clinical service deficiencies, and incorporating the hospital into the governance structures within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Significant work has been undertaken to strengthen and stabilise current arrangements for services at the hospital to ensure that services currently provided that are not sustainable are discontinued and those that are, are safety assured and adequately resourced.
The HSE has confirmed that hospital funding has increased by 28% relative to the 2012 budget and staffing levels have risen by 29% from the 2014 base. Funding of €300,000 has also been provided in 2017 to facilitate the opening of the new medical assessment unit.
In addition, governance and management arrangements in Portlaoise Hospital have been strengthened, additional clinical staff have been appointed and staff training, hospital culture and communications have improved.
The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital. A draft plan was submitted to my Department in December 2016. This draft report was reviewed in detail and was the subject of detailed engagement between Department officials and the HSE. Significant additional work was undertaken by the HSE on foot of this engagement resulting in a revised draft plan that was submitted to my Department in September 2017.
The report is currently under detailed consideration in my Department. Once there is an agreed position on the draft plan, it is intended that there will be further engagement with all interested parties, to ensure that the needs of patients, staff, the local and wider community are addressed. Any future changes to services at Portlaoise, will have to take account of existing patient flows and demands in other hospitals, as well as the need to develop particular services at Portlaoise in the context of the overall service configuration in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
401. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans for the management of child mental health and child protection emergencies in the Portlaoise hospital catchment area; the level of consultation there has been with service users and local staff, including CAMHS and Tusla on the issue; if he will report on the risks to children with mental health or child protection issues in terms of critical care, patient transfers and consultant recruitment in the area in view of the recent publication in the media (details supplied) of the action plan for Portlaoise hospital report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49263/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra402. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on the plans for adult mental health in the Portlaoise hospital catchment area; the level of consultation there has been with service users and local staff; if he will report on the risks to adult mental health patients in terms of critical care, patient transfers and consultant recruitment in the area in view of the recent publication in the media (details supplied) of the action plan for Portlaoise hospital report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49264/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
403. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the recruitment and appointment of a consultant (details supplied) to Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49271/17]
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.
