Written Answers Nos. 447-460
447. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve access to the HSE cross-border directive under which patients accepted onto the scheme who cannot afford the cost of surgery up-front are ineligible for treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the conditions of EU membership, all Member States must implement EU Directives. Consequently under the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare each Member State is required to implement the Directive's provisions regarding access to healthcare in other Member States/EEA countries.
The Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement of patients' of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (Regulation 883/04).
The Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country. S.I. 203 of 2014 provides the legal basis for the Health Service Executive to operate the EU Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland.
In transposing the terms of EU Directive 2011/24/EU the Irish State, in line with other Member States of the EU, put in place a reimbursement scheme for the costs of cross-border healthcare. This decision reflects the situation that under the terms of the Directive it is the patient who makes the choice to receive their treatment outside of the State. The patient decides the Member State they wish to go to, and the particular institution, or individual, from whom they receive the treatment (which may be in the public or private sector). Given the choice the patient has of such a large and diverse range of providers across the EU\EEA, and their differing payment systems, it is not possible to set up a direct payment scheme. There are no plans to amend this provision of the transposition.
448. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of new residential emergency places provided by disability services in 2017. [53948/17]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
449. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of new home support and in-home emergency respite cases provided by disability services in 2017. [53949/17]
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.
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.
450. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons transferred to community living to date in 2017 under Time to Move On from Congregated Settings [53950/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of additional homes provided to date in 2017 under Time to Move on from Congregated Settings. [53951/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.
The HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion” (2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community. The plan is being rolled out at a regional and local level and involves full consultation with stakeholders.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. In May 2016, 2725 people lived in congregated settings and our objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings. A congregated setting is defined as a residential setting where people live with ten or more people.
The HSE has established a subgroup, under ‘Transforming Lives’, the Programme to implement the recommendations of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services, which is developing an implementation plan for moving people from institutions. I welcome the fact that the needs of people moving from congregated settings will be fully taken into account during this process as the model of care for individuals will be based on a person centred plan.
At the end of December 2016, less than 2,600 people with a disability were living in congregated settings. The HSE's 2017 National Service Plan has set a target of 223 to move from institutions in 2017. This will ensure that people are able to move out of congregated settings, and into their own homes in the community. I want to emphasise that the appropriate supports and resources are being put in place to ensure that people are supported as they move out of residential centres.
As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations on "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion", I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
452. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of the finalisation and implementation of the framework for neuro-rehabilitation strategy. [53955/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra453. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of an innovative pilot day service aimed at supporting persons with severe acquired brain injuries. [53956/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if a collaborative care pathways model for persons with complex neuro-rehabilitation care and support accommodation needs in CHO 6, 7 and 9 and involving the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Peamount Hospital and the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, has been established; and the number of service users who have benefitted. [53957/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra455. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if each CHO has identified one area in which neuro-rehabilitation care services, both statutory and non-statutory, could work together to avoid hospital admission and provide a better outcome for the service user; and if so, the details of same for each CHO. [53958/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 452 to 455, inclusive, together.
The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to publish "a plan for advancing Neuro-rehabilitation services in the community". The Health Service Executive (HSE) Social Care Division and the HSE Clinical Programme and Strategy Division are working in tandem to progress the implementation of the National Policy & Strategy for the provision of Neuro-rehabilitation services.
The HSE has established a National Steering Group to develop an Implementation Framework for the National Neuro-rehabilitation Policy & Strategy. Following a consultation process in 2016, the HSE has reconstituted the National Steering Group, which is now comprised of representatives across the whole health system including Heads of Social Care and the National Clinical Programme for Rehabilitation Medicine, Acute Hospital services, Mental Health, Primary Care and Health & Wellbeing, Health & Social Care Professionals and the Neurological Alliance of Ireland.
The focus of the HSE National Steering Group is to develop a framework which is implementable across the country. The Steering Group considers that a Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Network model represents best practice as a means of providing neuro-rehabilitation care and support/accommodation needs. A Working Group has been established to support the Demonstration project pilot site. The Working Group has drafted both Terms of Reference and an Implementation Framework.
The HSE's 2017 National Service Plan also contains a priority action to 'establish an innovative pilot day service aimed at supporting people with severe acquired brain injuries'. Work is in progress to complete the requirements of the Service Arrangement with An Saol, to source a service location and recruit necessary staff.
With regard to the related service matters raised by the Deputy, I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred out to the Health Service Executive, for a direct reply to the Deputy.
456. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of day-only respite sessions accessed by persons with a disability to date in 2017. [53959/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra457. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of overnights with or without day respite accessed by persons with a disability to date in 2017. [53960/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra458. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with a disability (details supplied) in receipt of respite services to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53961/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 456 to 458, inclusive, together.
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.
I am very much aware of the importance of access to planned respite, which ensures that people with disabilities receive opportunities to socialise and separately, facilitates families to receive a break from caring. Respite services may vary, according to the assessed needs of the individuals and their carer. The model of respite is changing and although some still require overnight respite, others prefer and benefit from day respite. The number of respite nights has been reducing as persons with disabilities are seeking alternative models, such as day respite or extended day.
In 2017, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has planned that 161,262 overnight respite sessions will be accessed and the number of day respite sessions planned is 42,552.
In addition, the HSE will provide 128 new emergency residential placements and new home support and in-home respite for 75 additional people who require emergency supports.
In the HSE's Social Care Operational Plan for 2017, 5,720 people with a Disability are expected to avail of centre based respite services. Based on existing levels of service and in addition to the centre-based respite service, it is planned that between 2,000 and 2,500 persons will avail of respite services such as holiday respite or occasional respite with a host family.
The HSE continues to work with agencies to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available
As the level of data requested by the Deputy is not currently available, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for the inclusion of this data in the reply to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of requests for assessments under the Disability Act 2005 received to date in 2017 in each LHO area; the number assessed within the statutory timeframe; and the number overdue. [53962/17]
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 particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
460. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children’s disability network teams now established; and the areas in which one has not been established, in tabular form. [53963/17]
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 particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
