Written Answers Nos 452-468
452. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the requirement for a doubling of the number of IBD and gastro nurses is reflected in his Department and the HSE's plans to recruit 120 specialist nurse practitioners as per a press statement on 21 November 2017; the number of new IBD nurse specialists included in this recruitment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11931/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2017 120 candidate Advance Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) commenced an education programme to develop ANP services in the areas of chronic disease management (rheumatology and respiratory medicine), older persons care and unscheduled care. The service areas for ANP development reflect initial priority service challenges which were identified in respect of access, waiting lists, hospital avoidance, and improved patient flow. No nurses from IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) or gastroenterology are currently included in this policy initiative.
453. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be taken to enforce and embed the evidence-based practice midwives have worked to master to make the retention of graduating midwives a reality in view of figures given to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health on 21 February 2018 (details supplied) and his recent announcement that a full time permanent contract will be offered to all graduating midwives in 2018 to attract and keep midwives. [11933/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe need to increase the numbers of nurses and midwives in the public health service is a priority for this Government despite a backdrop of global shortages in health professionals and the high regard in which our nursing graduates are held worldwide.
Last month, the HSE issued an instruction that all nurse graduates will be offered permanent contracts to work in the Irish Public Health Service in 2018 in line with the usual recruitment processes. Directors of Nursing were requested by the HSE’s National Director of HR to commence the recruitment process as soon as possible, if not already underway.
The HSE has increased the number of nurses and midwives employed in the public health service by 1,360 from January 2017 (35,936) to January 2018 (37,296). The number of nursing posts has increased by over 2,900 in the four years from end January 2014 to end January 2018.
At the end of January 2018, there were 1,130 staff midwives, with a further 17 midwives awaiting registration. In addition to this, the HSE personnel census in January 2018 reported 336 Clinical Midwife Managers. This is an increase of 34 when compared to January 2017. These managers have a key role to contribute to service development through appropriate continuous education, research initiatives and keeping up to date with the evidence based literature.
Significant work is also being undertaken by the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer in my Department to develop a policy for graduate, specialist and advanced nursing and midwifery practice and widen opportunities for nurses and midwives to develop career paths as advanced practitioners.
454. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the evidence-based practice of offering a vaginal birth after a first caesarean section and after a second caesarean section which has been offered through the public midwives clinic in a hospital (details supplied) has been discontinued in view of the fact that this evidence-based approach is still being made available to pregnant women who attend as private patients; and if women who are public patients and who are now deprived of this clinical support have been written to in person with a full explanation from the hospital. [11934/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
455. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the report on perinatal deaths in Portiuncula Hospital will be published in view of the fact that the original review of perinatal deaths in the hospital was commenced in 2015 and the original undertaking was that the report would be completed in four months. [11935/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the individual systematic analysis reports were received by the 16 families whose cases had been the subject of review, in April 2017. The HSE advises that the final report is at an advanced stage, therefore as this is a service matter, the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
456. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the title of the national clinical programme for obstetrics and gynaecology will be changed to reflect the fact that the reality is that the majority of the workforce dealing with pregnancy and birth are midwives. [11936/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the query raised concerning the title of this Clinical Programme, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
457. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the value of the existing new extension to the north east of a health centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11962/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has provided the following details regarding the extension to the health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford.
A construction contract of €477,000 was awarded in August 2005 to include:
- Construction and fit-out of 2 storey extension to house Opthalmology area and store at lower level, with an overall new build area of 123 square metres;
- Alteration and fit out of Audiology suite within existing building;
- Creation of new ramped access to the main entrance at Grogan’s Road Health Centre.
The HSE has advised that works were completed and the units were brought into use around Q2 2007.
458. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11966/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed upgrade of the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11978/18]
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.
460. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a statutory regulatory structure for home care packages exists within the public and private sectors to protect users of the service. [11999/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to promoting care in the community so that people can continue to live with confidence, security and dignity in their own homes for as long as possible. To support this, my Department is developing a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home care services. The Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to progress this.
In the meantime the HSE is progressing a range of measures to improve Home Care provision overall, to standardise services nationally and to promote quality and safety. In 2012 the HSE introduced a Procurement Framework for Home Care Services. This framework, which requires service providers to meet defined minimum standards applied to services procured by the HSE from external providers and the process was most recently repeated in 2016. Providers of home care services are monitored through Service Level Agreements with the HSE. They are required to provide a prescribed range of information in relation to the services they provide, and are supervised through regular local operational meetings and reviews of clients' care plans. The purpose of these measures is to promote quality and safety and to ensure a more standardised approach to service provision nationally. Home Care Services are reviewed regularly by the HSE. In addition, the HSE has in place a complaints procedure that is available to all service users.
461. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a premises (details supplied) will be offered for sale on the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12010/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter, your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
462. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12015/18]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
463. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12016/18]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
464. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12020/18]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
465. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12021/18]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
466. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12022/18]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
467. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children between zero and 15 years of age who held a medical card at the end of each of the years 2011 to November 2017, by local health organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12027/18]
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.
468. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a weekly home care package will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); and the reason it was not provided in view of the fact that the HSE stated that the person requires the care. [12034/18]
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.
