Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018

Written Answers Nos 341-359

Hospital Car Parks

Ceisteanna (341)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

341. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional parking spaces in University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13593/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (342)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

342. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE has plans to extend the free meningitis B vaccination or provide financial support for the vaccination in respect of children born before 1 October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13607/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The 2016 HSE Service Plan included additional funding for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. Two changes were made to the schedule with the introduction of Meningococcal B (Men B) and Rotavirus immunisation for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. As the first doses of these vaccines are administered to children when they reach two months, these changes took effect from 1 December, 2016. There are no plans at this stage to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.

All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the Men B vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (343)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

343. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the position of a person (details supplied) on the waiting list for orthodontic work. [13614/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Ceisteanna (344)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

344. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the time a person (details supplied) will have to wait for a wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13674/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Ceisteanna (345)

Noel Rock

Ceist:

345. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary care centre for Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

My Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy directly with the information requested in respect of Finglas Primary Care Centre.

Blood Transfusion Service Provision

Ceisteanna (346)

Noel Rock

Ceist:

346. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for mobile blood donation vans to travel to workplaces and schools in an effort to increase blood supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The IBTS has three fixed donation centres: D'Olier Street and Stillorgan in Dublin and St Finbar's Hospital in Cork.  Mobile clinic teams travel to various locations to provide people with an opportunity to donate blood.  Clinics are held in venues such as community centres, hotels, school buildings and GAA halls.  Clinics are held in the afternoons and evenings in the effort to maximise donations.

The IBTS provides transport for employees to and from their fixed donation centres in Dublin and Cork under their Bloodworks initiative.  The IBTS also runs clinics at some workplaces where a lot of people are employed.  This provides an opportunity for staff to make a blood donation during working hours.

As blood donors must be over 18, the IBTS does not seek donations from schools. The IBTS has developed specific material to raise awareness of blood donation among students. This material is available for teachers and students on the IBTS website (www.giveblood.ie).

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) derives its funding from the sale of blood and blood products.

Hospital Beds Data

Ceisteanna (347)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

347. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the bed capacity at each of the community hospitals in County Donegal in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of bed closures which have occurred at each of these facilities during this period; the reason for each such closure; the average percentage occupancy rate experienced at each of these facilities during this period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13687/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Nursing Home Services

Ceisteanna (348, 349)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

348. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the review of the pricing system in respect of long-term residential care with service providers, and as recommended by the review of the fair deal scheme will be published; the steps being taken to develop a fit-for-purpose funding model for nursing home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13689/18]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

349. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce an appeals mechanism as part of the fair deal scheme to provide recourse for service providers unable to formally agree fees and pricing with the NTPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13690/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

The Report of the NHSS Review published in 2015 identified a number of issues for more detailed consideration, including a review of pricing mechanism by the NTPF, with a view to:

- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;

- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and

- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.

A Steering Committee has been established to oversee this review which is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The NTPF have responsibility for the development of this report, although Department Officials continue to engage with the NTPF regarding the review. The most recent update from the NTPF is that the report will be finalised and ready for review in the first half of 2018.

With regard to the Deputy’s question on plans to introduce an independent appeal mechanism within the NHSS to provide third party recourse for nursing home providers that cannot agree a fee with the NTPF, I cannot nor would I wish to, prejudge the outcomes of the NTPF pricing mechanism review. However I welcome the work to date and look forward to the NTPF concluding the review later this year.

Addiction Treatment Services

Ceisteanna (350)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

350. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the facilities for drug and alcohol rehabilitation that are available for long-term inpatient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13700/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Chronic Disease Management Programme

Ceisteanna (351)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

351. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the completion and publication of the integrated care programme for the prevention and management of chronic disease, ICPCD, model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13715/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Chronic Disease Management Programme

Ceisteanna (352)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

352. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details of the chronic disease demonstrator sites for the four main chronic diseases established under the integrated care programme for the prevention and management of chronic disease, ICPCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Chronic Disease Management Programme

Ceisteanna (353)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

353. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the detailed gap analysis for specialist ambulatory care and hospital inpatient specialist care for heart failure will be carried out by the Integrated Care Programme for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease (ICPCD); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13717/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Integrated Care Programme for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease, in partnership with the National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure, is planning to conduct a service gap analysis to inform integrated care projects to address service gaps for heart failure.

This will include specialist ambulatory care and hospital inpatient specialist care.  A report on the outcome of the gap analysis is expected to be presented to the HSE Design Board by end 2018. 

Chronic Disease Management Programme

Ceisteanna (354)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

354. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details of the Integrated Care Programme for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease (ICPCD) 2018 programme plan; the timeframe for the activities; when population health planning data will be developed; when service gap analyses will be carried out; when the workforce plan will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13718/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospitals Data

Ceisteanna (355)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

355. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the thrombolysis rates in each hospital providing thrombolysis here in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13719/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Hospitals Discharges

Ceisteanna (356)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

356. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the sites in which the extension of early supported discharge is proposed for 2018; the progress to date on same; the status on the NCP's recommendation for a further nine early supported discharge teams to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Ceisteanna (357)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

357. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the areas in which stroke units are in development; the status on their development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13721/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Ceisteanna (358)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

358. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of the national stroke register into a national stroke audit; the person or body that manages the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13722/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (359)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

359. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the challenges in terms of pathways of care, estate and manpower that need to be addressed in terms of thrombectomy as referred to by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13723/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.