Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:341. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will secure an appointment for knee surgery at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital. [17431/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (341)
Freagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (342)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:342. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if services will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17433/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (343)
John Brassil
Ceist:343. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an ophthalmology appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17434/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (344)
Robert Troy
Ceist:344. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be scheduled for back surgery. [17436/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (345)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:345. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has had no follow-up appointment with CAMHS on a matter. [17438/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (346)
James Browne
Ceist:346. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason a person's (details supplied) knee replacement surgeries were cancelled with short notice on two separate occasions in April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17444/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Health Promotion
Ceisteanna (347)
James Browne
Ceist:347. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to those under 16 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17446/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
While there are no specific plans along the lines requested by the Deputy, there are a number of existing instruments directly relevant to this area.
Existing legislation stipulates that energy drinks that contain caffeine in excess of 150 mg/l must be labelled 'High caffeine content - not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women' in the same field of vision as the name of the beverage.
In addition, I recently launched voluntary Codes of Practice for the Non-Broadcast Media Advertising and Marketing of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, including Sponsorship and Retail Product Placement.
The purpose of these Codes is to ensure that foods and drinks high in fat, especially saturated fat, sugar and salt are marketed and advertised in a responsible way, especially to young people. High energy drinks will qualify as high sugar products under the criteria being used to define high sugar drinks. Therefore their advertising, marketing, sponsorship and product placement will be covered by these new Codes.
The Codes sit alongside and complement other voluntary and statutory measures intended to ensure the responsible marketing of food to the public. These include the Broadcast Authority of Ireland General and Children’s Commercial Communications Code and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland Code of Standards for Advertising and Marketing Communications in Ireland.
Finally, the Minister for Finance announced in Budget 2018 the introduction of a sugar tax, at a rate of 30 cent per litre on drinks with over eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres, along with a reduced rate of 20 cent per litre on drinks with between five and eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. The rationale for the sugar tax is to reduce the consumption of drinks high in sugar such as high energy drinks.
Hospitals Data
Ceisteanna (348)
Clare Daly
Ceist:348. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of births that took place in 2017 or the most recent year for which figures can be obtained in each of the three Dublin maternity hospitals; the number of delivery unit beds that were available for that year in each hospital; and the number of whole-time equivalent midwives employed for that year in each hospital. [17449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the queries raised by the Deputy relate to service issues, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
Hospitals Capital Programme
Ceisteanna (349)
Seán Crowe
Ceist:349. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if funding was approved for a new replacement dialysis unit in Tallaght Hospital in June 2017; if the funding was cancelled on 5 January 2018; the reason for this cancellation; the status of funding for the unit; and if the proposed unit is included in Project Ireland 2040 (details supplied). [17453/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Development Plan provides €10.9 billion to invest in infrastructure, equipment and additional service capacity for the public health sector. This represents an increase of 165% in capital funding over the previous decade. The additional capital funding is predominately in the second half of the plan.
It is important to recognise that this is a long-term plan which provides for a large number of Health developments across the country including developments at Tallaght Hospital.
As is to be expected with a ten year plan there are many development proposals, all of which are at different stages of progress.
As the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the current position on proposed developments at Tallaght General Hospital.
Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage
Ceisteanna (350)
Clare Daly
Ceist:350. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason for excluding persons over 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes from accessing the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17455/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Hospitals Expenditure
Ceisteanna (351)
Seán Crowe
Ceist:351. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding being spent by Tallaght Hospital on dialysis services provided by a private hospital (details supplied). [17466/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (352)
Robert Troy
Ceist:352. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17472/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (353)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:353. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the proportion of persons on colonoscopy waiting lists in each month of 2017 who are waiting for a colonoscopy as part of surveillance after screening, polypectomy or other investigation in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17473/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (354)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:354. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the percentage of persons scheduled for colonoscopy surveillance who underwent the procedure within three months of the scheduled date for colonoscopy for each month in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17474/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (355)
Robert Troy
Ceist:355. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if dental treatment for a person (details supplied) was listed when the person was attending primary school. [17475/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospitals Capital Programme
Ceisteanna (356)
Joan Burton
Ceist:356. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health when a design team will be put in place to carry out the tender process for the new endoscopy unit, physical medicine unit, physical therapy unit, oncology unit and day procedure department at Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17478/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the current position on proposed developments at Naas General Hospital.
Home Care Packages Provision
Ceisteanna (357)
John Curran
Ceist:357. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be made available to the HSE to reduce the waiting list and waiting time for home support in view of the fact that at the end of February 2018 there were 6,172 persons waiting for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Home support services were a particular area of focus in Budget 2018, with an additional €18.25 million allocated. The additional resources bring the budget for the provision of home support services to €408 million. The HSE's 2018 National Service Plan provides for a target of some 17.094 million home support hours to be provided to 50,500 people, which compares with last year's 16.34 million hours delivered to 50,000 people (home help and home care package funded hours combined). This is an increase of 754,000 hours to 500 more people. In addition 235 intensive home care packages will provide 360,000 home support hours for people with complex needs.
Following the recent significant adverse weather the HSE provided about 350 extra Home Support Packages across 13 specific hospitals over a five week period.
Despite this significant level of service provision, the demand for home support continues to grow. It is important to note that the allocation of funding for home support across the system, though significant, is finite and services must therefore be delivered within the funding available. In this context, I acknowledge that access to the service may take longer than we would like. However, the HSE monitors the delivery of home support on an on-going basis, to ensure that activity is maximised relative to individual clients’ assessed care needs within the overall available resources for home support and having regard to demand throughout the year.
The 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, we plan to establish a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services. The Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to progress this.
Hospital Appointments Delays
Ceisteanna (358)
Robert Troy
Ceist:358. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.