Written Answers Nos. 291-304
291. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital for the administration of injections for macular degeneration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18958/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
292. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical card section failed to take into account certain items for the purpose of assessing and determining the eligibility of persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18973/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
293. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a psychiatric assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/18]
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.
294. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his future plans for new hospitals in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18976/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's new National Development Plan includes a new acute hospital for Cork among its proposals. Further planning to progress investment in this new facility will now be undertaken, including full evaluation of local capacity and infrastructural needs and a framework for decision-making on the optimal location from a clinical and population needs perspective.
It is important to recognise that the National Development Plan is a long-term plan which provides for a large number of health developments across the country, including both national programmes and individual projects, across acute, primary and social care. We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the population needs and achieve value for money. Health capital projects and programmes currently underway will continue. As is to be expected with a ten year plan, many proposals, including the new hospital in Cork, are at an early stage and will require to progress through appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm location, timeline or funding required can be established.
295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of a general practitioner service from a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal; the steps he will take to provide support to the service lead in order to ensure the continuation of the service going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18983/18]
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 to the Deputy.
296. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in each of the hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group in each of the years 2009 to 2017, by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18995/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
297. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issue raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding paediatric rheumatology; his views on whether there is a need to have children with Down's syndrome screened for arthritis; and if the HSE will offer another doctor a contract in which they can continue to screen children for arthritis and hold follow-up clinics for rheumatology appointments and so on. [18996/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra300. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for an additional rheumatology consultant at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, to support the existing team and help alleviate the long waiting lists; and when a rheumatology consultant will be appointed. [19004/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 together.
I am aware that there are challenges in meeting the growing demand for paediatric rheumatology services, and that the Health Service Executive is working towards improving access to such services. Any consideration of further funding to support rheumatology service developments has to be considered in the context of service prioritisation and with regard to competing priorities for resources available as part of the 2019 Estimates process.
In relation to current paediatric rheumatology service provision, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
298. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health his views on whether children with Down's syndrome need to be screened from birth on an annual basis for arthritis in view of the incidence of the condition in these children. [18998/18]
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.
299. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by persons (details supplied) under the fair deal nursing home scheme. [18999/18]
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.
301. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit additional paediatric rheumatologists to address the number of children on the waiting list to be diagnosed and treated for juvenile arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19005/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that there are challenges in meeting the growing demand for rheumatology services, and that the Health Service Executive is working towards improving access to such services.
Any consideration of further funding to support rheumatology service developments has to be considered in the context of service prioritisation and with regard to competing priorities for resources available as part of the 2019 Estimates process.
In relation to your query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
302. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to abolish an in loco parentis rule in view of the unanimously accepted motion in Dáil Éireann on 27 March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19009/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPaediatric Home Care Packages (PHCPs) are in place to support the discharge of seriously ill children from acute hospital into the care of their families. They are designed to maximise a child’s quality of life and developmental opportunities while also helping to keep children out of hospital as much as possible.
The in loco parentis rule reflects the fact that PHCPs are intended to serve as a clinical support and is in place to ensure that a second person will be present in the event of an acute emergency such as respiratory arrest, decanuation of a tracheostomy or status epileptus.
I acknowledge the cross-party concerns raised about the operation of the loco parentis provision and recognise that respite can be an issue for parents of children with complex medical needs. Indeed, the matter is already being examined as part of the Quality Assurance Process for PHCPs that was commenced by the HSE in 2017. This process will inform how PHCPs should be delivered, including the operation of the in loco parentis provision.
Many parents have already contributed to the Quality Assurance Process, and further engagement will take place in the coming weeks and months. Furthermore, the HSE intends to establish a Parental Reference Group that will help shape how care is delivered to children with complex medical needs.
The Government shares the commitment of all Deputies to supporting the families of these children and to ensuring the provision of a service that both works for parents and reflects their expertise in caring for their children.
303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of cutbacks facing a community service (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19018/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEvery effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. The overall allocation to Ballymun Drug and Alcohol Task Forces for community-based drugs initiatives in 2018 is in excess of €1.1m, the same amount was provided in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
It is a matter for the Task Force to ensure that its budget is effectively deployed to meet current priorities and locally identified needs, taking into account the changing nature of the drugs phenomenon. Where possible, it is desirable that initiatives funded by task forces are mainstreamed into government funding.
Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force has informed the Department of Health that it has decided to cease supporting breakfast clubs from the end of June 2018 as alternative sources of public funding are available for school breakfasts through the Department of Social Protection's School Meals Programme. The task force intends to refocus its resources on individuals, children and families with the most acute needs and most risk due to drug/alcohol issues.
The task force will assist schools in the area to apply for funding for breakfast clubs through this programme. Funding for the school meals programme in 2018 amounts to €54 million, up from €47.5 million in 2017. Some 18,400 more children and 80 newly designated DEIS schools will benefit from September 2018.
I am confident that the food and nutrition needs of children in the community service referred to by the Deputy can be met under this expanded programme.
304. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the circumstances of a paramedic service call-out (details supplied) will be investigated; if a review of the service will be carried out to ensure such cases do not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19020/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
