Peter Burke
Ceist:191. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if a procedure for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21861/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Administration
Ceisteanna (191)
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (192)
James Browne
Ceist:192. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was not contacted by a hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21863/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service Provision
Ceisteanna (193)
James Lawless
Ceist:193. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if an incident (details supplied) in which no ambulance services were available at the time in County Kildare will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21866/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Psychological Services
Ceisteanna (194)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:194. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding provision of psychologists at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21870/18]
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 Charges
Ceisteanna (195)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:195. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce charges on patients that pay for venesection clinic appointments in County Louth; the plans in place to monitor if venesection clinic appointments are reducing since the introduction; if so, if a clinical study will be carried out to assess the health implications that may follow for haemochromatosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21871/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department and the HSE are currently considering the issue of the application of the public in-patient charge of €80 for venesection in Acute Hospitals as well as broader issues in relation to the treatment of patients with Hereditary Haemochromatosis.
In this context, a meeting between Department of Health and HSE officials is being arranged.
Legislative Programme
Ceisteanna (196)
James Browne
Ceist:196. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding drafting of legislation concerning the deprivation of liberty in nursing homes and other residential facilities [21872/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health is continuing to prioritise the development of Heads of Bill to provide legislative clarity on the issue of deprivation of liberty in order to meet our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These provisions will apply to residential centres for persons with disabilities and nursing homes. The provisions will also apply to mental health facilities in situations where a person has mental health issues but is not suffering from a mental disorder and therefore cannot be involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act 2001.
The deprivation of liberty proposals will apply in circumstances in which it is proposed that a relevant person is to live in, or is already living in, such facilities and
(a) is, or will be, under continuous supervision and control; and
(b) is not, or will not, be free to leave; and
(c) there is reason to believe that the person lacks capacity to make a decision to live in the relevant facility.
The approach taken in the Heads makes use of the decision-making procedures, supports and safeguards that already exist under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the Heads also include some additional safeguards specific to deprivation of liberty. The proposals build on the machinery of the Decision Support Service, which is provided for under this Act. For that reason, it is not possible for the deprivation of liberty proposals to come into operation in advance of the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the operationalisation of the Decision Support Service.
The deprivation of liberty provisions will be brought forward as a stand-alone Bill and will add a new Part to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. My Department has worked closely with the Department of Justice and Equality in developing the proposals to ensure that the Heads align with this Act as well as meet our obligations under the UN Convention.
A public consultation on the draft legislative provisions formally closed on 9 March 2018 but submissions were accepted until 3 May. The Department is currently analysing the 50 submissions received with a view to amending its draft Heads of Bill as necessary. We intend to undertake this work as quickly as possible, while also ensuring that the system we are developing will work in practice and will provide sufficient safeguards in accordance with the requirements of international law, domestic law and relevant jurisprudence.
To assist with this process, an advisory group has been convened to consider the findings of the public consultation process, to advise on any appropriate amendments to the draft Heads of Bill and to ensure that the approach taken integrates effectively with existing legislation.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (197)
Peter Burke
Ceist:197. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21874/18]
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.
National Cervical Screening Programme
Ceisteanna (198)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:198. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the person or body that will be eligible for the redress scheme being set up in respect of the cervical cancer screening scandal; the approach with regard to indemnification from the US laboratories in this regard; the definition of a normal error in terms of a false negative smear test results and therefore possibly outside of redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21888/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On the 8 May I established a Scoping Inquiry which is being led by Dr Gabriel Scally, Professor of Public Health at the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. The Inquiry is expected to report by the end of June, and subject to its findings, the Government is committed to establishing a full Commission of Investigation.
The outcomes of the Scoping Inquiry and subsequent Commission of Investigation will inform any next steps needed to address issues related to CervicalCheck.
National Cervical Screening Programme Administration
Ceisteanna (199)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:199. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the additional supports available to women who previously had cervical cancer following a false negative smear test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21889/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 11 May, I announced a comprehensive package of health and social care measures to support women and families affected by issues relating to CervicalCheck audit. These measures include:
- The provision of a discretionary medical card for each woman affected, or their next-of-kin in cases where the woman has sadly died;
- The meeting of out-of-pocket medical costs incurred;
- The provision of primary care supports, including counselling, to the women affected;
- The provision of counselling services, including bereavement counselling where appropriate, to the immediate family members of these women; and
- The provision of other health and social care supports, including travel costs and childminding, where appropriate.
Disability Services Provision
Ceisteanna (200)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:200. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and responded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
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.