Written Answers Nos. 800-821
800. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans in budget 2019 to increase the number of respite beds available for older persons who are dependant on a carer; his further plans to expand the allocation from two weeks to four weeks per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25194/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic residential care facilities are an essential part of our health infrastructure. There are approximately 5,000 long stay and 2,000 short stay public beds across the country. Short stay beds are interchangeable and may be used for respite, rehabilitation or palliative care etc., depending on demand.
The Government is committed to investing in additional capacity and making tangible reforms to our model of healthcare delivery as outlined in the recently published Capacity Review. Programmes to increase capacity are already underway including the on-going Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021 for Community Nursing Units. The National Development Plan provides for an extra 4,500 additional public short-term and long-term beds over the next 10 years. Significant new programmes or projects included in the NDP, including residential beds, reflect the next stage of health sector development.
The level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2019 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE will be considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process and National Service Planning. There are currently no plans to change the format of the respite service.
801. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an incapacitated patient of a private nursing home who is unable to travel by car to a hospital for a medical appointment accessing transport by ambulance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25197/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
802. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number and location of hospitals operating under the full capacity protocol; the timeframe the protocol has been in place in each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25201/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE National Escalation Framework, issued to the system in late 2015, consists of a tiered and incremental suite of actions to be adapted and implemented in hospitals with an ED during times when such hospitals are challenged in matching capacity and demand for acute inpatient care.
The full capacity protocol is the last escalation step in the HSE National Escalation Framework.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
803. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of and likely publication date for the development of a three year unscheduled care plan for the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgainst a background of growing demand for unscheduled care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, Government provided €30 million in 2017 and a further €40 million in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments.
In the light of the conclusions of the Health Service Capacity Review that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019. A draft submission has been received from the HSE in this regard and is currently under consideration by my Department.
This proposal is part of continuing work to develop a three-year Unscheduled Care Plan by the HSE. This broader piece of work, that includes both capacity and improvement, is nearing completion with a view to the HSE being in a position to submit it to the Department in Autumn.
804. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of additional measures to be included in the 2018 winter initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25209/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgainst a background of growing demand for unscheduled care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, Government provided €30 million in 2017 and a further €40 million in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments.
In the light of the conclusions of the Health Service Capacity Review that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019. A draft submission has been received from the HSE in this regard and is currently under consideration by my Department.
As outlined in the Capacity Review, the demographic pressures being experienced by the health service are such as to demand not just additional capacity but continued emphasis on health and well-being initiatives, an improved model of care with a stronger role for enhanced community based services and continued improvement in productivity including in acute hospitals.
The Government has approved a record level of capital investment in health at €10.9 billion over the next 10 years. This will provide for a major enhancement of the capacity of our health services to meet demand. Importantly, the accelerated introduction of additional capacity for 2018/2019 will be matched by forthcoming reforms including the publication of a detailed Sláintecare Implementation Plan.
805. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the KPIs on a daily, weekly and monthly basis as appropriate for both admitted and non-admitted patient experience time, PET, nine hour to 24 hour breaches and delayed discharges (details supplied) to date in 2018, in tabular form. [25210/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
806. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of a centralised repository supported by the national document control system for the management of the HSE national PPPGs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25211/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
807. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of family forums and residents' councils across each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25212/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
808. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of a contract management support unit for section 38 and 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25213/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has made considerable progress in ensuring greater accountability in the discharge of responsibilities by both the HSE and its funded agencies in relation to the oversight of grants paid to Section 38 and 39 agencies. The HSE, for example, has implemented a Governance Framework which underpins the funding relationship between the HSE and these agencies.
While the HSE will continue to develop this Framework it has also been acknowledged that there is a need to establish Contract Management Support Units (CMSUs) in the Community Health Organisations (CHOs) to address matters such as conducting the recommended frequency of monitoring meetings in all cases and that the oversight of multi-agreement agencies is co-ordinated.
Because of the resource implications involved in the establishment of CMSUs, they will be established on a phased basis – commencing in 2018. The HSE has already established a CMSU Implementation Group and Phase 1 (2018) will include the appointment of a Head of CMSU in each CHO area and additional staff being appointed to a number of priority CHOs.
When fully established, the CMSUs will assist service managers in managing and documenting all aspects of the relationship with agencies. The HSE will then be in a position to further enhance and oversee the delivery of services by agencies in a manner that will give ongoing assurance in relation to the significant amounts of Exchequer funding involved.
809. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the publication date of the HSE's report on estates maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy with the current position regarding the report referred to in his question.
810. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the completion of analysis of the various cohorts of consultants not on the Medical Council specialist register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25215/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra811. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the known level of compliance with the HSE consultants qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25216/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 810 and 811 together.
I have asked the HSE to revert to the Deputy with the specific details sought. The HSE policy in respect of Consultant Appointments, both permanent and temporary, requires that they are on the relevant Specialist Register. This rule is in place since March 2008.
The HSE has advised my Department that as of 11 May 2018, 121 doctors who were not on the specialist register were employed in consultant roles. 51 of these were in post before the introduction of the requirement to be registered in the specialist division. 70 consultants took up post after that date.
The HSE has put in place a detailed process to manage consultants who are not on the Specialist Register. In July 2017 the HSE issued clear instructions to all hospitals to ensure:-
(i) all consultants not on the Specialist Register are identified, using the National Doctors Training and Planning DIME database,
(ii) that a risk mitigation plan is put in place for each post where the appointee does not hold the relevant qualifications,
(iii) where necessary, this plan should set up access to an appropriate arrangement for senior clinical oversight as required, and
(iv) the Hospital Groups provide an assurance to the appropriate National Service Director that the required relevant supervisory supports are in place for those Consultants not on the Specialist Register.
Hospitals have been required by the HSE to identify those Consultants engaged prior to March 2008 who do not hold Specialist Division registration and to liaise with National Doctors Training and Planning to support them in achieving registration. The HSE will bear the cost of applications to the Medical Council in these cases.
812. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the abolition of a specific clause (details supplied). [25217/18]
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.
813. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses by area within the north County Dublin area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25221/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
815. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the budget dedicated to home care support in the CHO 7 region for 2018 that has been spent to date in the second quarter of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra816. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated to home care support in the CHO 6 region for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra817. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the budget dedicated to home care support in the CHO 6 region for 2018 that was spent in the first quarter of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25235/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra818. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the budget dedicated to home care support in the CHO 6 region for 2018 that has been spent to date in the second quarter of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25236/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra819. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are wait-listed and priority wait-listed for home care support in the CHO 7 region in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25237/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra820. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are wait-listed and priority wait-listed for home care support in the CHO 6 region in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25238/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra821. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the budget available for home care support in the CHO 7 region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25239/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 815 to 821, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
