Written Answers Nos. 356-373
356. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number of public consultations held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department; the number of replies received per consultation; and the cost of each consultation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [26463/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department does not collect data in a manner which would allow the Deputy’s question to be answered in full.
If there is a particular consultation held prior to 2017 for which the Deputy requires details please contact my private office.
Details of Public consultations for 2018 to date and 2017 are available on the Department's website at the address https://health.gov.ie/consultations/. Advertising costs in respect of public consultations held during since 2017 are as per the following table, staff costs would be met within the overall Departmental allocation for same.
As requested, I have forwarded your question to the HSE for direct reply.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
|
Date |
Public Consultations |
Cost |
|
2018 |
Public Consultation on Private Practice in Public Hospitals |
€7,465 |
|
2018 |
Public Consultation on Deprivation of Liberty |
€5,193. |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation Task Force on Personalised Budgets for People with Disabilities. |
€6,167 |
|
2017 |
Patient Safety Advocacy Policy |
€3,244 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation Human Tissue Legislation, Newspaper Ads |
€6,167 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation Home care, Newspaper Ads |
€5,518 |
|
2016 |
Public Consultation National Drugs Strategy |
€11,699 |
|
2016 |
Public Consultation Taskforce on Personalised Budgets |
€4,011 |
|
2016 |
Invite submission on the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists |
€6,167 |
357. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be allocated home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26471/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
358. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of a home care package for a person (details supplied); and the reason for the delay to the service. [26482/18]
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.
359. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the way in which the HSE's weekly review of children waiting longer than four months for scoliosis surgery takes place; the format the review takes; the way in which the resulting decisions are documented and recorded; and the persons who carry out the weekly review. [26484/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by my Department and the HSE in the 2018 HSE National Service Plan. An additional €9 million has been provided to the HSE in 2018 specifically to develop paediatric orthopaedic services, including further increasing access to scoliosis services. The Children's Hospital Group committed to a two-year service development plan to implement an orthopaedic service that provides timely access for Outpatient and In-Patient services. The HSE has confirmed that as part of this plan it will maintain the 4-month target in 2018 and beyond, which is international best practice, for all patients who are clinically deemed to require surgery now.
In addition, a Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive, contemporary, and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
Furthermore, two new consultant posts for paediatric orthopaedics have been provided in the HSE 2018 National Service Plan. The two new posts are currently being processed through the Consultant Appointment Approval Committee process and are expected to be appointed in quarter 4 of 2018. These posts are allocated to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital for paediatric orthopaedics and are expected to have a positive impact on current patient waiting times.
In relation to patient reviews, clinical recording, decision making, and staffing, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to allowing older children to obtain the meningitis B vaccine as part of an immunisation programme. [26489/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
361. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date to have surgery carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26495/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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, since 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.
362. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the wait times for young adults of 16 to 21 years of age in need of scoliosis care to see a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Mater Hospital when referred by a general practitioner. [26499/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by my Department and the HSE in the 2018 HSE National Service Plan. An additional €9 million has been provided to the HSE in 2018 specifically to develop paediatric orthopaedic services, including further increasing access to scoliosis services. The Children's Hospital Group is committed to a two-year service development plan to implement an orthopaedic service that provides timely access for Outpatient and In-Patient services. The HSE has confirmed that as part of this plan it will maintain the 4-month target in 2018 and beyond, which is international best practice, for all patients who are clinically deemed to require surgery now.
In addition, a Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive, contemporary, and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
Furthermore, two new consultant posts for paediatric orthopaedics have been provided for in the HSE 2018 National Service Plan. The two new posts are currently being processed through the Consultant Appointment Approval Committee process and are expected to be appointed in quarter 4 of 2018. These posts are allocated to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital for paediatric orthopaedics and are expected to have a positive impact on current patient waiting times.
In relation to waiting times for scoliosis care at the Mater Hospital for 16-21 year olds, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
363. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to address the outpatient waiting lists for children who are waiting up to 36 months for an appointment. [26500/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving waiting times for hospital procedures and outpatient appointments is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. While the Inpatient and Day Case (IPDC) Action Plan was published in April to address waiting times for IPDC procedures, the Outpatient waiting list remains a significant challenge to be addressed in 2018.
Each year, 3.3 million patients attend Hospital Outpatient clinics for appointments. The HSE has commenced the development of an Outpatient Department Action Plan for 2018. The HSE will work with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the Department of Health to finalise a joint plan focused on improving overall use of resources and ensuring timely access to treatment and care for our patients.
The Children’s Hospital Group (CHG) continues to work with the NTPF to manage long waiting lists for clinically appropriate groups, and with the HSE’s Acute Hospital Division to secure year on year investment in critical pressure areas. Capacity challenges are managed daily with each of the three children’s hospitals supporting each other in terms of bed utilisation and availability.
Part of the rationale for the development of the new children’s hospital is the challenges with existing physical infrastructure across the hospitals in the Group. The design of the new children’s hospital and Paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals is based on a thorough analysis of capacity and demand and services will be provided in line with best practice and the National Model of Care for Paediatrics and Neonatology, the acute strand of the HSE’s Integrated Care Programme for Children.
364. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no activity regarding outsourcing to other hospitals since 2017 in view of the fact that over 84 children are waiting over four month targets; and the reason there is no letter or information sent to parents to inform them regarding outsourcing (details supplied). [26504/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the provision of significant additional resources last year, firm foundations have been laid and significant results achieved since the establishment of the Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design Group. The intense efforts of 2017 primarily focused on addressing legacy issues. This involved the introduction of a number of short-term measures, including the outsourcing of surgeries abroad.
As part of the outsourcing initiative 46 surgeries were performed in 2017 at Cappagh and the Mater Hospitals, Stanmore and Portland Hospitals in the UK and St Franziskus Hospital in Germany. For those patients and their families who opted for overseas treatment, they have had a positive outcome and experience. These contracts are still in place between the HSE and the outsourcing hospitals for 2018.
In addition to outsourcing surgeries to specialist centres in the UK and Europe, other initiatives introduced resulted in an increase in public capacity in terms of additional theatre sessions at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (Crumlin), Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital (Cappagh) and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (Mater).
In 2017, 22 patients opted to remain on the Crumlin list with their treating consultant rather than taking up offers of other treatment options in Ireland and overseas. Some of these patients have now had their surgery and others are continuously under review in relation to a plan. While no families have availed of the offer for treatment outside of Ireland thus far in 2018, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin will be contacting families within the coming week to offer them outsourcing in the UK and Germany. The Children's Hospital Group (CHG) advise that their focus for 2018 is on reducing the backlog and the unacceptable waiting times for children and young people and ensuring that those patients, who require surgery, receive it. The CHG's plan for the year ahead in partnership with the clinicians and all other stakeholders is to drive further progress in reducing waiting times by developing a long term sustainable and safe paediatric model of care for paediatric orthopaedic services which will ensure that clinical criteria will determine the timeframe for the delivery of care.
In relation to the issuing of letters to patients, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
365. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 451 of 30 January 2018, when the report on lymphoedema services will be published; and the reason it has been delayed. [26514/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the report of the Working Group on a Model of Care for Lymphoedema and Lipoedema Treatment in Ireland established by the HSE is being finalised and I expect that it will be published in the coming months.
366. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns being expressed regarding the operation of the assessment of needs process under a new standard operating procedure and that the change in the operation of this process will have a detrimental effect on the assessment of children in view of the fact that the assessment must be completed within a maximum of 90 minutes regardless of the child’s needs. [26524/18]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
367. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if transport facilities will be available for day respite centres such as a facility (details supplied). [26586/18]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
368. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the supports and services provided once a child reaches 18 years of age; and if a review of their social, medical and educational needs will be provided (details supplied). [26587/18]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
369. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a respite care service will be provided in County Kilkenny in addition to a facility (details supplied). [26588/18]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
370. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in discharging a person (details supplied); the length of time the person has been in St. Luke’s; if a care package is in place for them at Crosspatrick, County Kilkenny; the reason for the very poor communication between the hospital, the HSE and relatives of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26589/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
371. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment for a cataract operation will be arranged for a person (details supplied) at Waterford Regional Hospital; and the reason they were not called years ago as promised at the time of their assessment. [26591/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients. The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment to below 70,000 in 2018. This plan marks a very important milestone in delivering on this commitment.
The Action Plan places a particular focus on cataract surgery. The plan commits to offering treatment to all cataract patients who are clinically suitable for outsourcing and who have been waiting more than 9 months for treatment.
In relation to your particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
372. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card issued to a person (details supplied) was withdrawn five weeks after being issued; and if the card will be renewed until the error or issues are resolved. [26592/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy
373. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the findings of the working group established to assist in the development of the code of practice on advanced healthcare directives; the membership of the working group; the number of times it has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26603/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the activities of the working group are coordinated by the HSE, the Deputy's query has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
