Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:513. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the expansion of the medical assessment services at Roscommon University Hospital. [30251/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services Data
Ceisteanna (513)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Health Services Data
Ceisteanna (514)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:514. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric homecare packages being provided. [30252/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Health Services Data
Ceisteanna (515)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:515. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting fewer than 13 weeks and more than 13 weeks respectively following a referral for routine colonoscopy or oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy, OGD, at the end of June 2018 or latest date available. [30253/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the number of persons waiting fewer than 13 weeks and more than 13 weeks respectively following a referral for routine colonoscopy or OGD at the end of June 2018 or latest date available, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (516)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:516. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of postgraduate education programmes for nurses and midwives being provided. [30254/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I take it that the deputy is referring to postgraduate courses funded by the HSE. The HSE support many nurses to engage in various types of post-graduate education, both to develop competence for particular areas of clinical practice and for professional development in areas such as leadership and management. I have asked the HSE to provide details to you directly in relation to post graduate courses for nurses and midwives in respect of which HSE funding was provided in 2017.
Nursing Staff
Ceisteanna (517)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:517. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses and midwives with authority to prescribe medicines. [30255/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.
Nursing Staff
Ceisteanna (518)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:518. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses and midwives with authority to prescribe ionising radiation, that is, X-ray. [30256/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (519)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:519. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of six national foundation education programmes for nurses in critical care, surgical pre-assessment, acute medicine unscheduled care, frailty, emergency care and anaesthetic recovery room nursing. [30257/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Health Services Staff Training
Ceisteanna (520)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:520. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if a national education programme to prepare 130 nurses for advanced practitioner roles has been commissioned; and if not, when same will occur. [30258/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2017, the HSE commissioned a consortium of four universities (UCC, NUIG, UCD and TCD) to deliver a broad-based education programme for advanced nursing practice in partnership with services to support nurses to practice across the services including integrated care, in the areas of chronic disease management, older person care and unscheduled care.
In October 2017, 120 candidate ANP’s commenced an education programme in the service areas of chronic disease management (rheumatology and respiratory medicine), older persons care and unscheduled care across the country. The service areas for ANP development reflect priority service challenges in respect of access, waiting lists, hospital avoidance, and improved patient flow. This project was extended in 2018 with a further 30 candidate ANPs being funded by my Department through the HSE to undertake education and have their posts backfilled in the same areas of practice.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (521)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:521. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the expansion of the public health nurse sponsorship programme to 150 nurses. [30259/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (522)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:522. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the expansion of the sponsorship for healthcare workers to train as nurses to 30 places, incorporating both academic fees and salaries. [30260/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As it is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (523)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:523. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of a national framework to establish an online resource to support and guide professional development planning for all nurses and midwives. [30261/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (524)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:524. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the expansion of education provision by centres of nursing and midwifery. [30262/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Nursing Education
Ceisteanna (525)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:525. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a nursing postgraduate entry programme. [30263/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Report of the Review of Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery degree programmes was commissioned by my Department to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the programmes in preparing nurses and midwives to practice in the healthcare system now and into the future.
In 2016, the Monitoring Group published a Report - Implementation of the Recommendation of the Report of the Review of Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Degree Programmes.
The Report of the Review included close to 40 recommendations. One of those recommendations was the establishment of a nursing Postgraduate entry programme. The HSE and my Department are currently conducting a scoping exercise in relation to this recommendation. In February 2018, my Department wrote to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) requesting that the NMBI consider developing standards and requirements for general and intellectual disability post-graduate education/registration programmes.
I understand that this was discussed by the NMBI and was referred to the Education, Training and Standards Committee. The Committee will revert to the Board in relation to this matter. I have written to the NMBI and asked that you be updated of progress on this matter in due course.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (526)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:526. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30266/18]
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, 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists Data
Ceisteanna (527)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:527. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons from County Meath waiting for a cataract operation; the average wait time; the longest wait time; and the actions being taken to reduce wait times. [30268/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Improving 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 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 respect of the work of the NTPF, the NTPF authorises public hospitals to offer outsourced treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.
In terms on the current waiting times in Meath specifically, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Respite Care Services Data
Ceisteanna (528)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:528. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for child and adult respite, respectively in County Meath; the average waiting time for respite; the longest wait for respite; and the number of staff working to provide respite services in County Meath for each of the past five years. [30269/18]
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.
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
HSE Data
Ceisteanna (529)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:529. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of contracts agreed between the HSE and a company (details supplied) since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30271/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.