Written Answers Nos. 362-377
362. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if a separate waiting room will be made available at the emergency department at South Tipperary General Hospital for patients presenting with mental health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31352/18]
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.
363. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the location a person (details supplied) can access a DEXA scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31353/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent speech and language therapists per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31361/18]
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
365. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent child psychologists per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31362/18]
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
366. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent physiotherapists per county for each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31363/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
367. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent occupational therapists per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31364/18]
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
368. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the funding allocation to secondary specialist care for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities, per county for each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31365/18]
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.
369. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the funding allocation for nursing homes per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31366/18]
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.
370. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent public health nurses per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31367/18]
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.
371. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent specialists dedicated to home care teams per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31368/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
372. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent specialists dedicated to residential services assistance for elderly persons per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31369/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
373. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent key workers dedicated to assisting people with complex needs per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to February 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31370/18]
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 a service matter, I have arranged for the correspondence to be referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
374. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent child and adolescent mental health psychologists per county in each of the years 2011 to 2017, and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31371/18]
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.
375. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the publication date for the outpatient waiting list action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31372/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working with the HSE and the NTPF to finalise an Outpatient Action Plan for 2018. This plan will support the HSE’s compliance with their National Service Plan targets, reduce the growth in the number of patients waiting for outpatient services, improve the accuracy of the waiting list, and trial a number of NTPF funded interventions, including weekend and out of hours clinics.
I hope to publish the Outpatient Action Plan shortly.
376. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be given an appointment to have a procedure expedited. [31386/18]
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.
377. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if the facility for women to attend for a cervical smear if they are concerned regarding their previous smear, if it was more than three months ago, will continue beyond the initial three-month window; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31388/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is clear that there is no evidence that the clinical and technical aspects of CervicalCheck have performed outside or below international standards or the quality guidelines set for the programme. All laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme’s standards and have ISO accreditation, certified by the relevant national authorities.
The cervical screening programme has reduced the risk of women developing cervical cancer and there was a significant downward trend in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer between 2010 and 2015. Also, cervical cancers are being diagnosed at an earlier stage and five-year survival rates have improved.
However, I am conscious of the need to provide reassurance to women who may have concerns about the results of a smear test they had through the national screening service. Therefore, a woman who has previously had a CervicalCheck smear test, and who following consultation with her GP determines that she wishes to have a further test, may do so without charge. In light of the ongoing public concern and the need to ensure clarity for patients and doctors regarding the CervicalCheck screening programme, this arrangement will continue until the end of the year.
