Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1580. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding required to implement fully the Vision for Change strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33489/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMental Health Services Funding
Ceisteanna (1580)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Ceisteanna (1581)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1581. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of providing Kuvan to persons affected by phenylketonuria, PKU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33490/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Accordingly, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
Disability Services Funding
Ceisteanna (1582)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1582. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to commit to a multi-annual investment programme of €211 million per year from 2019 to 2023 for community services for persons with intellectual, physical, sensory and neurological disabilities as advocated by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33491/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am in receipt of the informal Oireachtas Disability Group pre-budget submission.
The level of funding available for my Department is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process for 2019 which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1583)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:1583. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) is waiting a significant amount of time for a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33498/18]
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.
Prescriptions Charges
Ceisteanna (1584)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1584. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of removing the prescription charge for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33504/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The total amount of prescription charges collected in 2017 was €105.2m. Following the reduction of the prescription charge to €2 on 1 January 2018, approximately €48m was collected in the first six months of this year. If current trends continue, it is estimated that the full year amount collected would be in the region of €96m.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (1585)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1585. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the funding levels of the Dublin City Council Fire Brigade Service in order for it to provide more ambulances and to recruit more staff in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33523/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Mental Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (1586)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1586. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time child psychologists in CHO area 9 in each of the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; if this number will be further increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33525/18]
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.
Health Services Staff Data
Ceisteanna (1587)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1587. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses who are engaged in child health screening programmes in CHO area 9 in each of the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33526/18]
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 (1588)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:1588. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients in each public and voluntary hospital who have been removed from outpatient lists each month in 2018 as a result of a validation exercise and not as a result of having an appointment with a consultant. [33533/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond to your query directly in terms of the numbers removed from outpatient department waiting lists through validation in each month in 2018.
Good practice around the management of hospital waiting lists recommends periodic validation of waiting lists.
Validation is the process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at pre-planned intervals during the year to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or wish to be removed.
Importantly, the validation process allows for situations where, if requested by the GP/referring clinician, patients can be reinstated back to their original place on to the Waiting List.
Last month, I approved the establishment of a Central Waiting List Validation function in the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The establishment of the new centralised validation office will put in place protocols and practices which will ensure a standardisation of approach to the validation of all waiting lists across all hospitals.
The new Office is expected to commence validation of patient files in September.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1589)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:1589. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the days of the week and hours of the day during which magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scans are provided in each public and voluntary hospital to public patients, in tabular form. [33534/18]
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1590)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:1590. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the days of the week and hours of the day during which computed tomography, CT, scans are provided in each public and voluntary hospital to public patients, in tabular form. [33535/18]
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1591)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:1591. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the days of the week and hours of the day during which ultrasound scans are provided in each public and voluntary hospital to public patients, in tabular form. [33536/18]
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.
Health Services Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (1592)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:1592. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding required to restore pay to staff in section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33540/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 9 February 2018, an agreement was reached at the WRC between the Department of Health, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies.
On foot of agreement at the WRC, a data gathering exercise was conducted by the HSE. Following consultation with the Trade Unions on a draft of the report, the HSE submitted their completed interim report to the Department on 11 June 2018.
This report covers a sample of 50 agencies identified in the WRC agreement. The Department of Health is currently considering the findings of the report in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The cost of pay restoration in these agencies is not yet established.
A conciliation conference between the parties commenced on 9 July 2018 at the Workplace Relations Commission. It is due to reconvene on 25 July 2018.
Ambulance Service Response Times
Ceisteanna (1593)
James Browne
Ceist:1593. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns regarding delays in ambulance response times in the south County Leitrim, west County Cavan and north County Longford areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33548/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Ambulance Service Provision
Ceisteanna (1594)
James Browne
Ceist:1594. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the need for a dedicated ambulance service depot based out of Ballinamore, County Leitrim will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33549/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (1595)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1595. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [33550/18]
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.
Autism Support Services
Ceisteanna (1596)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:1596. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding awarded to voluntary groups in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, for the provision of services and supports for parents and children with autism; the organisations that have received funding; the amount of funding received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33555/18]
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.
Hospitals Capital Programme
Ceisteanna (1597, 1598)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Ceist:1597. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 3 July 2018, if he has amended the Capital Plan 2016-2021 as per the request received from community healthcare organisation, CHO, 1 in March 2018; the specifics of the amendment he has made in terms of St. Joseph's Community Hospital, Stranorlar and Ramelton Community Hospital, County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the request made by CHO 1 is not solely a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE and requires ministerial approval; if he has approved the request made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33560/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPat the Cope Gallagher
Ceist:1598. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 3 July 2018, the number of long-stay accommodation beds and dementia care beds his revised and amended capital plan provides for both St. Joseph's Community Hospital, Stranorlar and Ramelton Community Hospital as per the amendments to the plan which is now agreed; the specifics of the funding which is earmarked for both community hospitals; the timeframe for the delivery of both projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33561/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1597 and 1598 together.
In March of this year, a proposal was approved by the HSE’s National Capital Property Steering Committee that revises a 2016 decision to replace the existing long term residential beds in Stranorlar and Ramelton, and recommends retention and refurbishment of the units at an additional capital cost of €6m. The new unit in Letterkenny also remains part of the proposed plan.
The HSE’s Capital Investment Programme for Community Nursing Units 2016 to 2021 for Public Residential Care Centres for Older People set out the HSE’s proposals for the replacement of 33 existing centres and the refurbishment or extension of 58 centres at a cost of €535 million. The Plan was submitted to the Department of Health in January 2016.
The programme which was announced on 26 January 2016 included the development of a new 130 bed centre, centrally located in Letterkenny, to ensure that bed capacity in the region, which includes Ramelton, Lifford and Stranorlar was secured on a sustainable basis. The plan provided that the new unit in Letterkenny would be developed through PPP or alternative measures to replace existing units in Stranorlar, Ramelton and Lifford which currently provide 117 beds in total. The cost of the original proposal was estimated at €23.05m.
The HSE wrote to the Department in May seeking approval for the changes. The Department of Health has sought additional information from the HSE in order to consider the revised proposal. Engagement between the HSE and the Department is ongoing at the moment.
Project Ireland 2040 which was launched earlier this year commits to the provision of 4,500 additional beds in community hospitals.
Medicinal Products Availability
Ceisteanna (1599)
John McGuinness
Ceist:1599. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the drug nusinersen Spinraza, which has been prescribed for a person (details supplied), will be made available to them. [33574/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Accordingly, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.