Written Answers Nos. 446-465
446. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health his plans for the winter initiative in relation to University Hospital Limerick, UHL, and the mid-west region in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48129/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working with the HSE to ensure the most effective response to the winter challenges to unscheduled care provision. Within this context, the HSE requested singular integrated winter plans from Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations in June 2018. Subsequently in September and October 2018, I met with Hospital Groups and Community Health Care Organisations to discuss their plans for winter preparedness.
The HSE Winter Plan 2018/19, which is currently under consideration by my Department, provides for a 4-week enhanced focus period from 17 December 2018 to 13 January 2019, targeting 9 key sites of concern. University Hospital Limerick has been identified as one of these 9 sites, based on performance in previous winters.
As part of Budget 2019, an additional €10 m in funding is being provided in 2018 for social care measures to enable older people to leave hospital and return to a more appropriate care setting, including their own home, as quickly as possible with the supports they need. The HSE has confirmed that measures to support older persons transition from acute care to the most appropriate setting have been identified and that the 2018 initiatives have now commenced.
Finally, I have asked the HSE to ensure that the National Service Plan 2019 provides for a significant uplift in activity across acute, primary and community care, to manage critical demand pressures, most particularly on Emergency Departments, at the beginning and the end of the year.
447. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if there has been correspondence with his Department or the HSE from the Health and Social Care Board or the Department of Health in Northern Ireland in relation to the provision of perinatal and paediatric pathology services in Northern Ireland; the options explored in providing this service or accommodating the service to be provided here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48130/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that senior health officials from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland recently met and agreed to examine the feasibility of cross-border co-operation in the provision of perinatal and paediatric pathology services. However, it is important to acknowledge at this stage that any outcomes from further discussions in this regard can only be deliverable in the medium to longer term, due to current capacity constraints and the time required for new trainees to specialise in this area.
448. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the parental reference group for the HSE's steering committee for children with complex medical needs has been set up; if so, the procedure used for selecting parent representatives; the number of times the parental reference group has met; the number of times the steering committee has met the parental reference group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48138/18]
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.
449. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) who applied for the nursing homes support scheme will be investigated. [48139/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
In order to determine how much an applicant will contribute to the cost of their care, a financial assessment is carried out by the HSE which takes account of a person's income and assets. As part of this assessment, the HSE identifies any income or assets that the applicant and his/her partner may have deprived themselves of in the five years leading up to their application, or at any time on or subsequent to the date on which the application for financial support under the Scheme is first made. Such assets are defined in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 as 'transferred assets' and 'transferred income'. Under the legislation there are no exemptions in relation to transferred assets.
Where a person is aggrieved by a decision of the HSE, they may appeal that decision no later than 40 working days after notice of the original decision was given. An appeal must be made in a form specified by the HSE and must state the reasons for the appeal. An appeal may be made in respect of, amongst other things, a determination of an application for State Support, i.e. section 11 (1) of the NHSS Act 2009.
As an element of this question is in relation to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this element as soon as possible.
450. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an ENT appointment in University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48149/18]
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.
451. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48154/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
452. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the spend on agency and locum staff in hospitals in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by nurses, doctors and so on and by hospital and CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48158/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
453. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of home help for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48162/18]
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.
454. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has to wait 18 months for clinical assessment by a physiologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48163/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy's question relates to a clinical assessment by a psychologist. 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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
455. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the screening process in place to detect Lyme disease in blood donations; the way in which the Irish Blood Transfusion Service assesses donors for symptoms of Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48165/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA donor who has symptoms of chronic Lyme disease cannot donate blood. A donor who has made a full recovery from this disease can donate two weeks after full recovery.
Lyme disease was risk-assessed as a transfusion risk by the Standing Advisory Committee on Transfusion Transmitted Diseases UK in 2016 and it was determined that no specific measures were needed in view of the lack of evidence of transfusion-transmitted infection.
The IBTS will keep developments in this area under review and will continue to utilise the best medical and scientific evidence available to underpin their deferral policies for blood donation.
456. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of a revised application by an organisation (details supplied) for HSE funding which was resubmitted in August 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48172/18]
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.
457. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in CHO 5QQ; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [48240/18]
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.
458. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a primary care centre (details supplied) is structurally safe and poses no risk to the public; the recent building, construction and if applicable, remedial works which have been carried out to the property between 2011 and to date in 2018; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48246/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding progress of the Farrelly commission; and when it is likely interim reports will be issued or final adjudications brought before Dáil Éireann. [48265/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 15 May 2018, the Minister agreed to a twelve month extension to the Farrelly Commission of Investigation, to complete and submit it's final report of Phase 1 Investigations.
In granting the extension, the Minister requested that two further interim reports be provided. The interim reports are to include a report on the Commission's progress to date and a summary of work yet to be undertaken.
The latest report was published on 3 October 2018 and is available on the Department of Health's website.
460. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason this Deputy did not receive a detailed reply from the HSE to a parliamentary question referred by him on 23 October 2018 (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that parliamentary questions referred to the HSE for reply are replied to expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48268/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to examine the reason why a timely response has not issued to you.
On the substantive issue of the Island Healthcare Review, I and happy to advise the Deputy that the report will be officially launched in Galway on 27th November, 2018 by my colleague, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, TD, after which date the report will be available on the HSE website.
461. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the legal advice he received with respect to the amendments submitted for the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48286/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, legal advice is privileged. My responses to the Deputies during Committee Stage of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill gave an overview of the legal advice provided to me and are a matter of Dáil record.
462. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns that there is currently a major infrastructural deficit with respect to the availability of ultrasound scanning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48287/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
463. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way in which the €12 million for the provision of abortion services was arrived at; the exact use this funding will be provided for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48288/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe figure of €12 million for termination of pregnancy services was arrived at during the Estimates 2019 process. The €12 million allocated for the service in 2019 will cover the cost of providing the service in both the community care and hospital settings.
464. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of the funding and support he has made available to tackle foetal alcohol syndrome in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48289/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding for services tackling foetal alcohol syndrome in each of the past five years has been allocated by the Health Service Executive, therefore I am referring this PQ to the HSE for direct reply.
465. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if an application under the fair deal scheme will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48290/18]
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.
