Written Answers Nos. 312-337
312. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the reason autism assessment reports are not taking place within the prescribed time (details supplied) in County Kerry; if additional resources will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53587/18]
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.
313. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) with severe health problems will receive an appointment at Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53589/18]
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.
314. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for urgent orthodontic treatment at St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53593/18]
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.
315. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of home support hours in each LHO area in tabular form; the number of persons on the waiting list for same in each LHO area in tabular form; the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively. [53603/18]
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.
316. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of personal assistance hours in each LHO area in tabular form; the number of persons on the waiting list for same in each LHO area in tabular form; the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 months; and the number waiting more than 12 months. [53604/18]
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.
317. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the status of a discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53606/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
318. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has not received respite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53607/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
319. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in receiving an appointment with the cardiologist in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53626/18]
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.
320. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in receiving a result back from a smear test through the CervicalCheck screening programme for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53627/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that, on 1 May this year, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considers that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. CervicalCheck laboratory activity has since been significantly above normal levels. This is as a result both of these out of cycle smears and increased uptake generally, and has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. This is a priority concern for my Department.
The HSE has advised that, currently, receipt of results of smear tests may take up to 20 weeks, that it may take longer in a small number of cases, and that it is working closely with laboratories to address this issue.
In relation to the results of this particular individual, I have asked the HSE to provide this information directly to the Deputy.
321. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the new schemes developed for socially and economically disadvantaged communities to provide targeted, appropriate and effective services for young persons at risk of substance misuse. [53672/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra322. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the working groups established to examine the evidence regarding early harm reduction responses such as drug testing, amnesty bins and media campaigns responding to current and emerging trends, including the use of new psychoactive substances and image and performance enhancing drugs and other high risk behaviours. [53673/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra323. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the action taken during 2018 to strengthen the implementation of the national drugs rehabilitation framework specifically with regard to developing a competency framework on key working, care planning and case management; and if the training programme on the key processes of the National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework has been extended. [53674/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra324. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the action taken during 2018 to expand the availability and geographical spread of relevant quality drug and alcohol services and improve the range of services available based on identified need; and the way in which gaps in identifying and addressing gaps in provision within tier 1, 2, 3 and 4 services have been identified and addressed. [53675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra326. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which the availability of opioid substitution treatments has been improved during 2018; and if access to same has been increased through an expansion of general practitioners prescribing, nurse-led prescribing and the provision of opioid substitution treatments in community-based settings and homeless services. [53677/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra327. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which quality and safety of care in the delivery of opioid substitution treatment has been enhanced in 2018; and the way in which the HSE national clinical guidelines on same are being implemented and reviewed in line with national clinical effectiveness committee processes. [53678/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra328. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which relapse prevention and aftercare drug treatment services have been improved during 2018. [53679/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra329. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which the range of progression options for recovering drug users has been increased in 2018; and if a new programme of supported care and employment has been developed. [53680/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra330. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the need to provide drug liaison midwives and specialist medical social workers in all maternity networks was assessed during 2018; and if so, the outcome of the assessment. [53681/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which maternity hospitals and units have strengthened their methods of detecting alcohol abuse and supporting women to reduce their intake. [53682/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which links between maternity services and addiction services have been strengthened during 2018. [53683/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the need for additional residential placements for pregnant and postnatal women who need inpatient treatment for addiction to drugs and or alcohol nationally has been quantified; and if so, the action being taken as a result [53684/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which he has resourced the national women and infants health programme to provide drug liaison midwives and specialist medical social workers in all maternity networks [53685/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which he is increasing the range of wrap-around community and drug and alcohol task forces residential services equipped to meet the needs of women who are using drugs and-or alcohol in a harmful manner, including those with children and those who are pregnant [53686/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra336. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which he is developing interventions to address gender- and culture-specific risk factors for not taking up treatment for drug addiction [53687/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra337. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the assessment being made of the need for the development of specialist services to meet the needs of older persons with long-term substance use issues [53688/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which needle exchange programmes have been expanded during 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53691/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the development of an overdose prevention strategy [53693/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra343. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken during 2018 to build capacity within drug and alcohol services to develop a patient safety approach in line with the HIQA national standards for safer better healthcare [53694/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 321 to 324, inclusive, 326 to 337, inclusive, 340, 342 and 343 together.
Government policy in relation to drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. It identifies 50 strategic actions to be delivered between mid 2017 (when the strategy was launched) and 2020.
The strategy is a dynamic process, that is monitored through the key national , regional and local structures charged with implementing the strategy. Each year the bodies responsible for delivering the strategic actions are required to report on progress.
A progress report for 2018 - the first full year for implementing the strategy - will be presented to the national oversight committee for the drugs strategy in January.
As the Deputy's questions relate to the progress on a number of the actions in the strategy, I will forward to him the 2018 progress report in due course.
325. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of drug treatment episodes provided to date in 2018 across the services (details supplied); and the equivalent figures for 2016 and 2017. [53676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of additional detoxification, stabilisation and rehabilitation beds respectively provided during 2018. [53690/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 339 together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
