John Brassil
Ceist:135. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2069/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (135)
Freagraí 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.
Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (136)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:136. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the free provision of contraception will be rolled out as recommended in the ancillary recommendations in the report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2077/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Work is continuing on the implementation of the ancillary recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. This includes exploring issues associated with enhancing access to contraception, with a view to developing evidence-based policy in this area.
Preparations are ongoing for the initial expansion of free access to condoms in 2019. Condom use has the advantage of reducing both crisis pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (137, 140, 149)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:137. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including additional groups in the free meningitis B vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2078/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:140. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health his plans for a roll-out of the programme of meningitis B vaccinations for children who had not received it to date especially those in high risks categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2085/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:149. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the feasibility of rolling out the meningitis B vaccine and making it freely available to each child will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 140 and 149 together.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which is comprised of experts in a number of specialties, including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health, which makes recommendations to my Department on vaccination policy in Ireland.
On foot of a recommendation by NIAC, the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule was amended in 2016 to include the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine for all babies born on or after 1 October 2016. This change to the immunisation schedule took effect from 1 December 2016. The first dose of the vaccine is administered to children when they reach two months of age; a second dose is administered at four months and a third and final dose at twelve months. Meningitis B disease is most common in babies under the age of 1 year old and the scheduling of the administration of the vaccine under the immunisation programme takes account of this.
All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the Men B vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.
There are no plans to introduce a catch-up programme for the Men B vaccine to older children. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However, the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.
In Ireland, Men B, Men C, PCV and Hib vaccines are offered to children to protect them against meningitis.
As of Monday 14 January 2019, thirteen cases of meningococcal disease have been notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Three deaths are associated with the thirteen cases. It is important to note that, although three of the thirteen notified cases are related to Meningitis B, none of the 3 deaths have been attributed to this strain of the disease.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (138, 139)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:138. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the closure of the genetic screening clinic in St. James's Hospital; if the clinic is being relocated; his plans to reopen it in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2081/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMicheál Martin
Ceist:139. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the screening programmes available for the high risk cancer genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2082/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.
In parallel with the Rapid Access Clinic for Symptomatic Breast Disease in St James's Hospital, a Familial Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service has evolved to provide a clinical service to women who are considered to be at higher than average risk of developing cancer in their lifetime. Due to increased referral rates to the symptomatic breast disease clinic, as well as to the 'family risk' clinic, the hospital is currently prioritising the symptomatic patients to ensure that a quality, timely and sustainable service is available to them. This has resulted in the suspension of the family risk service, other than for very high risk patients.
During 2018, one of the hospital's two mammography machines was replaced and a third machine has been installed. Capacity for mammography has been a major part of the challenge in meeting demand for breast services in St James's. It is expected that the Familial Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service in St James's will be restored in the next two months.
While there is no national programme for screening for high risk cancer genes, patients found to carry a cancer predisposition gene such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 are followed up at all designated cancer centres.
Question No. 140 answered with Question No. 137.
Maternity Services
Ceisteanna (141)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:141. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned relocation of the Rotunda Hospital to Connolly Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The model of stand-alone maternity hospitals is not the norm internationally. In line with the National Maternity Strategy, Government policy is to co-locate all remaining maternity hospitals with adult acute services in order to provide optimal clinical outcomes. Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services should the need arise. The availability of these services helps ensure the delivery of an optimum, safe service, particularly for high risk mothers and babies.
Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027 support the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy, including the relocation of the Rotunda. I have been advised that the Rotunda hospital has prepared a Design Brief for the new facility. In addition, a Development Control Plan for the Connolly campus has been drafted to support the orderly development of future capital projects on that campus, including the Maternity Hospital. As the Rotunda relocation proposal is at an early development stage, it would be premature to provide any indicative time frames for completion at this time.
Hospital Appointments Delays
Ceisteanna (142)
Mary Butler
Ceist:142. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) to see an ENT specialist will be expedited. [2093/19]
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.
Home Help Service Provision
Ceisteanna (143)
James Lawless
Ceist:143. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if home help hours will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2104/19]
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.
HSE Expenditure
Ceisteanna (144)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:144. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the overall cost annually to the HSE for treating illnesses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2105/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Prescriptions Charges
Ceisteanna (145)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:145. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when the reduction from €2 to €1.50 in the prescription charge for medical card holders over 70 years of age will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2106/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As part of Budget 2019 I announced a reduction in the prescription charge for medical card holders aged 70 and over, from €2 to €1.50, and a reduction in the monthly cap for this group from €20 to €15. The implementation date is 1 April 2019.
Treatment Abroad Scheme
Ceisteanna (146)
Niall Collins
Ceist:146. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2108/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) allows public patients to be referred to another EU/EEA country for treatment that is not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. A patient's Irish based consultant is responsible for referring the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS, after having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within Ireland.
I am very much aware of the concerns of patients and parents of young children receiving treatments under the TAS in the UK for what are in many cases very complex conditions. I also note that Brexit may bring additional distress to patients and their families who are dealing with complex treatments. By way of some assurance, I can say that both the Irish and UK Governments are committed to working to maintain arrangements for access to healthcare for both Irish and UK citizens to publicly funded health services. You should also be aware that as part of a whole of Government response to Brexit, the Department of Health is working to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated set of preparations to ensure continuity of health services post-Brexit. This work involves the Department and the HSE and other agencies in engaging in intensive Brexit preparedness and contingency planning. A key priority for the Government is to ensure that insofar as possible there is minimum disruption to health services and that essential services, such as the TAS, are maintained on a cross-Border, all-island and Ireland-UK basis.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (147)
Mary Butler
Ceist:147. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a gastroenterologist at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2113/19]
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.
Home Help Service Eligibility
Ceisteanna (148)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:148. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be assessed for additional home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2114/19]
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.
Question No. 149 answered with Question No. 137.
Hospital Appointments Delays
Ceisteanna (150)
Robert Troy
Ceist:150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [2118/19]
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
Ceisteanna (151)
Timmy Dooley
Ceist:151. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who has been waiting over two years will have a knee assessed by an orthopaedic consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2120/19]
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 Procedures
Ceisteanna (152)
Michael Harty
Ceist:152. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the services he plans to put in place to address the issue of bariatric surgery here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2124/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advises that on foot of a proposal submitted by Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) in 2018, funding was provided for extra theatre sessions in order to open additional surgical capacity to accommodate 50 surgeries which were undertaken primarily in St. Vincent’s Hospital. 38 of these patients were treated by the end of 2018, with a further 7 to be treated by the end of January 2019 and the NTPF has approved the rolling over of the 5 remaining procedures to 2019.
The 2019 Scheduled Care Access Plan is currently being finalised by my Department and will set out HSE activity levels to reduce waiting lists across specialties and improve access. The Access Plan will also set out activity levels for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) who, following an increase in funding in Budget 2019 to €75 million, will supply additionality to HSE activity by arranging both insourced and outsourced appointments and treatments to reduce waiting times experienced by patients.
The Access Plan is being developed to ensure an appropriate balance between high volume activities and offering treatment to complex long waiting patients. The NTPF will do this by inviting public hospitals to seek solutions for very long waiters either in the private sector or through insourcing. The NTPF will provide funding to the solutions proposed if appropriate. In this context, the NTPF advises that a proposal to fund a further 100 cases in 2019 has recently been received from IEHG.
In addition, the HSE advised my Department in late November 2018 that they had raised the issue of bariatric waiting times with both Saolta and Ireland East Hospital Groups. Saolta has confirmed that for Galway University Hospital (GUH) the provision of treatment for obesity is one of the key priorities for the hospital and Perioperative Directorate. It is acknowledged that GUH continue to be challenged in relation to theatre and bed capacity and in this context they have prioritized efforts to recruit additional staff including nursing staff and a senior dietician.
The HSE further advise that Galway University Hospital currently has two initiatives running with a focus on improving access to Obesity clinics. GUH has almost doubled the number of patients that received surgical treatment year on year as outlined in the table:
|
Time Frame |
2017 |
To end October 2018 |
|
Number of Patients |
16 bariatric surgeries |
26 bariatric surgeries |
Within the context of Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG), the HSE advises that the weight management programme is delivered by St. Columcille’s Hospital (SCH) and St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH). The medical multi-disciplinary weight management component of the programme is delivered in St. Columcille’s Hospital, whilst patients deemed suitable for surgery are referred to the surgical component of the programme in SVUH.
The patient pathway is such that all patients are initially referred to a Multi-Disciplinary Weight Management programme in SCH. Participants in the programme undergo a nine-month out-patient based multidisciplinary behavioural programme with input from dieticians, physio therapists and psychologists. Midway through the programme participants are assessed by the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) for suitability for surgery.
Since 2015 funding of €300,000 has been allocated to SVUH to support the provision of bariatric surgery enabling on average 30 bariatric surgeries to be undertaken per annum. IEHG has prioritised improving access for patients waiting for bariatric surgery.
A new bariatric surgeon, with a formal commitment to bariatric surgery, was appointment to St. Vincent’s University Hospital and to St. Columcille’s Hospital by the Ireland East Hospital Group in August 2017. This is the only Consultant Surgeon appointment in Ireland with a specialist focus on bariatric surgery.
Hospitals Data
Ceisteanna (153, 154)
Michael Harty
Ceist:153. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the methodology for calculating the trolleyGAR statistics on patients waiting in casualty for admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2129/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Harty
Ceist:154. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if patients waiting on corridors or in extra beds in wards are considered as part of the trolleyGAR statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2130/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.
I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. Hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months.
Key actions are now underway, as part of the Winter Plan, to support hospitals during this period of peak demand to include: the opening of additional beds, the use of private hospital capacity, frailty intervention teams in EDs, additional homecare packages and transitional care beds, and additional diagnostics in hospitals and for GPs.
In relation to the particular query about the HSE TrolleyGAR count methodology, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.