Wednesday, 6 Feb 2019

Written Answers Nos. 109-133

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Ceisteanna (109)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

109. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a motorised buggy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5810/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Wards of Court

Ceisteanna (110, 111, 112)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

110. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of patients in Tullamore hospital in each of the years 2010 to 2018 that have been made wards of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5823/19]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

111. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Laois and Offaly for which the HSE has applied for wardship in each of the years 2010 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5824/19]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

112. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Offaly who are wards of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5825/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 to 112, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Wards of Court

Ceisteanna (113)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

113. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of wards of court in nursing homes within the catchment area of Tullamore hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5826/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

General Practitioner Services Provision

Ceisteanna (114)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

114. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners providing a medical service to Birr community unit; if the unit has a consultant geriatrician available to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5827/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (115)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

115. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an orthodontic appointment for a person (details supplied). [5842/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Drug Rehabilitation Clinics

Ceisteanna (116)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) receives funding for rehabilitation services from the HSE. [5843/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (117)

John Brassil

Ceist:

117. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when a fair deal scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (118)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); if they will be placed on a cancellation list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5851/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Disabilities Assessments

Ceisteanna (119)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

119. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will have their assessment of need carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5855/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

HSE Agency Staff Data

Ceisteanna (120)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

120. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of agency nurses recruited to fill vacancies at Portlaoise hospital in 2018. [5860/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

HSE Agency Staff Data

Ceisteanna (121)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of agency nurses recruited to fill vacancies at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore in 2018. [5861/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Ceisteanna (122)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

122. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on agency nurses at Portlaoise hospital in 2018. [5862/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Ceisteanna (123)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

123. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on agency nurses at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore in 2018. [5863/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Ceisteanna (124, 125)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

124. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients awaiting orthopaedic treatment at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [5864/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

125. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients awaiting orthopaedic treatment at Portlaoise hospital. [5865/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.

I am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, I am committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures.

I hope to publish the joint Department of Health, Health Service Executive (HSE) and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 shortly. This will set out commitments aimed at improving access for patients waiting for hospital operations or procedures, as well as patients waiting for a first Outpatient appointment.

A key element of this Plan is the stabilisation of the Outpatient Waiting List which remains a significant challenge. The HSE, in line with the National Service Plan 2019 will provide 3.3 million outpatient appointments, more than 1 million of which will be first outpatient appointments.

In 2019, the HSE will focus in particular on specialties with a high volume of referrals and large proportions of long-waiting patients. In addition, the NTPF, with an increased allocation of €75 million in 2019, will fund an additional 40,000 first outpatient appointments through weekend and out of hour’s clinics and ‘see and treat’ clinics.

The NTPF will deliver this additional activity in the health service by working with hospital groups and individual hospitals as well as private health providers to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity. I would strongly encourage all hospitals, including Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise and Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, to collaborate with the NTPF to identify waiting list initiatives.

The latest Published NTPF Waiting list figures are available at: https://www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm

The data requested by the Deputy is set out below:

Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore – Orthopaedic Outpatient Waiting List

0-3 mths	3-6 mths	6-9 mths	9-12 mths	12-15 mths	15-18 mths	18-21 mths	21-24 mths	24-36 mths	Total
910	697	494	297	172	111	110	77	156	3024

There is only 1 patient on the Orthopaedic Outpatient Waiting List at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (126)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the shortage of nurses at hospitals in Tullamore and Portlaoise. [5866/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (127)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason new beds announced in the winter plan have not been opened at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [5867/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As Minister for Health, I recognise that hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months. It is against this background that the Health Service Capacity Review 2018 recommended an increase in acute hospitals beds of over 2,600 by 2031 to support the projected increase in demand for services in the years ahead.

Increasing capacity is therefore a priority for the Government. Over the past 12 months, an additional 240 beds have been opened.

The HSE's National Service Plan for 2019 provides for a comprehensive capacity programme for 2019. The main elements of the programme are:

- 78 additional beds are scheduled to come on stream in 2019, including the 40-bed modular build in South Tipperary General Hospital and the 30-bed ward in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, 4 HDU beds in the Mater Hospital and 4 HDU beds in Cork University Hospital;

- 75 acute beds and 70 community beds are scheduled to come on stream in early 2019, as part of the Winter Plan 2018/19;

- Preparation of 202 beds, of which 16 are critical care, during 2019, with a view to bringing this extra capacity into operation in the first quarter of 2020.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Winter Plan came into effect on 1 December 2018 and will continue until 31 March 2019.

Of the 75 acute beds to be opened as part of the Winter Plan 2018/19, the HSE have confirmed that 40 beds have been opened to date and the remainder, including the 6 beds in Tullamore Regional Hospital are due to come on stream by the end of quarter 1 2019 as initially planned.

Home Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (128, 129)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Laois on waiting lists for home help hours and home care packages. [5868/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Offaly on waiting lists for home help hours and home care packages. [5869/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.

As these are a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (130)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if an ESG will be carried out on a minor following a referral from CAMHS. [5871/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Nursing Staff Data

Ceisteanna (131)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

131. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses on extended leave in the HSE by month in 2018; if each post empty due to leave is covered; and if not, the percentage of posts that were fully covered in each month in 2018. [5873/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this.

HSE Staff Data

Ceisteanna (132)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

132. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists on extended leave in the HSE by month in 2018; if each post empty due to leave is covered; and if not, the percentage of posts that were fully covered in each month in 2018. [5874/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Occupational Therapy Staff

Ceisteanna (133)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

133. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists on extended leave in the HSE by month in 2018; if each post empty due to leave is covered; and if not, the percentage of posts that were fully covered in each month in 2018. [5875/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.