Written Answers Nos. 415-436
415. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) continues to be on the waiting list for CAMHS and psychiatric services in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6599/19]
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.
416. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for counselling in primary care in each community healthcare organisation, CHO; and the number of persons waiting between zero and one, one and three, three and six and over six months, respectively. [6600/19]
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.
417. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Wexford waiting for counselling in primary care; and the number of persons waiting for counselling in County Wexford between zero and one, one and three, three and six and over six months, respectively. [6601/19]
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.
418. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals for counselling in primary care; and the number of sessions offered in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, in each of the years since its introduction in 2013 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [6602/19]
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.
419. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals for counselling in primary care; and the number of sessions offered in County Wexford in each of the years since its introduction in 2013 to 2018, inclusive, and to date in 2019. [6603/19]
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.
420. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals for the self-harm intervention programme; and the number of sessions offered in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [6604/19]
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.
421. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals for the self-harm intervention programme; and the number of sessions offered in County Wexford in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [6605/19]
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.
422. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the budget for counselling in primary care for each community healthcare organisation, CHO, in each of the years 2013 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [6606/19]
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.
423. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the budget for the self-harm intervention programme for each community healthcare organisation, CHO. in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [6607/19]
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.
424. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a transfer from prison to the Central Mental Hospital; the number of patients on the caseload of in-reach teams the hospital provides to the Irish Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6608/19]
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.
425. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high cost of the batteries required to operate cochlear implants; if the batteries are covered by a medical card; and if not, if funding is available to cover the cost. [6611/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
426. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 members of the National Ambulance Service availing of the facility to have union deductions taken by NAS payroll; and the number of members of a union (details supplied) exited on the date on which their subscriptions were ceased in view of the fact that he has access to figures for the deductions. [6617/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra427. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were having deductions taken for a trade union (details supplied); and the number of deductions being taken from another union on the date on which union subscriptions for members of a union were ceased. [6618/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra439. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 members of the National Ambulance Service availing of the facility to have union deductions taken by payroll; the figures for the deductions of a union (details supplied) to date; and when the National Ambulance Service payroll ceased deducting trade union fees by the union. [6669/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra440. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of members of the National Ambulance Service who have their deductions taken for unions (details supplied), respectively, as of 25 January 2018. [6670/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra460. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of personnel employed by the National Ambulance Service; the number who avail of the facility to have union deductions automatically deducted through the NAS payroll system by union across each of the relevant recognised workers' unions, by which they are represented, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6803/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 426, 427, 439, 440 and 460 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on these matters.
428. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 National Ambulance Service staff involved with direct patient contact; and the number in an administrative role. [6619/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 National Ambulance Service staff involved with direct patient contact and administrative roles, respectively. [6671/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of the 1,800 National Ambulance Service staff involved with direct patient contact and the number in an administrative role, respectively. [6757/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra461. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service personnel involved with direct patient contact; the number of personnel employed in administrative roles; the number of personnel employed in other roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6804/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 428, 441, 451 and 461 together.
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
429. 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. [6620/19]
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.
430. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a primary care certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6622/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
431. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts in whole-time equivalent terms in the CAMHS service for each community healthcare organisation, CHO, in tabular form. [6623/19]
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.
432. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health when he expects the practice of admitting children and young persons to adult mental health units to cease. [6624/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDespite increasing demands overall on CAMHS, irrespective of the source of referrals, individual cases professionally assessed as requiring urgent access to services receive priority. There has been significant progress on age appropriate admissions since 2008 when there were 247 such admissions to adult units. This declined to 84 admissions in 2018. The number of admissions each year does not necessarily equate to the actual number of children involved, as an individual may be admitted on more than one occasion.
There has to be some operational flexibility surrounding emergency placements in Adult Units, particularly where very short-term placements occur, and where full account is taken of all relevant factors such as the preferences of all those involved, or geographical factors relating to access or visiting. This may in practice be the best care option in at least some cases, bearing in mind all the circumstances. The HSE closely monitors on a weekly basis all child admissions to adult units, with a view to minimising these. It also facilitates insofar as possible transition from CAMHS to Adult services.
Work is underway by the HSE to review existing levels of service provision generally, and to examine international models of best practice on the most appropriate models of delivery for use in the Irish context in order to enhance access to mental health care, including CAMHS. My objective, and that of the HSE, is to further improve all aspects of mental health care nationally for those under age 18, including those relating to access and age appropriate care settings.
433. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists in post by community healthcare organisation, CHO, nationally, in tabular form; the target number of psychologists by CHO as advised in A Vision for Change, in tabular form; the measures in place to address the shortage of psychologists across the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6629/19]
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.
434. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when a report (details supplied) on the review of genetics services here will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6630/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Donnai-Newman Report on the Review of Genetics Services in Ireland (2014) was commissioned by the HSE to recommend improvements in the governance, management and future development of the genetic services.
In relation to the matter of the publication of this report, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
435. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied), under its contract to provide cervical screening services to the HSE, outsources some of its work outside of the contract with the HSE to labs in the United States of America; if so, when he and a person were notified of same; the actions that have been taken as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6631/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the publication of Dr Scally’s report on 12 September 2018, he committed to providing a supplementary report into certain further aspects of the laboratories, such as procurement, quality and accreditation arrangements, and governance structures. Terms of reference for the Supplementary Analysis and Report were published on the Department of Health’s website in October last year.
I can confirm that Dr Scally indicated to me on 31 January that, in the course of this work, he identified further additional labs which CervicalCheck slides had been sent to. I am awaiting Dr Scally's report, which is expected shortly. I do not intend to pre-empt Dr Scally's report, to which I will give careful consideration in advance of bringing it to Government.
436. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of boards or agencies his officials have been appointed to; if there are guidelines or protocols for members of staff being appointed to boards or agencies; if so, when same were last updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6648/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe nomination and appointment process for statutory boards under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision SI80/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. I also appoint members on the nomination of various bodies, again in accordance with relevant legislation.
At present there are two of my officials who have been appointed by me to serve on statutory boards under the aegis of my Department, one is a member of the National Haemophilia Council, one is a member of National Cancer Registry Board.
The guidelines and protocols which must be followed include the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies which refers to the Department of Finance Circular 12/2010: Protocol for Civil Servants nominated to the boards of non-commercial State bodies. Civil Servants must also comply with the 2008 Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour and any other guidance or protocols which may from time to time be issued.
