Written Answers Nos. 331-352
332. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the national framework for eating disorder care has been launched to date in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7741/19]
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.
333. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the national framework for eating disorder care has been launched to date in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7742/19]
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.
334. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment for occupational therapy in County Kildare for three, six and over 12 months, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7743/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for occupational therapy for children with dyspraxia in each of the years 2015 to 2018, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7744/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.
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.
336. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for outpatient appointments in each hospital; and the number waiting over 12 and 18 months, respectively. [7745/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures is one of my top priorities and is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advise that as of the end of January 2019, there were 85,632 children waiting for an outpatient appointment, of which 34.5% (29,558) were waiting more than 12 months, and 21.9% (18,767) were waiting more than 18 months. A breakdown by hospital, as requested by the Deputy, is supplied.
I hope to publish the joint Department of Health, HSE, NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 soon. The plan reflects activity targets from the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, to reduce waiting times across specialities and improve access to appointments and procedures. The plan also sets out activity levels for the NTPF in line with their increased allocation of funding of €75 million in 2019. The commitments in the plan are 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 addition, the NTPF will, as part of their increased allocation in 2019, fund additional first outpatient appointments through weekend and out of hour’s clinics and ‘see and treat’ clinics. The NTPF will deliver this additional activity 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.
Total Outpatient Waiters and the Number Waiting Over 12 and 18 Months, Respectively, by Hospital as at 31/01/2019
|
Date |
Hospital |
Total |
12M+ Waiters |
18M+ Waiters |
|
31/01/2019 |
Bantry General Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Beaumont Hospital |
405 |
82 |
55 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
81 |
1 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Cavan General Hospital |
818 |
125 |
53 |
|
31/01/2019 |
CHI at Crumlin |
20093 |
7687 |
5020 |
|
31/01/2019 |
CHI at Tallaght |
7779 |
3201 |
1641 |
|
31/01/2019 |
CHI at Temple St |
18410 |
7706 |
5154 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Connolly Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Cork University Hospital |
3730 |
659 |
409 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Cork University Maternity Hospital |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
412 |
160 |
96 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Ennis Hospital |
71 |
5 |
1 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Galway University Hospital |
4567 |
1049 |
562 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Kerry General Hospital |
1207 |
348 |
239 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Letterkenny General Hospital |
2058 |
757 |
524 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Louth County Hospital |
16 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Mallow General Hospital |
199 |
31 |
2 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Mayo General Hospital |
1374 |
526 |
371 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Mercy University Hospital |
531 |
50 |
11 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar |
1077 |
174 |
109 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise |
801 |
34 |
1 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
3269 |
1683 |
1246 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Naas General Hospital |
9 |
3 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Nenagh Hospital |
20 |
2 |
2 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda |
2836 |
632 |
415 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
25 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Portiuncula Hospital |
721 |
64 |
52 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Roscommon Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Rotunda Hospital |
18 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital |
1117 |
472 |
304 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Sligo Regional Hospital |
1852 |
391 |
192 |
|
31/01/2019 |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
2887 |
913 |
566 |
|
31/01/2019 |
South Tipperary General Hospital |
373 |
1 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
St. Columcille's Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
St. James's Hospital |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
St. John's Hospital Limerick |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
St. Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny |
374 |
1 |
1 |
|
31/01/2019 |
St. Michael's Hospital Dun Laoghaire |
20 |
0 |
0 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Tallaght Hospital |
86 |
1 |
2 |
|
31/01/2019 |
University Hospital Limerick |
3894 |
1069 |
630 |
|
31/01/2019 |
University Hospital Waterford |
4183 |
1731 |
1109 |
|
31/01/2019 |
Wexford General Hospital |
297 |
0 |
0 |
337. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the length of time a child is waiting for speech and language in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, area; and the number waiting longer than 12 months in each CHO. [7746/19]
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.
338. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) who has been referred for an appointment to St. Columcille's Hospital will be reviewed; the steps he will take to reduce the perceived excessive waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7751/19]
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.
339. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to introduce a device (details supplied) under the long-term illness scheme cover for type 1 diabetes; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it has been introduced in the UK; if research has been carried out on the amount it could save; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7757/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
340. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the commencement of the compassionate access programme for patients that require treatment with medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7779/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra341. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the granting of importation licences for medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7780/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if there are changes in circumstances envisioned for patients already granted licences for medicinal cannabis when the compassionate access programme is commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7781/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 342, inclusive, together.
Considerable progress is being made in relation to the introduction of the Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme.
- An Expert Group has drawn up clinical guidance for healthcare professionals treating patients through the Access Programme. These guidelines are available on the Department’s website.
- The HSE has been requested to establish and maintain a Register to facilitate the programme and work is continuing in relation to the sourcing of appropriate quality-controlled, affordable cannabis-based products for Irish patients.
- Drafting of secondary legislation to underpin the access programme continues and will be finalised once appropriate cannabis product supplies have been established.
The Programme aims to facilitate access to certain cannabis products which have not been authorised as medicines by a statutory Medicines Competent Authority. As such, they are not subject to the same rigorous safety, quality and efficacy standards that are in place for medicines, nor are the producers subject to the same responsibilities as the marketing authorisation holders for authorised medicines. Whilst efficacy and safety data are not available for these products, it is crucially important to be assured, as far as possible, of the quality of these products.
Availability of cannabis products that are of an appropriate quality standard and are affordable to patients is clearly critical in establishing the access programme. To the Department’s knowledge only two countries, Canada and the Netherlands, currently permit export of such cannabis products, which meet acceptable quality control standards, beyond their borders. The Netherlands permits exports of cannabis dried herb, but does not permit commercial export of their oil-based cannabis formulations.
Department officials are working intensively on finding solutions to the supply of appropriate products for Irish patients, in parallel to their ongoing work on other significant projects. As a result of extensive recent discussions with Danish and UK counterparts, Department of Health officials are now in contact with a number of potential suppliers of medical cannabis. These discussions may take some time to become productive.
Pending full operation of the Access Programme, doctors continue to utilise the Ministerial licencing route to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients. Twenty-nine licences have now been granted in respect of sixteen individual patients. Licences are valid for a period of three months initially and for six months for subsequent licences. All valid applications are processed promptly.
Until suitable medical cannabis products are made available in Ireland, prescribers and their patients are sourcing the prescribed product from a pharmacy in The Netherlands, on foot of their medical prescription. It is intended that the Ministerial licence application scheme will continue to operate in parallel with the Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme, after the programme becomes operational, for exceptional cases only where there is an unmet clinical need.
Further information on medical cannabis is available on the Department of Health website at:
health.gov.ie/blog/publications/cannabis-for-medical-use/.
344. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 359 of 29 January 2019, the number of patient discharges from hospitals in which patients were discharged to no fixed address including bed and breakfasts, hostels, hotels and so on in each of the years 2011 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7805/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
345. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a psychology appointment for a child (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7808/19]
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.
346. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on an application for funding by an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry to provide full-time residential care for a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7810/19]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
347. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the involvement he has had with the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Development Finance Agency relating to the children’s hospital project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7811/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy involvement with the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Development Finance Agency relates to the European Investment Bank loan to Ireland to support the new children’s hospital and associated outpatient and urgent care centres. The National Treasury Management Agency entered the contract for the loan on behalf of Ireland. As Minister for Health, I signed the project completion deed in conjunction with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the Health Service Executive, as part of the standard contract arrangements with the European Investment Bank.
348. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue for a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7815/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
349. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the services and funding provided by the Health Service Executive for persons who suffer from addiction to gambling; and the amount of funding allocated to such services in each of the years 2015 to 2017. [7817/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
350. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will be instructed to sanction three public health nursing posts in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry following the submission of a business plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7828/19]
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.
351. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made by the national cancer control programme to allocate funding for a pigmented lesion clinic outreach service in a hospital (details supplied) in the South/South West hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7830/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA pigmented lesion clinic is currently available to people in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) at the South Infirmary Hospital in Cork, with a pigmented lesion outreach clinic at University Hospital Kerry.
Funding of €30,000 was allocated to the pigmented lesion outreach clinic at University Hospital Kerry by the National Cancer Control Programme late last year.
