Written Answers Nos. 221-230
221. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to his commitment to Dáil Éireann on 5 March 2019 regarding the treatment abroad scheme, if he will address the delay in the turnaround timeframe for applications which has gone from within 20 days to 64 days due to staffing levels; his plans to address this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12626/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy understanding is that the question refers to the operation of the Cross Border Directive (CBD) in Ireland, whereby patients can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The HSE's target for reimbursing patients for healthcare accessed abroad under the CBD is a maximum of 20 working days from receiving all completed documents. However, the HSE has confirmed an increase in processing times which is due to a significant increase in the amount of applications received for the CBD.
A review is to be undertaken of current administration arrangements associated with the operation of the CBD scheme in the HSE, with a view to providing a report to my Department in the coming weeks.
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if extra home help hours will be granted to a person (details supplied) in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12649/19]
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.
223. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [12650/19]
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.
224. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of an adult narcolepsy centre in St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12660/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on a centre of excellence for narcolepsy, based in St. James’s Hospital, for treating all forms of narcolepsy in adults and also in children transitioning from the paediatric services, was committed to in the HSE 2018 National Service Plan.
The HSE has confirmed that the construction of the sleep lab is now complete with equipment installed and commissioned. The HSE has also confirmed that a consultant neurologist has been working part-time since January 2019 in the centre and will work full-time from April. A neurophysiology technician will commence in mid-April, from which point testing will commence. It is intended to expand the service as technical staff incrementally join the centre.
225. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a series of matters relating to the aftercare of persons who have miscarried (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12663/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the queries raised by the Deputy relate to service issues, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
226. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of progress to recruit a consultant paediatric psychiatrist for CAMHS Wexford south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12664/19]
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.
227. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical graduates from medical schools here; the number of such graduates who commenced internships here; the number of those graduates who completed internships here in each of the years 2004 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12680/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
228. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the proposals in the 2019 HSE service plan to reconfigure the overall bed stock to a more sustainable level giving rise to a reduction in bed numbers of 80 to 100 beds; the sectors of the health service in which this reconfiguration is taking place; the locations of the beds to be withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12687/19]
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.
229. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the action which has been taken since the publication of the health service capacity review to increase the number of step down beds; the local health office areas that have had extra beds provided; the target for extra beds in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12688/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Capacity Review published in 2018, in addition to recognising the pressures being faced across the health system in terms of access to healthcare, was an indication of the Government’s desire to plan appropriately for the future. Analysis of future scenarios (based on demographic projections and taking account of envisaged reform measures) shows potential requirements for the period to 2031.
On the back of these findings, the Government committed to introducing health reforms and providing capital funding for an 4,500 additional short and long term residential care beds over the ten years of the National Development Plan (NDP). It is important to recognise that the NDP and implementing Sláintecare are long-term plans. Many proposals for additional service capacity are at an early stage and, as with all proposed developments, will require further appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm timeline or funding required can be established.
In relation to public nursing homes which provide a combination of long and short-stay beds, capital plans are in place to provide for the replacement/refurbishment of up to 90 units nationally. This programme of investment proposes to deliver up to 215 additional beds in centres being built or refurbished in locations identified as having particular capacity issues.
230. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the long-term plans of the HSE for a facility (details supplied); if he will address the imminent cessation of admittance of long-term residents at the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12689/19]
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.
