Tuesday, 26 Mar 2019

Written Answers Nos. 802-822

Health Services

Ceisteanna (802)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

802. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of a transfer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13527/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Access

Ceisteanna (803)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

803. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the way in which patients in the Kilkenny area can access dermatology services; if St. Vincent's University Hospital is the designated hospital for this service; if there is a waiting list for same; if an outreach service exists; if not, if patients have to travel to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13539/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have referred your query to the HSE and asked them to respond to you directly.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (804)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

804. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if dermatology service outpatient clinics are held in County Kilkenny; if so, the number of times; the number of dermatologists who are employed at St. Vincent’s University Hospital; the population base they are expected to cover in the various counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13540/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Staff Data

Ceisteanna (805)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

805. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of dermatologist consultants who are employed in the health service; the way in which this compares with other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13541/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (806)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

806. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of skin cancers being diagnosed here has increased in the past few years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13542/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I am aware that the number of skin cancers diagnosed per year increased from 10,205 in 2011 to 11,785 in 2015, the most recent year for which final figures are available. Further increases in incidence are projected in the coming years. Increased incidence reflects the consequences of ultraviolet exposure but also better detection and increased awareness of the symptoms of skin cancer.

Survival rates for skin cancers are encouraging. Five year net survival for non-melanoma skin cancer is almost 100% while five year net survival for melanoma improved from 82.7% (1994-1998) to 88.7% (2010-2014).

My Department has been working closely with the National Cancer Control Programme to develop a National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan which will be launched in May.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (807)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

807. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels for CAMHS teams, by community healthcare organisation and local health office, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13543/19]

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.

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (808, 809)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

808. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the position regarding plans that were in train in 2011 for a primary health care centre in Ardee, County Louth, to replace the interim primary care centre that was based at St. Brigid’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13544/19]

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

809. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of the interim primary care centre based at St. Brigid’s Hospital, Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13545/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 808 and 809 together.

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services

Ceisteanna (810)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

810. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the dedicated funding that will be available in 2019 to support the development of neuro-rehabilitation services [13552/19]

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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Ceisteanna (811)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

811. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the facilities and options available for persons with an acquired brain injury in view of the lack of investment in neurology services and staff shortages in neurology centres nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13553/19]

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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Ceisteanna (812)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

812. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the facilities and options available for persons with epilepsy in view of the lack of investment in neurology services and staff shortages in neurology centres nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13554/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Ceisteanna (813)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

813. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the facilities and options available for persons with multiple sclerosis in view of the lack of investment in neurology services and staff shortages in neurology centres nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13555/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Ceisteanna (814)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

814. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the facilities and options available for persons with Parkinson's disease in view of the lack of investment in neurology services and staff shortages in neurology centres nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13556/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Ceisteanna (815)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

815. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the facilities and options available for persons with rare and genetic neurological conditions in view of the lack of investment in neurology services and staff shortages in neurology centres nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13557/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Interdepartmental Working Groups

Ceisteanna (816)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

816. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the working groups currently established in his Department; the focus of their work; the membership composition of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13568/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I have surveyed the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (817)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

817. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 28 November 2017, the amount collected in accident and emergency charges from Beaumont Hospital in 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13581/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly

Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council

Ceisteanna (818)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

818. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 22 March 2018, if he will report on the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council’s fitness to practice committee; if the committee has lay member appointees; the number of members and lay members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13582/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is an independent statutory body with responsibility for professional regulation in the area of pre-hospital emergency care including the recognition of professional qualifications.

Accordingly, the Deputy's query has been referred to PHECC for direct response.

Hospitals Data

Ceisteanna (819)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

819. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 24 April 2018, the number of inpatient and outpatients who did not attend Beaumont Hospital in 2016, 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13583/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

HSE Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (820)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

820. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 2 October 2018, the number of persons in CHO 9 waiting for podiatry care; the numbers waiting between zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and over 12 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13584/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Autism Support Services

Ceisteanna (821)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

821. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the funding available to families for the provision of specialised autism-specific services for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13589/19]

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.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (822)

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

822. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who suffers with depression has had the person's emotional support suddenly withdrawn without explanation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13599/19]

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.