Written Answers Nos. 363-381
363. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an occupational therapy and physiotherapy appointment for a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17634/19]
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.
364. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase paediatric physiotherapy staff and resources in CHO1 and the western region as a whole; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that paediatric physiotherapy resources in County Sligo are limited and children requiring the services are required to stay as inpatients in hospitals due to a lack of physiotherapy in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17637/19]
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.
365. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if respite care will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [17653/19]
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.
366. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who access the treatment abroad scheme to receive deep brain stimulation surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17654/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
367. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a matter (details supplied); the timeframe for the extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17662/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
368. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the details of each information and communications technology contract, excluding support and maintenance yearly contracts, with a total contract value of over €1 million since 2014; the number of these contracts that have gone fully live and are fully operational; the final costs of these contracts compared with the original tender price; the stage payments that have been made in respect of each contract that is not fully operational to date; when they are expected to be fully operational; the contracts that were entered into and stage payments made in circumstances in which it may be anticipated that these contracts may not become fully operational as originally intended; the number and value of stage payments in each of these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I can confirm that my Department has not entered into any ICT contracts over €1m directly since 2014. Secondly, no statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department have entered into specified ICT contracts over €1m since 2014, with the exception of the HSE and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
The HSE has entered into 94 contracts in excess of €1m and the NMBI has entered into one contract in excess of €1m. Due to the volume of information available, details are provided to the Deputy in the links that follow. In the delivery of capital ICT projects, the HSE follows the principle of payment upon receipt of deliverables. For basic technical infrastructure or software licences, this means the vendor does not receive payment until HSE staff have confirmed receipt of the goods. Similarly, for large ICT applications, such as the delivery of new systems, the HSE normally pays the vendor only when the system has gone live in a particular site. In some cases, there may be agreed milestones prior to go live that trigger payments, but even in these cases vendors do not get paid until the HSE confirms that the deliverables corresponding to that milestone have been received.
Investment in ICT is a key enabler of my Department's eHealth strategy- An eHealth Strategy for Ireland, the HSE's Health and Information Plan, the NMBI's Statement of Strategy 2017-2019 and the cross-party Sláintecare health service reform programme. The contracts awarded have included vital ICT infrastructure and development necessary to provide up-to-date clinical systems and safe patient care at all levels of service provision.
I trust that this is of assistance to the Deputy.
369. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if full care cover will be maintained through the HSE for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17666/19]
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.
370. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to tackle the severe overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick in view of the fact that the number of patients on trolleys at the hospital has now surpassed all previous trolley number records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17667/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year.
Limerick was identified as one of the nine sites requiring additional investment, focus and support as part of this year's Winter Plan. The problem of overcrowding in hospitals requires a full-system, patient-focused response. Recognising this, in the Winter Plan, the HSE sought to maximise the use of existing resources across hospital groups and CHOs and to target additional investment at both hospital and community services and supports. This includes additional home support packages and transitional care beds to support people to leave the hospital and return home.
The range and prioritisation of measures was a matter for UHL and CHO Mid-West. Key measures included:
- extended opening hours in the AMAU;
- opening of a surgical short-stay unit;
- additional access to diagnostics.
The NTPF has established a fund of €1m that will support the HSE Winter plans with a focus on increasing access to diagnostics in both private facilities and in-house. 6,050 vouchers had been issued to Emergency Departments for diagnostics as of 31 March 2019, including 1,050 vouchers issued to UHL.
It is widely agreed that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. Over the past 18 months, an additional 25 beds have opened in Limerick, including 8 as part of this year's Winter Plan.
A capital allocation of €2 million has been granted in recent weeks and the HSE advises that this will facilitate the completion of enabling works for the 60-bed modular ward in 2019.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes a 96-bed replacement ward block in Limerick and capital funding was provided in 2018 to progress the design phase of this project.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the actions that are being taken to maximise the use of existing resources in UL Hospital Group and CHO 3 and to reduce overcrowding.
371. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he has met an organisation (details supplied) to discuss its serious concerns about the overcrowding situation and management issues at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17668/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra378. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered establishing an independent external clinical review of University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17675/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 378 together.
The issue of an independent review of University Hospital Limerick was raised with me at a meeting with the co-Chairs of the Emergency Department Taskforce on 4 April. I requested the HSE to examine the proposal.
The HSE advises that, with the specific input of the Special Delivery Unit, it is currently undertaking a review of performance across all Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations (CHOs) over the winter period. This review will consider planning, implementation and performance at Group and CHO level. This review will have a particular emphasis on the focus sites, which includes UHL.
The governance of clinical services in UHL is a matter for the Hospital Group and the HSE. Where the performance of an individual hospital warrants further review, this can be considered by the HSE's existing Performance and Accountability Framework, which provides for escalation and a range of actions.
The Deputy's proposal for an independent external clinical review of University Hospital Limerick will be considered as part of this process.
372. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of times he has met the management of University Hospital Limerick in 2019; the reason for each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date this year, I have not met with the management of University Hospital Limerick. However, my officials are in ongoing engagement with UL Hospitals Group in order to monitor matters in relation to overcrowding and bed capacity issues, amongst other matters at the hospital. My officials are keeping me abreast of any issues associated with the hospital on an ongoing basis.
373. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if the management of University Hospital Limerick has requested additional funding and-or staffing to cope with the overcrowding situation at the hospital in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17670/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year.
Limerick was identified as one of the nine sites requiring additional investment, focus and support as part of this year's Winter Plan. The problem of overcrowding in hospitals requires a full-system, patient-focused response. Recognising this, in the Winter Plan, the HSE sought to maximise the use of existing resources across hospital groups and CHOs and to target additional investment at both hospital and community services and supports. This includes additional home support packages and transitional care beds to support people to leave the hospital and return home.
The range and prioritisation of measures was a matter for UHL and CHO Mid-West. Key measures included:
- extended opening hours in the AMAU;
- opening of a surgical short stay unit;
- additional access to diagnostics.
The NTPF has established a fund of €1m that will support the HSE with a focus on increasing access to diagnostics in both private facilities and in-house. 6,050 vouchers had been issued to Emergency Departments for diagnostics as of 31 March 2019, including 1,050 vouchers issued to UHL.
It is widely agreed that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. Over the past 18 months, an additional 25 beds have opened in Limerick, including 8 as part of this year's Winter Plan.
A capital allocation of €2 million has been granted in recent weeks and the HSE advises that this will facilitate the completion of enabling works for the 60-bed modular ward in 2019.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes a 96-bed replacement ward block in Limerick and capital funding was provided in 2018 to progress the design phase of this project.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly regarding any additional requests in 2019 by the management of University Hospital Limerick for additional funding and or staffing to cope with the overcrowding situation at the hospital in 2019.
374. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent to date on the 60-bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick; the expected cost of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17671/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra375. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent to date on the 96-bed extension at University Hospital Limerick; the expected cost of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17672/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra376. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the year in which the 96-bed extension at University Hospital Limerick will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17673/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra377. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the year in which the 60-bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17674/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 377, inclusive, together.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
379. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if home help hours will be awarded for a person (details supplied). [17677/19]
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.
380. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the status of the policy paper regarding options to seal the breach of the data protection legislation regarding Guthrie cards retained without consent and for the future retention, storage and potential secondary uses of the cards; the timeframe for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17678/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a complaint made to the Data Protection Commissioner in 2009, the State was found to be in breach of both EU and national data protection legislation in relation to the retention of newborn screening cards without consent.
A policy was developed to review and address the legal and ethical requirements arising for the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme. This came into operation in July 2011. Specifically this policy requires parental consent for the primary use of screening (a baby) for 8 rare conditions. The policy also allows the card to be retained for a specific period of 10 years. Any secondary use (including research) requires explicit parental consent for that secondary use.
A decision in relation to the archive of blood spot screening cards retained without consent (1984-June 2011) is well advanced and I expect this to be finalized before the end of June 2019.
381. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no mental health services in Summerhill primary care centre, Dublin 1 (details supplied); if the alternative location on North Great George's Street will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17686/19]
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.
