Written Answers Nos. 198-210
198. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the issue of calories on menus; if his Department has conducted a regulatory impact assessment; the estimated cost regarding the implementation by statute of the proposal; if he has engaged in quarter 3 and 4 of 2018 and to date in 2019 with relevant stakeholders and representative bodies in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18243/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is developing a General Scheme of a Public Health (Calorie Posting and Workplace Wellbeing) Bill and will conduct a consultation and regulatory impact analysis as part of that process.
199. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [18244/19]
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.
200. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on pain clinic waiting lists; the average wait time; the longest wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18245/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. Budget 2019 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published in March and sets out measures to improve care for patients waiting for scheduled care in 2019 by reducing waiting times for inpatient/day case treatment and outpatient appointments.
Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will aim to deliver 1.155 million elective inpatient and day case discharges, as well as 3.3 million outpatient appointments, of which approximately 1 million will be first appointments.
The Access Plan ensures an appropriate balance between high volume activities and offering treatment to complex long waiting patients. The NTPF will do this by inviting public hospitals to seek solutions for very long waiters either in the private sector or through insourcing.
The data requested by the Deputy has been provided to my Department by the NTPF and is contained in the tables below.
Outpatient – Pain Relief
|
Specialty |
Total |
Average wait time (days) |
Longest wait time (days) |
|
Pain Relief |
10,511 |
333 |
3,641 |
IPDC – Pain Relief
|
Specialty |
Total |
Average wait time (days) |
Longest wait time (days) |
|
Pain Relief |
3,857 |
204 |
1,149 |
201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has eligibility for treatment benefit through the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18253/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question could not be answered by EPU as information requested from Deputy Durkan's office was not returned to the Department.
202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); if the matter will be considered with a view to restoration of a full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18262/19]
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.
203. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the children’s unit in CUMH; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18277/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health when the extension and-or expansion of the children's unit in Cork University Maternity Hospital will be allotted; the stage the planning process is at; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18278/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
205. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the capital allocation to Cork University Maternity Hospital for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18279/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
206. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans under the implementation of the programme to progressing disability services for children and young people to provide more general services and fewer specialist services for young persons and children with disabilities; the extra resources being put in place to meet additional demands arising from the implementation of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18280/19]
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.
207. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18304/19]
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.
208. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting child health development officers in each CHO to provide leadership and co-ordination for the national healthy childhood programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18306/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
209. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting and appointing community nursing staff to allow public health nurses to focus on child health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18307/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
210. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a service will be provided for a person (details supplied). [18309/19]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
