Written Answers Nos. 704-719
704. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who has developed cervical cancer after she was given a false negative result by CervicalCheck can be given the supports and facilities provided to the patients in the official 221 Plus group despite the fact that her diagnosis was not as a result of the audit undertaken by CervicalCheck but arose instead after her referral to a gynaecologist. [24240/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2018, Government decided to provide a package of primary and social care supports for 221 women affected by the CervicalCheck issues and their families. This package of measures will also be provided to any woman identified through the ongoing Independent Clinical Expert Review as having discordant smear results on review.
The Independent Clinical Expert Review is being carried out by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) with expertise also sourced through the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. The review is examining the screening history of women who have consented to be included. Where the expert panel opinion of cytology results differs to the original results provided by CervicalCheck, the panel will endeavour to determine, wherever possible, any failures to prevent cancer or to intervene at an earlier stage and will prepare individual reports for those affected, setting out the facts and their expert and independent assessment of those facts. The review will also produce an aggregated report.
All available slides (1,739) have now transferred to the review laboratories, the review is ongoing and results of the review are not yet available.
It is important to clarify that no woman was diagnosed with cervical cancer as a result of the CervicalCheck audit. The audit was carried out by CervicalCheck once it was notified of a woman's diagnosis of cancer.
705. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting lists and times for women nationally waiting for a gynaecology appointment, assessment or treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24241/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra711. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the waiting list times for women nationally for a gynaecology appointment, assessment or treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24262/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 711 together.
Reducing 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. The plan will place a strong focus on a number of high-volume procedures. When combined with HSE activity, it is projected that the NTPF will be in a position to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months for one of these high-volume procedures.
A key element of the Plan is the stabilisation of the Outpatient Waiting List. Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will aim to deliver 3.3 million outpatient appointments, of which approximately 1 million will be first appointments. Under the plan the NTPF will use €6 million to deliver 40,000 first Outpatient appointments.
The plan includes a target that the number of patients waiting for a first Outpatient appointment will fall from over 516,000 at the end of 2018 to under 509,000 by the end of 2019. This target takes into account the more than 800,000 new patients who will be added to the Outpatient waiting list in 2019; a figure that is based on trends for the previous two years.
While the meeting of short-term targets is always welcome, more can be achieved and, in this regard, the HSE, Department of Health and NTPF, under the Access Plan, will work together with the objective of developing medium-long term improvement initiatives for patient access to hospital procedures. This will include moving care to more appropriate settings and providing care at the lowest level of complexity such as providing ophthalmology in the community; maximising the use of Advanced Nurse Practitioner led clinics; and physiotherapists to manage orthopaedic clinics.
The data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the appended table. It should be noted, as advised by the NTPF, that the Dublin Maternity Hospitals (Holles Street, the Coombe, and the Rotunda) do not submit full waiting list data to the NTPF. The Coombe and the Rotunda only submit Outpatient data, while Holles Street does not submit any data.
National Gynaecology IPDC Waiting List
|
0-3 Mths |
3-6 Mths |
6-9 Mths |
9-12 Mths |
12-15 Mths |
15-18 Mths |
|
1866 |
1110 |
783 |
470 |
222 |
119 |
National Gynaecology IPDC Waiting List (cntd.)
|
18-24 Mths |
24-36 Mths |
36-48 Mths |
48+ Mths |
Grand Total |
|
171 |
71 |
8 |
4 |
4824 |
National Gynaecology Outpatient Waiting List
|
0-3Months |
3-6Months |
6-9Months |
9-12Months |
12-15Months |
15-18Months |
|
11861 |
5258 |
4330 |
3003 |
1725 |
914 |
National Gynaecology Outpatient Waiting List (cntd.)
|
18-21Months |
21-24Months |
24-36Months |
36-48Months |
48+Months |
Grand Total |
|
665 |
510 |
930 |
174 |
7 |
29377 |
708. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the building of a primary care centre in Greystones, County Wicklow; if the initial contractor is still in place; if not, if a new contractor is now in place; if not, the status of same; the timeline for completion of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24251/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
709. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the building of a primary care centre in Arklow, County Wicklow; if the initial contractor is still in place; if not, if a new contractor is now in place; if not, the status of same; the timeline for completion of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24252/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
710. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied). [24255/19]
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.
712. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to deliver the full complement of home help and support hours committed to in budget 2019; the number of hours allocated to and drawn down by each CHO in 2018; the number of hours allocated to each CHO for 2019; the reduction based on the new agreement on travel time in each CHO; the allocation and drawdown of hours to date in 2019 for each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24272/19]
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.
713. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if sufficient funding will be made available to a community hospital (details supplied) to ensure it is in compliance with HIQA requirements. [24312/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The legislation underpinning the NHSS requires each private or voluntary nursing home to negotiate and agree a price for long-term residential care services with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme. The NTPF negotiates with proprietors of registered nursing homes to reach agreement in relation to the maximum price that will be charged by each nursing home for the provision of long-term residential care services to residents participating in the NHSS. The process of setting prices with individual private and voluntary nursing homes is commonly referred to as the NTPF pricing mechanism.
Cobh Community Hospital is not funded directly by the HSE as they receive their agreed NTPF rate through this pricing mechanism, under NHSS. The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of its function and negotiates with each nursing home on an individual basis. The Department of Health has no role in these negotiations.
714. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average wait times for orthodontists in the south east in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24313/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
715. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure the required funding is provided to enable the construction of an appropriate building to accommodate an MRI scanner for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar (details supplied); the staff to be provided for the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24315/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is continuing to work with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Health Service Executive in a process to finalise as soon as possible a multi-annual Capital Plan for the HSE, which will include capital projects to be funded in 2019 and beyond, having regard to the available capital funding and the number of large national capital projects currently underway. The availability of funding determines the timeframe for the delivery of capital projects such as the proposed MRI accommodation at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare services and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to staffing.
716. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the assurance that will be provided to a person (details supplied) attending RehabCare in County Cavan; the assistance that will be put in place to protect persons attending the centre each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24338/19]
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.
717. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the assurance that will be provided to a person (details supplied) attending RehabCare in County Cavan; the assistance that will be put in place to protect persons attending the centre each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/19]
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.
718. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the assurances that will be provided to a person (details supplied) attending RehabCare in County Cavan; the assistance that will be put in place to protect persons attending the centre each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24340/19]
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.
719. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to appoint an independent retail regulator further to the EU legislation on unfair trading practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23767/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDirective (EU) 2019/633 on Unfair Trading Practices in Business-to-Business Relationships in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain (UTP Directive), was agreed on 13 March 2019. Transposition of the Directive is required within 24 months from publication on 17 March 2019.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) has responsibility for the current national legislation - the Consumer Protection Act 2007 (Grocery Goods Undertakings) Regulations 2016 - under which UTPs are addressed. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the independent statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition and consumer protection law. It is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Grocery Goods Regulations, investigating complaints and, where appropriate, taking enforcement action.
The UTP Directive does not provide for a “retail regulator” as mentioned by the Deputy, but rather provides, in Article 4, that “Each Member State shall designate one or more authorities to enforce the prohibitions laid down in Article 3 at national level".
My Department and the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation, in consultation with the EU Commission, will continue to work together to explore the policy, resource and operational implications of transposing and enforcing the Directive.
