Written Answers Nos. 356-381
356. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adults with an intellectual disability in County Cork in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form. [26233/19]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
357. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for children with an intellectual disability in County Cork each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form. [26234/19]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
358. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adolescents with an intellectual disability in County Cork in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form. [26235/19]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
359. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for residential care for adults with an intellectual disability in County Cork in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form. [26236/19]
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.
360. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with intellectual disabilities in residential care in County Cork. [26237/19]
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.
361. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if measures will be put in place to prevent the increase of instances of mixed gender wards in University Hospital Kerry in breach of hospital policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26240/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
362. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; the length of the waiting list for such procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26248/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health, HSE, and NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published in March.
Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will deliver 1.155 million elective inpatient and day case discharges at a value of €1.4 billion in 2019. The Scheduled Care Access Plan includes:
- detailed plans from the NTPF to fund 25,000 IPDC treatments; 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes; and 40,000 outpatient first appointments.
- Projections by year end to reduce the overall number of patients on the waiting list (excluding GI scopes) from just over 70,200 in Dec 2018 to under 60,000;
- Within this overall reduction the number of patients waiting longer than 3 months will reduce from 40,200 at the end of 2018 to 31,000;
- It is also projected that for ten identified high volume procedures, including hip and knee replacements, all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months will be offered treatment in 2019. These 10 procedures account for over a third of the active inpatient day case waiting list and represent 60% of NTPF planned activity in 2019.
Regarding the data on hip replacements requested by the deputy, please note that Merlin Park Hospital does not have an active waiting list as those patients are captured under the Galway University Hospital (GUH) waiting list. The GUH Hip Replacement Waiting List is contained in the document attached.
Under 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 date of surgery for the patient concerned, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Attached Table:
Hip Replacements Waiting List at Galway University Hospitals
|
Row Labels |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Grand Total |
|
Galway University Hospitals |
33 |
16 |
18 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
7 |
93 |
|
Grand Total |
33 |
16 |
18 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
7 |
93 |
363. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26252/19]
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.
364. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26253/19]
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.
365. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to address pay rates among consultants appointed after October 2012; his further plans to address issues with the recruitment and retention of consultants within hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26258/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of consultants working in the public health service continues to grow year on year. It increased by 125 whole time equivalents to 3,121 in the year to the end of May 2019.
The public health service in Ireland operates in a global market for medical specialists where there is a world-wide shortage of specialists. Notwithstanding this shortage, progress continues to be made in attracting and retaining consultants and in addressing improvements in the training, working environment and career pathways for Non Consultant Hospital Doctors in Ireland to encourage the supply of future consultant candidates.
The issue of new entrant pay is being addressed in general terms under the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. The issue has also been examined by the Public Sector Pay Commission in relation to consultants. The Commission found that evidence of recruitment campaigns with very low levels of applications was indicative of on-going difficulties in regard to recruitment of consultants. The Commission also acknowledged that the difference in pay between the pre-existing and new entrant consultants is greater than for other categories of public servants. It did not view the measures announced last September for new entrant public servants generally, as being sufficient to address the degree of pay differential which exists for Consultants.
Given its analysis, the Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, to address the pay differential. The proposal of the Commission does need to be addressed. The next step is to engage with the representative organisations of consultants. However, brokering an affordable solution will be a significant challenge, in particular within the context of budgetary pressures and broader public sector policy.
366. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out vaccinations for meningitis B to children born prior to 1 October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26260/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which is comprised of experts from several specialties, including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health, which makes recommendations to my Department on vaccination policy in Ireland. Its recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease.
On foot of a recommendation by NIAC, the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule was amended in 2016 to include the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine for all babies born on or after 1 October 2016. This change to the immunisation schedule took effect from 1 December 2016. The first dose of the vaccine is administered to children when they reach two months of age; a second dose is administered at four months and a third and final dose at twelve months.
Meningitis B disease is most common in babies under the age of 1 year old and the scheduling of the administration of the Men B vaccine under the immunisation programme takes account of this given that there are no plans to introduce a catch-up programme for older children.
All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the Men B vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However, the purchase of the vaccine itself is not covered by the medical card scheme.
367. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adults with an intellectual disability in County Tipperary in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26261/19]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
368. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for children with an intellectual disability in County Tipperary in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26262/19]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
369. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adolescents with an intellectual disability in County Tipperary in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26263/19]
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 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 Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for residential care for adults with an intellectual disability in County Tipperary in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26264/19]
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.
371. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with intellectual disabilities in residential care in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26265/19]
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.
372. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health when the FreeStyle Libre device will be made available on the long-term illness scheme for type 1 diabetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26266/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
373. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with intellectual disabilities in residential care in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26271/19]
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.
374. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for residential care for adults with an intellectual disability in County Wicklow in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26272/19]
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.
375. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adults with an intellectual disability in County Wicklow in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26273/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for children with an intellectual disability in County Wicklow in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26285/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for children with an intellectual disability in County Wicklow in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26286/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adolescents with an intellectual disability in County Wicklow in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26334/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 375, 381, 382 and 393 together.
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.
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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
376. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the capacity for bariatric surgery and earlier and more systematic activity in primary care to enable earlier and accurate diagnosis and lifestyle coaching directed at obesogenic persons or families through increasing the number of general practitioners and practice nurses in the health service. [26274/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question refers to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
377. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals in which bariatric surgery is available; the number of surgeries per million per capita delivered here; and the way in which this compares with other European countries [26275/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question refers to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
378. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners and practice nurses he is making provision for on a three-year timeframe (details supplied). [26276/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs play a crucial role in the provision of primary care services. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,723 as of 01 January 2019 and the number of GPs with a GMS contract has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,504 as at 01 June 2019.
The Government is committed to increasing GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. Efforts undertaken in recent years to increase the number of practising GPs include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS/GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday, as well as the introduction of enhanced supports for rural GP practices.
In addition there has been a huge expansion in the number of training places on GP training programmes in recent years, up from 120 training places in 2009 to 183 places offered in 2019.
The Deputy will be aware of the recently concluded Agreement with GPs on contractual reform. In return for cooperation with a wide range of service developments and reforms, the Government will increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (or €210 million) over the next 4 years.
This will see significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease management programme. There will also be increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas. Improvements in the maternity and paternity leave arrangements have also been agreed, in recognition of the need to ensure that general practice is compatible with doctors’ family friendly commitments. The Agreement also provides for additional Practice Nurse hours equating to 247 WTE Practice Nurses to facilitate the roll-out of the chronic disease programme.
I am confident that these new measures will benefit patients and help make general practice more sustainable and a more attractive career option for doctors.
379. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the supports and provisions available for persons with spina bifida and their families in the Saggart, Citywest and Rathcoole areas. [26278/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that spina bifida is one of the conditions which is covered under the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
In relation to other supports and services which are available to persons with spina bifida and their families in a particular area, I have arranged for the HSE to reply to you directly on these matters.
380. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of the FreeStyle Libre device to persons living with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26279/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
