Thursday, 4 Jul 2019

Written Answers Nos. 183-204

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (183)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [28624/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Occupational Therapy Data

Ceisteanna (184)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

184. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for occupational therapy in County Galway in 2018 and to date 2019, in tabular form; the average waiting time for children to access occupational therapy in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28625/19]

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.

HSE Agency Staff Data

Ceisteanna (185)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

185. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if there is a staff recruitment embargo in place in counties Cavan and Monaghan; if so, when the embargo was introduced; when the embargo is scheduled to end; the number of posts vacant across the HSE in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the vacant posts, in tabular form; and when a physiotherapist will be recruited to address the needs of MS patients in County Monaghan. [28626/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Speech and Language Therapy Data

Ceisteanna (186)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

186. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for speech and language therapy in County Galway in 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the average waiting time for children to access speech and language therapy in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28627/19]

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.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Ceisteanna (187)

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

187. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to update the long term illness scheme to include other illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28628/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that the LTI Scheme will be included as part of the review of the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.

Health Care Infrastructure Provision

Ceisteanna (188, 189, 193, 196)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

188. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the capital cost of building the new Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford; the amount provided by the State and from other funds, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28633/19]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

189. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the new Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford will be completed and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28634/19]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the additional revenue and or funding which will be made available to staff and operate the top three floors and 72 beds at the Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28638/19]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

196. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the business cases and additional funding applications developed by University Hospital Waterford that require additional capital and revenue funding, in tabular form; if the business cases are with the hospital, the South South West Hospital Group and HSE Estates; the status of each project; the timeline for delivery of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28641/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 188, 189, 193 and 196 together.

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare services and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Hospital Beds Data

Ceisteanna (190)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

190. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the 72 beds being built on three floors of the Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford will be public only; if not, the number which will be private; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28635/19]

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

Palliative Care Services

Ceisteanna (191)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

191. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the revenue and funding which will be made available to staff and operate the new palliative care unit at the Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford. [28636/19]

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.

Palliative Care Services

Ceisteanna (192)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of new whole-time equivalent positions which will be made available to staff at the new palliative care unit at University Hospital Waterford by job title, that is, doctors, nurses, administration and so on, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28637/19]

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.

Question No. 193 answered with Question No. 188.

Hospital Staff Data

Ceisteanna (194)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

194. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of new whole-time equivalent positions which will be made available to staff the top three floors and 72 beds at the Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford by job title, that is, doctors, nurses, administration and so on, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28639/19]

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.

Palliative Care Services

Ceisteanna (195)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

195. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the palliative care services that will be made available at the Dunmore wing at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28640/19]

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.

Question No. 196 answered with Question No. 188.

Cancer Screening Programmes

Ceisteanna (197)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

197. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the commencement of the CervicalCheck tribunal has to await the outcome of the appeal of the State against a judgement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28653/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The process of establishment of the Tribunal is under way and will proceed as planned, subject to the passing of the Bill by the Oireachtas over the next week.

The fact that the Morrissey judgment is before the Supreme Court should not impact on the planned timescale for the establishment of the Tribunal, nor will it delay the Tribunal in conducting pre-claim work. 

It is the case that the High Court would not generally hear a case while a similar case is in the process of being appealed to the Supreme Court, as the outcome of that appeal could impact how the case is conducted / concluded. 

The Tribunal is in a similar position to the High Court. In practical terms, work on establishing the Tribunal will continue over the next few months, with hearings not due to commence until later in the year. It is unlikely, therefore, that the appeal will lead to any significant delay in terms of the Tribunal hearing its first case(s).

Orthodontic Services Data

Ceisteanna (198)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

198. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent orthodontists in the public system in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by hospital and region, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28655/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (199)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

199. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff positions attached to CAMHS in County Waterford in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by position, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28656/19]

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.

Home Help Service Data

Ceisteanna (200)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

200. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of publicly funded home help hours provided to patients in Waterford city and county in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by hour numbers, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28657/19]

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.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (201, 202, 203, 204)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 14 May 2019, if in the period 1 January 2004 to 28 June 2019, the views of the chief medical officer or his agents were expressed either verbally or in a written or electronic form in relation to the operation of the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford and the standards at the facility; if the views of the CMO were ever sought in relation to correspondence or verbal reports received in relation to the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28669/19]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

202. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 14 May 2019, if the figures in the graph provided were in excess of the operational capacity of the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford; if as a consequence this caused procedures to be delayed or postponed; if in the opinion of the chief medical officer such delays had the potential to affect a decision by a medical professional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28670/19]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

203. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 14 May 2019, the verbal, written electronic and other communications between his Department or agencies under his remit, the Office of the State Pathologist or agents of the Office of the State Pathologist in connection with the designation of the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford as unfit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28671/19]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

204. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 14 May 2019, the verbal, written electronic and other communications between his Department or agencies under his remit and other Departments or Ministers in connection with the designation of the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford as unfit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28672/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 204, inclusive, together.

On 24 April last, the serious nature of the conditions in the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) were first brought to my Department’s attention. On 2 May 2019, the Department of Justice forwarded correspondence to the Department of Health that it had received from the Office of the State Pathologist advising that State post-mortems would no longer be conducted in the mortuary at UHW.

Subsequently, the Department of Health engaged with the Office of the State Pathologist which advised that, pending the building of a new mortuary at UHW, State post-mortem examinations from the Waterford region, would be performed at alternative venues, including Dublin, Cork and Tullamore. On 8 May, the Office of the State Pathologist formally advised the South South West Hospital Group that future State post-mortems would be performed at alternative venues, pending the building of a new mortuary at UHW.

In relation to the Deputy’s specific queries with respect to the figures in the graph provided in the response to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 14 May 2019, as these are operational issues, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. It is a matter for both local Consultants and hospital management to determine whether there have been any adverse impacts on the delivery of mortuary services and to respond to those in accordance with the HSE Incident Management Framework.

It has been agreed that an independent review of the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford will be conducted to examine internal processes and pathways and management and governance arrangements to ensure that they are consistent with contemporary practice. A review team and terms of reference have been agreed. The HSE has advised that the Review Team is working towards the completion of a Final Report in September.