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Tuesday, 23 Jul 2019

Written Answers Nos. 1380-1404

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (1380)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1380. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the primary care centres to be developed in Limerick city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32696/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As 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.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Funding

Ceisteanna (1381)

John Brassil

Ceist:

1381. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to CAMHS to support the referral of clients for therapeutic programmes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32702/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (1382)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

1382. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if funding is available in the health budget to cover home help hours in the Dublin 12 area; and if a review by a psychiatry consultant will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [32706/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (1383)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

1383. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 653 of 16 January 2017, 167 of 8 November 2017, 177 of 1 February 2018, 188 of 8 March 2018 and 352 of 11 July 2019, if statistics are maintained on the number of young children and teenagers who have died from eating disorders in the past five years, the reason the statistics are not kept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32709/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Respite Care Services Data

Ceisteanna (1384)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

1384. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the HSE of providing one hour of traditional respite for a child aged four to 17 years of age; the estimated cost of providing one hour of traditional respite for a person aged 18 to 24 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32711/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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 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.

Home Care Packages Provision

Ceisteanna (1385)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1385. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when an approved home support package will be in place for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32712/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Promotion

Ceisteanna (1386)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

1386. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to erect signage drawing the attention of persons to ticks and Lyme disease nationally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ticks are widespread throughout the countryside and in areas of rough vegetation and forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32724/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) have highlighted the issue of Lyme disease, and how to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease, since 2008.  Lyme disease is a notifiable disease in Ireland since 2012. The HPSC publishes significant amounts of information on Lyme disease on its website - hpsc.ie - for the public and health professionals.  The HPSC holds a Lyme Awareness Day each year to highlight this issue and is constantly adding new material to its website. This year a Lyme Awareness Day was held on Monday 29 April.

The Scientific Advisory Committee of the HPSC established a Lyme Borreliosis Subcommittee to look at ways of increasing public awareness.  Part of the work of the Lyme Borreliosis Subcommittee is to ensure that all GPs are familiar with identifying and managing Lyme disease.

As this PQ refers to Lyme disease awareness raising, I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Home Help Service Data

Ceisteanna (1387)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

1387. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons granted home help services in counties Laois and Offaly who are wait-listed; and the number waiting in excess of three, six and nine months and one year, respectively. [32725/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (1388)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1388. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be approved in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32730/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Directive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Respite Care Services

Ceisteanna (1389)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

1389. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if respite care or extended respite care will be made available for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32733/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (1390)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1390. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of a panel in CHO8 to fill home help positions; the number of positions filled to date from this panel; and when further recruitment will take place. [32752/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (1391)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1391. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be admitted into full-time residential care; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that existing service providers used by this person are only in a position to provide limited respite care at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32753/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Hospital Equipment

Ceisteanna (1392)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1392. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when the new MRI scanning unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly, will be operational. [32756/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (1393)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1393. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the staffing vacancies and shortages which have prevented the new MRI scanning unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly, becoming operational in tabular form. [32757/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (1394)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1394. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of staffing vacancies and shortages which have prevented the new MRI scanning unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly, becoming operational which have been advertised to date in 2019, in tabular form. [32758/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (1395)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

1395. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when the Dublin Midlands hospital group sought approval from the HSE to fill the staff vacancies in the new MRI unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [32759/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (1396)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1396. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of the care service being provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32761/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Hospital Beds Data

Ceisteanna (1397)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1397. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of long-term stay beds available in Raheen Community Hospital, Scarriff, County Clare; and if a person (details supplied) that is a patient fulfils the criteria to obtain a long-term stay bed at the facility. [32762/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Screening Programmes

Ceisteanna (1398, 1961)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1398. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if copies of all expenses claimed by a person (details supplied) and or their team for travel will be provided by destination, dates travelled and amounts claimed in tabular form. [32763/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1961. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of all invoices submitted by a person (details supplied) and their team for travel as part of their work. [34433/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1398 and 1961 together.

Dr. Scally's Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck was conducted on an independent basis. My Department does not hold detailed records of the travel arrangements of Dr. Scally or other members of the Scoping Inquiry team. The following table sets out the aggregate travel expenses claimed by Dr Scally and his team, as described in the invoices submitted to my Department.

Details of travel arrangements.

Expenses

Lab Visits (Flights, hotels etc)

€17,933

Accommodation

€5,058

Mileage

€392

Total (excluding VAT)

€23,383

Hospital Groups

Ceisteanna (1399, 1402, 1403, 1405, 1768)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1399. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to amalgamate the community care areas with the hospital groups; if there is full consultation; if so, when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32768/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1402. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has agreed to transfer parts of the South/Southwest Hospital Group in counties Waterford and Tipperary into the hospital group in which St. Vincent's Hospital is a part; the changes this will entail for elements of the group in counties Cork and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32771/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1403. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if there is agreement between the hospital groups which contain St. James's, the Mater and Beaumont hospitals in regard to the suggested amalgamation of the groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32772/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1405. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the group Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown will be part of in future amalgamations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32774/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1768. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if patient flows were assessed before the new restructured areas in the health service was finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34000/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1399, 1402 and 1403, 1405 and 1768 together.

The Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare recommended the alignment of  boundaries for the delivery of CHOs and Hospital Groups. Last week, I announced the Government's intention to proceed with these plans based on six regional health areas. This announcement provides clarity on the future shape of the system. It will also ensure that other Sláintecare reforms including the implementation of more integrated care pathways and other system developments (including service planning, capacity planning, funding allocation mechanisms, capital planning, e-Health infrastructure, and back-office systems for data collection, financial management) are designed around the new geographies from the outset.

These boundaries were decided following detailed analysis of patient service usage patterns across the country. This analysis examined patient flows to establish the extent to which hospitals in a given region are serving patients who live in that region. The regions are designed to be as self-contained as possible across the country.  This is critically important for the move under Sláintecare to a population-based planning and funding model.

A number of pieces of research, analysis and consultation were undertaken to support the identification of the optimal boundaries of the new regions.  This included a review of approaches taken internationally, a review of national policy documents on health reform and previous criteria used in determining regional health bodies, a public consultation process and a detailed analysis of service usage patterns.

While minimal disruption to services was one of the key criteria of this decision, the range of criteria considered included:

1) patient flow/self-containment as mentioned above,

2) critical mass - both of population and the range of health and social care services

3) span of control/manageability

4) alignment with other Government services

5) relatability

6) distance between health services, and

7) academic links.

This announcement signals the Government's intention to design our future health system structure in such a way that will make the Sláintecare vision a reality.

Hospital Groups

Ceisteanna (1400)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1400. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the Sláintecare report was explicit regarding the amalgamation of hospital and community care groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32769/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

For the purposes of this answer, I will assume that the Deputy is referring to the Sláintecare report as published by the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare on May 30th 2017.

The Oireachtas report was explicit in the need for regional bodies to be established to ensure timely access to integrated care, with regional health resource allocations. The committee envisaging the HSE, in future, become a more strategic “national centre” carrying out national level functions, with regional bodies implementing integrated care at a sub-national level.  In its report, the Oireachtas Committee recognised the value of geographical alignment for population-based resource allocation and governance, which would enable integrated care and formally connect Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations for the provision of integrated care. It was envisaged that regional bodies will strengthen the local care provision system, ensure service coordination between the different care domains and build community networks. This would be achieved through the establishment of 'Integrated Care Regional Organisations tasked with locally embedding these various initiatives'.

What the Sláintecare report was less explicit in detailing were the arrangements for the best alignment of Regional, CHO and Hospital Groups. The report states that these arrangements will be determined during the implementation of the Programme. This will be achieved across different regions and based on devolved responsibility for the provision of services in accordance with national policy. In noting this, the report states that the 'Committee proposes that membership of Integrated Care Regional Organisations will include senior health care and clinical managers with statutory responsibility for health care delivery, and that the exact membership in each region will be determined by the ‘Health Service National Centre’, CHO Chief Officers and Hospital Group CEOs, working with the Sláinte Programme Implementation Office'.

The Government decision taken last week to approve the restructuring of our health services for the geoalignment of the six regional health bodies to deliver people-centred health and social care represents the first key step in delivering on the vision contained within the Oireachtas Sláintecare Report. The proposed six regional health areas were devised by my Department and the HSE, and were based on population data including how people currently access health services. In addition, a public consultation was held to inform the geoalignment of health and social care services.

In line Sláintecare report, these regional bodies will be responsible for the planning and delivery of integrated health and social care services. In addition, it is our intention to devise a resource allocation formula for to provide budgets to the regional organisations based on local population needs and improve accountability and transparency.

As announced by my Department last week, the next step is to begin the co-design process for these six regional health bodies. Stakeholders in each of the regional health areas will be invited to contribute to the design of the services for their new regions. Work will also now be undertaken to detail the national and regional organisational design which will be brought back to Government for approval within 12 months. Once established, these six regional bodies will be enabled to plan, fund, manage and deliver integrated care for people in their region.

Hospital Groups

Ceisteanna (1401)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1401. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether changes will be made to the academic roles in hospitals that are being changed from one hospital group to another; if they have been informed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32770/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare recommended the alignment of CHOs and Hospital Groups boundaries for the delivery of health and social care services.  Last week, I announced the Government's intention to proceed with these plans based on six regional health areas. This announcement provides clarity on the future shape of the system.  It will also ensure that other Sláintecare reforms including the implementation of more integrated care pathways and other system developments (including service planning, capacity planning, funding allocation mechanisms, capital planning, e-Health infrastructure, and back-office systems for data collection, financial management) are designed around the new geographies from the outset.

Links between hospitals and academic institutions will continue as they were prior to last week's announcement. The current system of a primary academic partner in each group will not continue under the future regional bodies, and hospitals and academic institutions will be free to work with each other as they wish. In any case, currently a number of hospitals in different areas already have links to academic institutions outside of their hospital group’s primary academic partner and this will continue under regional bodies.  Furthermore, under Sláintecare, there will be an additional focus on these academic links in terms of broadening their coverage to include more emphasis on the non-acute areas, and not just hospitals, especially with regard to research and innovation.

Questions Nos. 1402 and 1403 answered with Question No. 1399.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (1404)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

1404. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the status of the second gynaecological theatre for Cork University Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32773/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

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