Written Answers Nos. 340-359
340. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when physiotherapy services will be available again in Clonbur, Carraroe, Kilkerrin and Carna, County Galway; the reason physiotherapy services were ceased in the health centres in April 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46233/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
341. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the extent of the palliative care services in the south east for children and teenagers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46248/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2009 the Department of Health published Palliative Care for Children with Life Limiting Conditions: a National Policy. Containing 31 recommendations under 19 headings, the structures set out in the Policy are designed to meet the palliative care needs of children born with a life-limiting condition and their families across all care settings.
To respond to the increasing demand for palliative care services for children, the HSE, with co-funding from the Irish Hospice Foundation, established a Children’s Palliative Care Programme including three elements: a consultant post in Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, an education programme, and the appointment of clinical nurse co-ordinators. A network of 11 clinical nurse co-ordinators is in place, with responsibility for ensuring that children being cared for at home by their families have access to co-ordinated and supportive services. A second consultant took up a position at Temple Street Children's Hospital in February 2019. The Children’s Hospital Group has agreed that both posts will be located in the new national children’s hospital when it opens.
With regard to the Deputy's specific query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
342. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be prioritised for ongoing treatment at St. James's Hospital, Dublin. [46260/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by St James's Hospital that the person involved has an appointment with a Breast Surgeon scheduled for next month.
343. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to a response from the HSE of 4 July 2019, if the appropriate in-house aids and electric wheelchair have been approved for a person (details supplied); and if an assessment of the person's living conditions will be arranged and the matter expedited. [46261/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
344. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the role a person (details supplied) had regarding a report into failures in HSE orthodontics; the circumstances in which the official ceased employment at the HSE in order to take up a role at Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46268/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a HSE matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
345. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for home help by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46269/19]
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.
346. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the action that will be taken regarding Our Lady’s Children Hospital, Crumlin once the facilities have moved to the new national children's hospital. [46271/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the legislation establishing Children's Health Ireland, the boards of Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals voluntarily transferred their assets and liabilities to the new entity. As such, the Crumlin hospital campus has transferred to Children's Health Ireland. On completion of the new children's hospital on the campus shared with St James's and the two paediatric outpatient urgent care centres at Connolly in Blanchardstown and Tallaght Hospital, paediatric services will no longer be provided at the Crumlin and Temple Street sites.
The HSE entered into Memoranda of Understanding with Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital to ensure that the State’s investment to date in the hospitals is protected when the paediatric services are transferred to the new children’s hospital. Future uses for the Crumlin site has not yet been determined.
347. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the appointment of a second endocrinologist to University Hospital Waterford; the position regarding the recruitment process for such an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46275/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
348. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if there is support for older persons to assist them in the costs of purchasing a mobility scooter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46277/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
349. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the case of a child (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46280/19]
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.
350. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the way in which the budget for the recently announced €2 million autism awareness plan will be spent; if there will be a reduction in the budget for autism services due to the awareness plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46281/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE) acknowledge that services for children with disabilities, including Autism need to be improved and organised more effectively. Following the publication of the Review of the Irish Health Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in December 2018, Minister for Health, Simon Harris asked the HSE to commence the implementation of the recommendations in the review including an Autism Plan to be published in 2019. The recommendations of this review were informed by consultation with and through submissions from parents and services users as well as clinicians working in services for people with Autism.
€2 million was secured in Budget 2020 for the Autism Plan. One part of this plan is the development of an awareness raising campaign that can provide a better information resource for children and parents about what supports are available. This campaign will also assist in creating awareness of the challenges, needs and experiences of people with autism.
Another significant part of the Autism Plan is to build capacity and competence among key professionals working in services for people with Autism. This includes a national training programme for clinicians and the implementation of a tiered model of assessment in order to improve access to and responses by services for those with Autism.
I want to emphasise that the primary objective of investing in an Autism Plan is to improve services for people with Autism and their families.
As well as the €2 million announced for the Autism Plan, significant investment in services was announced in Budget 2019 with funding for 100 new therapy posts secured for children's disability services. 44 of these posts are now in place and the HSE committed to filling all posts by the end of 2019.
These posts while not meeting all needs, will have a significant positive impact on waiting times for access to vital therapy services over the course of next year and help to drive the implementation of the Progressing Disabilities Services for Children and Young People Programme.
351. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a medical centre in Bandon, County Cork, has had vacancies for two general practitioners and has not for some time received one inquiry in respect of same; the way in which he plans to address the matter of recruitment and retention in rural practices, which is leaving general practitioners under pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46283/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the influence of demographic factors, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These 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. Enhanced supports for rural GP practices have also been introduced. The number of training places on GP training programmes has been increased in recent years; up from 120 places in 2009 to 192 filled in 2019.
In addition, the recent Agreement on GP contractual reforms will benefit patients and GPs. In return for cooperation with a range of service developments and reforms, the Government will increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) over the next four 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 programme.
There will 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. I am confident that these measures help make general practice more sustainable and a more attractive career option for doctors.
In relation to GP availability in Bandon, the HSE have advised that there are currently 10 GPs in Bandon with GMS contracts to provide medical services to medical and GP visit card holders. One of those contracts is currently vacant and one is due to become vacant at the end of November 2019.
Efforts are underway to fill both the current and upcoming vacancy with both posts currently being re-advertised. In the meantime, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare is funding a full-time locum GP in the current vacant post so that eligible medical card holders continue to receive the care to which they are entitled, and will also ensure that medical care for eligible patients is in place from 1st December for the upcoming GMS vacancy.
352. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the alternative dental treatment plan and location that can be provided for a person (details supplied); the transport arrangements that can be made for an alternative treatment location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46284/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
353. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to his Department in Civil Service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46296/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no allocated civil service accommodation outside Dublin city.
354. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the wait times for prostate brachytherapy nationally in each centre of excellence by hospital and waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46313/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
355. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the wait times for prostate brachytherapy nationally in each centre of excellence from 1 January to 31 October 2019, by hospital and month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46314/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
356. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the wait times for prostate brachytherapy nationally in each centre of excellence for 2018, by hospital and month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46315/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
357. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46320/19]
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.
358. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46321/19]
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.
359. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46322/19]
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.
