Written Answers Nos. 149-168
149. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated for the provision of residential respite in CHO 1 in 2020; when a response will issue to a request for additional funding from CHO 1 learning disability services to deliver a seven-day respite service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52183/19]
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.
150. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if matters raised by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the provision of care for its users will be reviewed; if the concerns will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52184/19]
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.
151. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding public health specialists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52191/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I outlined in my reply to the Deputy on 5th November, the Government is committed to the establishment of the grade of consultant in public health medicine, taking account of the related proposals in Sláintecare, the recommendations of Dr Gabriel Scally in his report into CervicalCheck and the recommendations in the Crowe Horwath Report concerning the specialty.
This important step is being progressed in conjunction with the development of a new framework and service model for public health that is currently in train. The proposed framework is now being considered by the HSE's management team. As part of the overall process, my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is also engaged in negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation in relation to contractual issues for the proposed grade.
While it is not possible to be definitive in terms of a timeline, given that consideration of the new structures is ongoing within the HSE and having regard to the nature of industrial relations engagement, I would hope that the new structures and the Contract for the grade will be settled by the middle of next year.
152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the unwinding of FEMPI for community pharmacists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52199/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of health service reform and modernisation. Community pharmacy is recognised as the most accessible element of our health service with an unequalled reach in terms of patient contact and access.
Regulations governing the current pharmacy fee structure were made under section 9 of the FEMPI Act 2009 and are set to expire at the end of 2019. Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, these regulations must be replaced on 1st January 2020 to maintain a statutory basis for contractor payments and to prescribe the fees payable from that date.
In keeping with my obligations under Section 43 of the 2017 Act, my officials have undertaken a process of consultation with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), as the representative body for the profession. My officials have met with an IPU delegation on two occasions where proposed fee restructuring was discussed. A detailed submission was received from the IPU. This consultation process has now concluded.
I met with the IPU on the 5th December, where I reiterated my intention to move beyond the arrangements underpinned by the FEMPI regulations and to commence a comprehensive review of the pharmacy contract. In this context I also communicated my intention to maintain the current fee structure from 1 January 2020.
The comprehensive review of the pharmacy contract in 2020 will address the role to be played by community pharmacy in the context of Sláintecare. It will consider all aspects of pharmacy service provision including delivery of a multi-disciplinary model of service delivery for patients, ensuring clarity of roles and achieving optimum value for money.
However, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services or provide better value for money or patient outcomes. Accordingly, any measures to be considered must be evidence based.
New secondary legislation is currently being drafted in order to give effect to the prescribed fee structure, as required under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the capital allocation of his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and the areas to which funds will be allocated in each year [52213/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total capital funding allocation for the public Health Services in Budget 2020 is €854m, 2021 (€880) and 2022 (€880).
The areas to which capital funds will be allocated each year are
- Health Service Executive - building, equipping and furnishing of health facilities;
- Health Service Executive - Information Communication Technology;
- Department of Health and agencies under the aegis of and directly funded by my Department such as the Health Research Board and Health Information and Quality Authority.
Multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings for the Health Vote for the period 2023 - 2025 have yet to be formulated.
154. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding compensation for the young persons who received the H1N1 swine flu Pandemrix vaccine and subsequently developed narcolepsy in view of a recent case (details supplied); if there are non-legal routes being considered due to the stress this causes young persons and their families and the cost to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52221/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency has statutory responsibility for the management of claims relating to the HSE, including those relating to the H1N1 Pandemrix vaccine and I have no role in determining how these cases are conducted.
An Expert Group was established in June of last year, under Judge Meenan, to examine the law in relation to personal injuries arising in the healthcare context and to explore alternative mechanisms by which claims could be managed more effectively, particularly from the perspective of the person on whose behalf a claim has been made. A report from this Expert Group is expected in the coming weeks, the recommendations of which will be taken into account in relation to the development of any vaccine compensation scheme.
In addition, the Health Research Board recently completed a review of the evidence on vaccine injury redress programmes in other jurisdictions and this report will also be considered in conjunction with the Expert Group’s recommendation.
Since 2012, the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Department of Education and Skills, and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have worked together to provide a wide range of services and supports for those affected. The HSE’s Advocacy Unit acts as liaison with service and support providers and other Government Departments to facilitate access to required services. It has also engaged with representatives of SOUND (Sufferers of Unique Narcolepsy Disorder). Four regional narcolepsy co-ordinators have been appointed as single points of contact to assist patients and their families by providing advice, information and access to local services. The ex-gratia health supports include:
- clinical care pathways to ensure access to diagnosis and treatment;
- multi-disciplinary assessments led by clinical experts;
- counselling services for both the individuals and their families;
- discretionary medical cards for those who have been diagnosed;
- physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessments.
155. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting fewer than 13 weeks following a referral for a routine colonoscopy or OGD at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting more than 13 weeks. [52224/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA national programme was established in mid-2016 to coordinate several activities to improve endoscopy services. The Endoscopy Programme is housed within the Acute Operations Division of the HSE and the programme is overseen by the National Endoscopy Steering Group. The programme team consists of a Clinical Lead, Training Lead, Nurse Lead and Programme Manager. The team are supported by the National Endoscopy Working Group.
The aim of the programme is to improve the delivery of endoscopy services across all Hospital Groups.
In relation to the specific question raised, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
156. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of community intervention teams in each community healthcare organisation; and the number of whole-time equivalent staff on 30 November in each of the years 2017 to 2019 or the latest date available in each year. [52225/19]
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.
157. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals for treatment to each community intervention team to date in 2019, in tabular form. [52226/19]
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.
158. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that received specialist palliative care treatment in their normal place of residence in each month to date in 2019. [52227/19]
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.
159. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operations and procedures cancelled and postponed in each public hospital to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52228/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE advise that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, medical reasons, and patient choice.
In relation to the specific question raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
160. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operations and procedures cancelled and postponed in each voluntary hospital to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52229/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE advise that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, medical reasons, and patient choice.
In relation to the specific question raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
161. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures the HSE has procured from private and independent hospitals to date in 2019; the amount spent by the HSE on procedures in private and independent hospitals to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52230/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointments the HSE has procured from private and independent hospitals to date in 2019; the amount spent by the HSE on the appointments in private and independent hospitals to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52233/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 164 together.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
162. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures procured by the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each year since its restoration in 2017 by the type and speciality of each procedure in tabular form. [52231/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by officials in my Department and will be provided to the Deputy directly as soon as it becomes available.
163. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients that have been removed from outpatient lists to date in 2019 as a result of a validation exercise and not as a result of having an appointment with a consultant for each public and voluntary hospital in tabular form. [52232/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraValidation is the process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at pre-planned intervals during the year to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or wish to be removed from the list. The validation of waiting lists can help provide clean, accurate, up to date waiting list data which reflects the true demand for hospital services.
The National Centralised Validation Unit (NCVU) advises that since its establishment in November 2018 and up to the end of October, they have completed 236 validation cycles, across 36 hospitals, resulting in over 229,000 patients being contacted and over 40,500 patients being removed from the Inpatient/Day Case and Outpatient waiting lists.
The outstanding hospitals have engaged with the NTPF and have been allocated a time slot for validation in the next 3-6 months.
In relation to the data requested by the Deputy, the NCVU provided the attached document which outlines outpatient validation figures by hospital.
|
Name of Hospital & Group: |
No. of patients removed due to validation exercise from 1st of January to 6th December in 2019: |
|
IEHG |
|
|
Mater Misericordiae Hospital |
2371 |
|
St Vincent's Hospital |
1291 |
|
Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar |
1179 |
|
St Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny |
191 |
|
Wexford General Hospital |
95 |
|
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
1189 |
|
St Columcille's Hospital |
599 |
|
St Michael's Hospital |
104 |
|
Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital |
353 |
|
Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital |
2012 |
|
Total: |
9384 |
|
RCSI |
|
|
Beaumont Hospital |
0 |
|
Connolly Hospital |
515 |
|
Our Lady's of Lourdes Drogheda |
0 |
|
Louth County Hospital |
0 |
|
Cavan & Monaghan Hospitals |
0 |
|
The Rotunda Maternity Hospital |
743 |
|
Total: |
1258 |
|
DMHG |
|
|
St James Hospital |
2541 |
|
Tallaght Hospital (AMNCH) |
2375 |
|
Midland Regional Tullamore Hospital |
2643 |
|
Naas General Hospital |
1207 |
|
Midland Regional Portlaoise Hospital |
892 |
|
Total: |
9658 |
|
ULHG |
|
|
University Hospital Limerick |
4244 |
|
Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis |
72 |
|
Nenagh Hospital |
40 |
|
Croom Hospital |
570 |
|
St John's Hospital |
50 |
|
Total: |
4976 |
|
SSWHG |
|
|
Cork University Hospital |
3165 |
|
University Hospital Waterford |
4053 |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
1172 |
|
Mercy University Hospital |
1000 |
|
South Tipperary General Hospital |
332 |
|
South Infirmary Victoria Hospital |
961 |
|
Bantry General Hospital |
82 |
|
Mallow General Hospital |
301 |
|
Total: |
11066 |
|
Saolta Hospital Group |
|
|
University Hospital Galway |
3099 |
|
Sligo University Hospital |
678 |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital/ |
1811 |
|
Mayo University Hospital |
1090 |
|
Portiuncula Hospital |
530 |
|
Roscommon University Hospital |
629 |
|
Total: |
7837 |
|
Children's Hospital Group |
|
|
Crumlin Children's Hospital |
0 |
|
Temple Street Children's Hospital |
5 |
|
Tallaght Children's Hospital |
0 |
|
Total: |
5 |
|
Grand Total: |
44184 |
The following revised table was received on 27 August 2020.
OPD Validation Removals PQ Ref 52232/19 Amended Report
|
Name of Hospital & Group: |
No. of patients removed due to validation exercise from 1st of January to 6th December in 2019: |
|
IEHG |
|
|
Mater Misericordiae Hospital |
2371 |
|
St Vincent's Hospital |
1291 |
|
Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar |
1179 |
|
St Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny |
191 |
|
Wexford General Hospital |
95 |
|
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
1189 |
|
St Columcille's Hospital |
599 |
|
St Michael's Hospital |
104 |
|
Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital |
353 |
|
Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital |
2012 |
|
Total: |
9384 |
|
RCSI |
|
|
Beaumont Hospital |
0 |
|
Connolly Hospital |
515 |
|
Our Lady's of Lourdes Drogheda |
0 |
|
Louth County Hospital |
0 |
|
Cavan & Monaghan Hospitals |
0 |
|
The Rotunda Maternity Hospital |
743 |
|
Total: |
1258 |
|
DMHG |
|
|
St James Hospital |
2541 |
|
Tallaght Hospital (AMNCH) |
2375 |
|
Midland Regional Tullamore Hospital |
2643 |
|
Naas General Hospital |
1207 |
|
Midland Regional Portlaoise Hospital |
892 |
|
Total: |
9658 |
|
ULHG |
|
|
University Hospital Limerick |
4244 |
|
Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis |
72 |
|
Nenagh Hospital |
40 |
|
Croom Hospital |
570 |
|
St John's Hospital |
50 |
|
Total: |
4976 |
|
SSWHG |
|
|
Cork University Hospital |
3165 |
|
University Hospital Waterford |
1740 |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
1172 |
|
Mercy University Hospital |
1000 |
|
South Tipperary General Hospital |
332 |
|
South Infirmary Victoria Hospital |
961 |
|
Bantry General Hospital |
82 |
|
Mallow General Hospital |
301 |
|
Total: |
8753 |
|
Saolta Hospital Group |
|
|
University Hospital Galway |
3099 |
|
Sligo University Hospital |
678 |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital/ |
1811 |
|
Mayo University Hospital |
1090 |
|
Portiuncula Hospital |
530 |
|
Roscommon University Hospital |
629 |
|
Total: |
7837 |
|
Children's Hospital Group |
|
|
Crumlin Children's Hospital |
0 |
|
Temple Street Children's Hospital |
5 |
|
Tallaght Children's Hospital |
0 |
|
Total: |
5 |
|
Grand Total: |
41871 |
165. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant positions advertised by the Ireland East hospital group to date in 2019; the speciality of each advertised position; if each position has been filled; and the number of applications for each speciality in tabular form. [52234/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
166. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant positions advertised by the RCSI hospital group to date in 2019; the speciality of each advertised position; if each position has been filled; and the number of applications for each speciality in tabular form. [52235/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant positions advertised by the Children’s Health Ireland hospital group to date in 2019; the speciality of each advertised position; if each position has been filled; and the number of applications for each speciality in tabular form. [52236/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
168. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant positions advertised by the Saolta hospital group to date in 2019; the speciality of each advertised position; if each position has been filled; and the number of applications for each speciality in tabular form [52237/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
