Pat Buckley
Ceist:368. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the way in which the remaining €1.48 million allocated to CCP on eating disorders in 2018 was spent in tabular form. [52784/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraEating Disorders
Ceisteanna (368)
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.
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (369)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:369. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the efforts made to recruit posts for the CCP on eating disorders to date in 2019. [52785/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (370)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:370. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason no posts for CCP on eating disorders were progressed to date in 2019. [52786/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (371)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:371. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to address recruitment for the CCP on eating disorders in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52787/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí 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 (372)
Seamus Healy
Ceist:372. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if an over 70s medical card will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52789/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Care of the Elderly
Ceisteanna (373)
Seán Fleming
Ceist:373. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans for a new statutory scheme for home support for older persons and adults with a disability; if this will be a centralised new facility in relation to the administration of the matters; his plans to ensure that such a facility is adequately staffed from the beginning in order that there will not be major delays to approving applications for home help and persons being left for an undue time without a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52810/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enabling people to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible is a long-standing objective of the Government. To advance this, the Government is committed to establishing a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Sláintecare commits to the establishment of this scheme by the end of 2021.
Throughout 2019, my Department has been engaged in designing the scheme based on continual enhancement of existing service-provision and on good practice internationally in relation to health and social care delivery.
It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high quality services based on a person’s assessed need in line with a sustainable funding model and will integrate effectively with other health and social care services, such as long-term residential care (including the Nursing Homes Support Scheme).
As part of Budget 2020 €7million has been allocated for the testing of the new model of service delivery envisaged as part of the development of the statutory home-support scheme. As part of this, a central office will be set up to support the development of the scheme and decision-making during the testing phase. Any decisions in relation to the permanent administration of the proposed statutory scheme when it is fully operational have not been finalised at this stage.
HSE Legal Cases
Ceisteanna (374)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:374. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the legal fees incurred by the HSE in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [52825/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have referred the PQ to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Ambulance Service Data
Ceisteanna (375)
Stephen Donnelly
Ceist:375. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of critical care ambulance service transfers to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [52826/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
Cross-Border Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (376)
Lisa Chambers
Ceist:376. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 164 of 13 November 2019, the person or body responsible for collecting the data on the number of women travelling abroad using the cross border directive for treatment of endometriosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52827/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross-Border Directive and collates all data relating to its operation. Therefore, neither I, nor my Department, are able to provide the Deputy with the information requested.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Ceisteanna (377)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a speech and language therapy application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52830/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí 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.
Nursing Staff Recruitment
Ceisteanna (378)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:378. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if an embargo on the recruitment of nurses is in place; the number of overseas nurses recruited to University Hospital Galway to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52832/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the HSE that there is no national recruitment embargo or moratorium in place. There is however, a priority requirement for all HSE services to maintain, or get to, an affordable staffing level that is sustainable in 2019 and 2020, while also prioritising the delivery of safe services.
In light of this, the HSE have introduced control measures relating to staffing and recruitment to ensure that they live within the available resources provided to them. This does mean that in some Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations the HSE may have paused non-critical replacement posts, however the HSE report that there is on-going capacity for recruitment of newly funded posts and replacement of critical clinical posts within frontline services throughout this period.
With regards to the number of overseas nurses recruited to University Hospital Galway this year to date, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Nursing Staff Recruitment
Ceisteanna (379)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:379. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure positions are available for graduate nurses in University Hospital Galway; his views on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52833/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
Disabilities Data
Ceisteanna (380)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:380. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of wheelchair users in Dublin and nationwide. [52839/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The data concerning wheelchair users is not captured by the Department of Health or by the HSE.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (381)
Lisa Chambers
Ceist:381. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the mammogram service will be extended beyond 67 years of age in line with the service provided every two years from 50 to 67 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52840/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, when first introduced, offered a mammogram free of charge every two years to women aged 50 to 64 years.
In 2015 an extension of the programme to include women aged 65 to 69 commenced on a phased basis, and is expected to be completed in 2021.
Currently all women between the ages of 50 and 68 are invited to have a mammogram every two years.
Medical Card Data
Ceisteanna (382)
Lisa Chambers
Ceist:382. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the medical card covers mammograms after 67 years of age; if not, the reason therefor; if provision will be made for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52841/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cardholders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual's eligibility status is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive.
The HSE provides, or has provided on its behalf, a range of services including all in-patient public hospital services, including consultants services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service. Persons with full eligibility (medical card holders) are entitled to receive these services free of charge.
As the provision of the particular procedure mentioned is a service matter for the HSE I have referred the matter to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists Data
Ceisteanna (383)
James Browne
Ceist:383. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Wexford awaiting cataract surgery; the number waiting more than 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52848/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
With regard to the information requested by the Deputy, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advise that at the end of November 2019 there were 30 patients with an area of residence in County Wexford waiting for cataract surgery. Of these, 14 patients are waiting less than 3 months. There are no patients waiting more than 15 months for cataract surgery.
Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and NTPF and made considerable improvements to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures and life limiting procedures including cataracts.
At the end of July 2017, the number of people waiting for a cataract procedure was 10,024. Since then the numbers waiting have consistently improved and at the end of November 2019, they stand at 4,320. Of these, 448 patients are waiting over 9 months which represents a reduction of 90% when compared to July 2017, when the number waiting over 9 months stood at 4,371.
More broadly, Budget 2020 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €75 million in 2019 to €100 million in 2019. The year-on-year increases to the NTPF since Budget 2017 reflect this Government’s priority to improve waiting times for patients to access hospital treatment. The Department of Health is working with the HSE and NTPF to develop the Scheduled Care Access Plan 2020, which will include ophthalmology services.
In this regard, I would encourage all hospital groups and individual hospitals to engage with the NTPF to identify waiting list proposals for the remainder of this year and for 2020.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (384)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:384. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [52853/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
General Medical Services Scheme Data
Ceisteanna (385)
Lisa Chambers
Ceist:385. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if there are restrictions on non-EU qualified general practitioners working here applying for a medical card list. [52867/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Applications for GMS panels are accepted from EU qualified GPs and non-EU qualified GPs on an equal basis. There are no restrictions for non-EEA qualified general practitioners once they have obtained the requisite immigration status and clearance from the relevant law enforcement agency. All GPs applying for a GMS panel are required to register with the Medical Council of Ireland and must have their name included in the Specialist Division of the Register for General Practice.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications Data
Ceisteanna (386)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:386. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the weighting percentages to be used as part of the upcoming HSE FreeStyle Libre device review decision making process that will be given to criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52872/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications Data
Ceisteanna (387)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:387. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if the reimbursement dataset will specifically cover only current HSE-funded users of the FreeStyle Libre device; if not, if the health technology assessment review will compare total blood glucose strip usage spend year on year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52873/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.