Matt Carthy
Ceist:524. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if the midwife-led maternity service at Cavan General Hospital will be protected and enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12417/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity Services
Ceisteanna (524, 525)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:525. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore maternity services to Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12418/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 525 together.
Firstly, I would like to be clear that the Government is fully committed to the ongoing implementation of the National Maternity Strategy. The Strategy is evidence based, in line with international norms and was informed by the voices of women from across the country, drawn from the 1,324 responses received during the public consultation process. Outlined in the Strategy is a new model of care for maternity services with three care pathways - Supported, Assisted and Specialised - ensuring that women receive the right care, from the right professional, at the right time in the right place. In line with that model of care, pregnant women deemed to be at normal risk will be offered, and encouraged to avail of, care in the Supported Care pathway. Key to realising this goal is the development and expansion of community midwifery services, as recommended in the Strategy.
Good progress has been made since the Strategy’s publication in 2016, with midwifery led and community-based services increasingly available across the country. On Friday 5th of June last the National Women & Infants Health Programme applied for a drawdown of new development funding which is being provided for maternity services in 2020. This funding request was approved on 10th June and will facilitate the further development of community midwifery services around the country. The drawdown approval specifically includes funding for an Advanced Midwifery Practitioner in Cavan General Hospital to provide additional senior midwifery expertise and capability and enable the further expansion of community midwifery services for the benefit of women in Cavan and Monaghan.
Neither I, nor my Department, were advised of any intended change in relation to maternity services at the hospital. It is clear that any cessation or diminution of midwifery led services is not in line with the recommendations of the Strategy. My Department has requested, and is awaiting, a full report from the National Women & Infants Health Programme regarding the MLU in Cavan. The Programme has advised that a review is underway within the RCSI Hospital Group, led by the Group Clinical Director for Maternity Services in conjunction with the Directors of Midwifery from Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda and the Rotunda Hospitals. My Department has sought assurances that any proposals, emanating from the RCSI review, will serve to ensure the future of the MLU in Cavan and that it will operate in line with the National Maternity Strategy.
Once the full report has been received, my Department will work with the National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that any additional supports which are required to secure the future of community midwifery services in Cavan, will be put in place. This will ensure that the choice of the Supported Care pathway remains available to women attending CGH for maternity services.
Hospital Car Parks
Ceisteanna (526)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:526. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when he and or the HSE will publish the report on hospital car parking charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12419/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In March 2018, I requested the HSE to conduct a review of hospital car parking charges with a view to establishing clear national guidelines in the area. The review process included consultation with key stakeholders, including patient advocates. My Department and the HSE are currently engaging on a draft implementation plan to accompany the review report.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (527)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:527. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will commission a study into the reason counties Cavan and Monaghan recorded disproportionately high numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19; if an interim analysis is available regarding the reason this has been the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12420/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive is aware of the high incidence of confirmed cases of COVID-19 notified in Cavan and Monaghan and have observed that a higher proportion of cases in both Cavan and Monaghan are linked to outbreaks compared with national data. Outbreaks have occurred in a variety of settings including nursing homes, acute hospitals, private homes and workplaces such as meat/poultry factories and mushroom farms.
I can assure the Deputy that regional multi-disciplinary outbreak control teams are currently investigating and managing all outbreaks, including those in Cavan and Monaghan.
In addition, I would note that the Health Service Executive has further advised that although the incidence of COVID-19 cases appears high in Cavan and Monaghan, this needs to be interpreted with caution as incidence rates are sensitive to small changes in case numbers due to the relatively small populations under consideration.
Death Certificates
Ceisteanna (528)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:528. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if the overall excess death rates for February, March, April and May 2020 have been analysed; if there is a breakdown of same by county; if available information in this regard will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12421/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 28 May 2020, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) published a Comparison of Mortality Rates between Ireland and other countries in EU and Internationally. The report, which is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/84bc5-covid-19-comparison-of-mortality-rates-between-ireland-and-other-countries-in-eu-and-internationally/ reviews COVID-19 mortality in Ireland in comparison with a number of comparable health systems and reviews possible factors which have contributed to Irish mortality experience to date.
The Deputy may also wish to note the COVID-19 data hub which features national statistics, information and data about COVID-19 in Ireland. It is available at https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/. The data available on the site is based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). Datasets, charts and maps are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data. This site is built using the GeoHive platform, Ireland's Geospatial Data Hub.
It should also be noted that, in Ireland, data are collected on COVID-19 related mortality for both lab confirmed and probable cases, in line with recommendations from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in both hospitals and the community. We committed from the outset to collect the most extensive data possible in order that the information could inform and guide the public health actions necessary to respond to the very serious threat posed by COVID-19. It should also be noted that the collection of mortality data in Ireland exceeds that of many other countries in the world.
The NPHET and my Department will continue to consider all available evidence and the experience and learning from other countries as we try to keep the level of transmission of the virus as low as possible while also balancing the need for continuing restrictions with the social and economic benefits arising from the easing of restrictions in the coming period.
Health Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (529)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:529. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when cancer screening programmes will recommence; the waiting list for each programme; the estimated timeframe for clearing each waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12422/20]
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.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (530)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:530. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the commencement date and timeline for the provision of the new primary care centre, Grange, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12438/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Health Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (531)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:531. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the roadmap for the reintroduction of cancer screening programmes will be provided. [12449/20]
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.
Question No. 532 answered with Question No. 416.
HSE Complaints Procedures
Ceisteanna (533)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:533. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the avenues available to persons and families to make complaints regarding the quality of care received in public hospitals and private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12458/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The public health services recognise and value that it is the right of service users to comment, compliment or complain about any of the services provided by the HSE and its funded bodies. Responding effectively to comments, compliments and complaints received and learning from them is key to providing high quality customer focused services. Private patients can make complaints to their service provider, to a regulator or get legal advice.
Outlined below is a short summary of the options available to service users of public hospitals, public nursing homes and private nursing homes. More detailed information can be found on www.healthcomplaints.ie, https://www2.hse.ie/services/hse-complaints-and-feedback/your-service-your-say.html.
Complaints options for public and private patients
For nearly all types of complaint, you should complain locally as a first step. After that, your options are different, depending on whether you were treated as a public patient or as a private patient. If you were treated as a public patient, the HSE is responsible for your care.
Option 1: Complain locally
Service providers are the people and organisations that provide your health and social care. Examples include health centres, hospitals, GPs (family doctors), dentists, physiotherapists, opticians and social workers. For nearly all types of complaint, the first place you should complain is directly to the service provider.
Options 2 and 3 are for HSE and HSE funded health service only:
The HSE has a complaints procedure called Your Service Your Say. You can expect an update on your complaint within 30 days.
Option 2: Request a Health Service Executive (HSE) review (applies to public hospitals and public nursing homes only)
If you are unhappy with the initial response from the Complaints Officer, you can ask for a review from the HSE Director of Advocacy, or you can take your complaint directly to the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Children.
Option 3: Complain to the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Children (applies to public hospitals and public nursing homes only)
The Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children are independent organisations which can investigate complaints about services provided by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE) or agencies, such as charities and voluntary bodies, that deliver health and social services on behalf of the HSE. If you were treated as a public patient and you are not happy with how the HSE is handling your complaint, you should contact the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Children.
Option 4: Contact a regulator
Regulators have responsibility for protecting the quality and safety of health and social care services. Regulators can regulate different things, for example, they can be responsible for health professionals, for health service quality or for medicines.
Professional regulators include the Medical Council, The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) and CORU. Service quality regulators include the Mental Health Commission and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Medicines and healthcare product regulators include the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
If you have a complaint about a health professional or a healthcare service, it may be appropriate to complain to a regulator. Most of the regulators can take a complaint from a member of the public, but there are restrictions on how some of the regulators can handle that complaint.
Option 5: Get legal advice
If you feel your complaint is particularly serious, you may wish to get legal advice on your complaint. It is recommended to always get legal advice before you begin legal action.
Support for people who wish to make a complaint about the care or treatment they received
The Patient Advocacy Service was established by the Department of Health in 2019 and is an independent, free and confidential service that provides information and support to people who want to make a formal complaint about an experience they have had in a HSE-funded public acute hospital.
For those needing assistance in making a formal complaint about the care they have experienced in a public acute hospital, the service has more information on its website, provides an online contact form and can also be contacted by phone at 0818293003.
Question No. 534 answered with Question No. 400.