Written Answers Nos. 352-371
352. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to a recent statement in reference to ongoing maternity restrictions (details supplied), the complaints procedure that has been established to allow women to lodge a complaint while accessing maternity services across each of the 19 maternity units. [47319/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
353. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to a recent statement (details supplied), if an update will be provided on the random spot checks for compliance with the easing of restrictions across the 19 national maternity units; if this commitment has been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47320/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
354. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [47321/21]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
355. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to be called for an appointment. [47322/21]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
356. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for adults in Galway city and county; the number of respite hours provided for adults with an intellectual disability in Galway city and county in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47324/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra357. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours provided for children with an intellectual disability in Galway city and county in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47325/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra358. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the current status of respite provision in Galway city and county; when respite services in Galway city and county will be fully restored to pre-pandemic levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47326/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra360. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 15 September 2021, the number of persons in Galway city and county who have been on the waiting list for respite for 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18, 18-24 months, 2-3 years and more than 4 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47330/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 356 to 358, inclusive, and 360 together.
As the issues raised are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
359. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1920 of 27 July 2021, the total amount of funding allocated to date for the delivery of two orthopaedic theatres with ancillary accommodation for the provision of elective procedures in Merlin Park University Hospital; the amount of this funding which has been spent to date; the projected total cost for the delivery of the two operating theatres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47329/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
361. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery in Galway; the average waiting time for orthopaedic surgery in Galway; the number of patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery in Galway for 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18, 18-24, 24-30, 30-36, 36-42, 42-48 and over 48 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47331/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre cyber-attack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid-19 protocols.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department is working with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to develop a two-pronged approach to tackle the rise in waiting lists. Firstly, with the finalisation of a Waiting List Action Plan which will cover the rest of the year, until December 2021. Secondly through the development of a longer-term Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets.
The NTPF has advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
362. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical card cover (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47338/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. This has been advised to GPs by the HSE.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. My Department and the HSE discussed this issue previously with the relevant GP representative body. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances. It is intended to raise this issue again at an appropriate time.
It should be noted that the GP chronic disease management programme which is being phased in, having commenced last year, will involve the ongoing monitoring of patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care.
The position remains that where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
363. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the HSE refers patients to the National Eating Disorder Recovery Centre; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47370/21]
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.
364. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary healthcare centre in Portlaoise, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47373/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
365. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the refurbishment and new building development planned for Abbeyleix Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47374/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
366. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when early intervention, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy will be provided to address the needs of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47375/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
367. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when early intervention, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy will be provided to address the complex needs of a child (details supplied) who was incorrectly removed from the disability team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47376/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
368. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if a pathway is available to non-EU citizens who are fully vaccinated to avail of an EU Digital COVID Certificate as proof of immunity. [46868/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate regulation, and subsequent associated national regulations, ensure that all EU citizens, their family members and third country nationals legally resident in Ireland who have undertaken vaccination, recovery or testing related to COVID-19 are eligible to receive a certificate.
369. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes aged 18 years and over that are waiting on a first appointment to the outpatients diabetes clinic in any of the University of Limerick hospital group hospitals; and the number waiting 6 to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 months, 2 to 4 and over 5 years, respectively, in tabular form. [47389/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
370. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if the University of Limerick hospitals group is included in the remaining six diabetes centres to become DAFNE licensed in 2022 (details supplied); and if a centre in the mid-west such as Limerick is included in the remaining six centres to become DAFNE licensed in 2022. [47390/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
371. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding in budget 2022 to provide a minimum of one whole-time equivalent diabetes specialist pump nurse for each adult diabetes clinic in the University Limerick Hospitals Group to enable insulin pump therapy initiation for persons who are clinically suited to this treatment. [47391/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE in relation to the Estimates process for Budget 2022. With regard to the allocation of funding for 2022, as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment at this stage on the outcome of the Estimates process, or matters which will be the subject of national service planning in 2022.
