Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:465. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31454/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (465)
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.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (466)
David Cullinane
Ceist:466. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the modular endoscopy unit in University Hospital Waterford was installed; the cost of installation; if the unit is owned outright; the ongoing incidental costs; the number of endoscopy procedures carried out at the unit to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31455/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (467)
David Cullinane
Ceist:467. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the whole-time equivalent staffing composition for the modular endoscopy unit at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31456/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Tobacco Control Measures
Ceisteanna (468)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:468. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current status of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31462/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. The report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Bill is awaited from the Joint Committee on Health.
Care of the Elderly
Ceisteanna (469)
Chris Andrews
Ceist:469. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if he will liaise with the Department of Justice in order to address the shortage of carers who are available for elderly people in the State by allowing non-European Union workers who are employed by private care companies to work for 40-hours per week (details supplied). [31464/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The shortage of carers for the elderly has been a great concern of my Department and me. I have established a cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine factors affecting the care sector workforce.
The structure and membership of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was informed by submissions received by my Department from key stakeholders in January 2022 as well as by a short-life scoping exercise to gather initial data and evidence on the extent of the challenges in the sector. Following this the Department of Justice was invited to participate in the Group's work. The Department of Justice accepted the invitation and became a vital part of this process.
At the inaugural meeting of the Group, which was held on 3rd March 2022, the Group's terms of reference and action-timelines were agreed. The terms of reference are available on the Department's website. Areas being considered by the Group include the recruitment, retention, training, pay and conditions, and the career development of front-line carers in home-support and nursing homes.
The Group is currently working with key sectoral stakeholders to further explore and define the issues arising and will submit a report for my consideration by September 2022. The report will outline the Group's key findings and recommendations as well as an action plan for the recommendations' implementation.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (470)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:470. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which disability services for children are readily available throughout north County Kildare; the areas of deficiency in this regard that have been identified; the remediation plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31473/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (471)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:471. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department is engaged in the build-up of neurological services throughout the health system as highlighted by an organisation (details supplied); the extent of general progress that has been made in respect of the issue; when he expects to see major improvements in dealing with such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31475/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (472)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:472. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the action that has been taken to address the delays in provision of appropriate treatment for patients with scoliosis and spina bifida; if it is envisaged to make serious inroads on the number of persons on such waiting lists in the shortest possible time; when the appropriate initiatives are likely to become obvious; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31476/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In February of this year I met with senior officials of Children’s Heath Ireland (CHI) and the HSE, as well as senior orthopaedic clinicians from Temple Street, Crumlin and Cappagh, to discuss the finalisation of proposals to increase orthopaedic activity at CHI. The plan proposes ambitious additional activity levels which will work to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end.
This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address the issues facing these children. Both current and capital funding has been provided in 2022 to support this initiative.
Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year.
By using the capacity provided by Cappagh for less complex orthopaedic patients, including routine scoliosis procedures, CHI can free up space in order that complex orthopaedic procedures, including scoliosis spinal fusions, can be carried out centrally at CHI sites. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date. Year to date by the end of May 2022, 197 scoliosis procedures had been carried out, compared to 156 for the same period in 2019. The number of patients waiting longer than 6 months for a scoliosis procedure has also reduced to 79 by the end of May 2022, compared to 103 in August 2020.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (473)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:473. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to clear waiting lists for cataract treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31477/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department works closely with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, published in February of this year, allocates €350m to the HSE and NTPF to reduce and reform acute scheduled care waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
Through the Waiting List Action Plan, public hospitals will be supported by the NTPF in a number of ways, including funding the operation of cataract clinics in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and in Nenagh General Hospital.
The Plan also identifies cataracts as one of 15 high-volume procedures for which the NTPF will ensure that people waiting over 6 months will receive an offer of treatment, provided they are clinically ready. As of the end of May, just over 1,500 patients had been waiting more than 6 months for an inpatient day case (IPDC) cataract procedure, and over 1,300 of them have been made an offer of treatment.
Implementation of the Waiting List Action Plan is overseen by a Task Force, co-chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and the CEO of the HSE. The Department, HSE and NTPF will continue to work closely to identify ways to improve access to care across the system, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding ‘see and treat’ services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (474)
James Lawless
Ceist:474. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, the matter has been referred directly to the HSE for response.
Birth Certificates
Ceisteanna (475)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:475. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update for the birth certificate application of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31485/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.