Written Answers Nos. 728-741
728. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in University Hospital Galway broken down by category that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31858/22]
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.
729. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in University Hospital Limerick broken down by category that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31859/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
730. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in Letterkenny Hospital, broken down by category that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31860/22]
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.
731. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in Cavan General Hospital, broken down by category that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31861/22]
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.
732. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in Wexford General Hospital, broken down by category that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31862/22]
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.
733. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in Mayo University Hospital, broken down by category that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31863/22]
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.
734. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently working in Cork University Hospital, broken down by category (that is, nurses, midwives, administration, doctors, consultants, health care assistants and so on in tabular form. [31864/22]
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.
735. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance waiting time per county in tabular form. [31865/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra736. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances operating in the State by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31866/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 736 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
737. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of employees who have left the National Ambulance Service in each of the past ten years in tabular form. [31867/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra738. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who began working for the National Ambulance Service in each of the past ten years in tabular form. [31868/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 737 and 738 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the HSE or individual hospitals have engaged private companies for the purpose of debt collection from patients or former patients who have failed to pay their hospital bills; and if so, the number of companies that have been engaged; the cost of the contracts; and the name of the companies. [31869/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the HSE’s annual National Service Plan.
These charges typically include:
Out-patient charges;
In-patient charges; and
Long-term stay charges.
Certain cohorts of people may be exempt from some or all of these charges.
In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private in-patient charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.
Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.
The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.
740. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors on duty to cover the out-of-hours general practitioner service NowDoc in every part of Donegal, per week, for each of the years, 2016 to 2022 inclusive in tabular form; and if he is satisfied that this is adequate and safe coverage. [31870/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting their contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision.
While the HSE provides significant funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements, GP out of hours cooperatives are private organisations. The HSE maintains regular contact with the out of hours service providers, and over the past two years in particular there has been greater engagement to ensure that the services continue to provide the supports needed by local communities. In recognition of the key role GP out of hours service providers play in the delivery of our health service and the challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, a financial and service stability arrangement for GP Out of Hours cooperatives was introduced with effect from 14th March 2020.
In relation to the number of GPs participating in NowDOC in Donegal, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
741. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason the application for the fair deal scheme for a person (details supplied) is taking so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31875/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
