Written Answers Nos. 566-588
566. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons and length of time waiting on assessments of need in County Clare, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60346/22]
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.
567. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the current position in respect of the provision of CAMHS dietician specialist services in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60347/22]
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.
568. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the length of time that a gender identity development service (details supplied) has been paid to run clinics for Irish children at Crumlin children’s hospital; the amount that was paid for this service through the EU treatment abroad scheme; if the Department or the HSE made the EU aware of its use of the TAS scheme to pay for the service to run clinics in Crumlin children’s hospital; if the EU was satisfied with this use of the TAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60352/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
569. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason that nurses in hospitals have been told that they are not getting premium pay for nurses for Christmas. [60353/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
570. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of women and babies who have been discharged into the care of homeless services from maternity hospitals in the past three months; and the number who have been discharged in need of emergency accommodation but with no accommodation to go to. [60354/22]
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.
571. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are figures from the maternity hospitals on the number of additional night's stay that were necessary for women and children in maternity hospitals due to the mother and child having no accommodation to go to. [60355/22]
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.
572. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to improve the working conditions faced by occupational therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60358/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
573. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will immediately work with the HSE in CHO4 to put in place a plan to ensure that none of the acute mental health unit beds in Bantry General Hospital are closed. [60369/22]
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.
574. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 322 of 10 November 2022 (details supplied), the service developments that took place between 8 June and 15 June 2017 such that a permanent contract senior psychologist post in the North Cork / North Lee Older Adult Mental Health Services was, after being accepted on those advertised terms, changed within that seven day period to a permanent contract senior psychologist post in the general Adult Mental Health North Lee Services, and was not advertised to eligible candidates on those changed terms; the basis in employment law that such a rapid restructuring of a HSE post can be sanctioned after it had been advertised and filled on different terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60370/22]
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.
575. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to assist an organisation (details supplied) searching for suitable housing for assisted living for disabled adults. [60372/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to a service matter, I am referring it to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
576. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the McHugh report in relation to student nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60382/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra596. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the McHugh Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60443/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra658. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on when the financial supports for student nurses and midwives recommended in the McHugh report will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60798/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra705. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the McHugh report. [61021/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 576, 596, 658 and 705 together.
On 4 November 2021, following the publication of Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives, an independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request (McHugh Report), I announced that the Government had approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m, for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary placement to the end of the academic year 2021/22.
I also announced additional support to nursing and midwifery students who require overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. I doubled the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance to €100 per week of placement. Student nurses and midwives (for Academic Year 2021/22) on paid internship placement received additional financial support (50% of the PPG: totalling to €1,800 for the academic year) for the duration of their internship, from 1 January 2022.
These additional supports arose following the publication of the McHugh report which set out a number of recommendations, including an enhanced Travel and Subsistence scheme for students and matters related to uniforms while attending their supernumerary clinical placements. As this is a significant departure from the current position, I have committed to bringing a further proposal to Government setting out how to deal with this recommendation with effect from the start of the 2022/2023 academic year. Along with my Department I have considered a number of options in relation to this recommendation, so that an enhanced scheme can shortly be put in place that will provide a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting students in undertaking their supernumerary clinical placements.
577. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied) in relation to supports for persons living with neurological conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60383/22]
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.
578. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a fair deal application (details supplied). [60387/22]
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.
579. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to make more timely dyspraxia assessment services. [60390/22]
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.
580. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the staffing budget allocation to Tipperary University Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [60400/22]
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.
581. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant otolaryngologists attached to University Hospital Limerick in 2021 and to-date in 2022, in tabular form. [60401/22]
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.
582. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE CNM3 senior orthopaedic nurses at University Hospital Limerick in 2020, 2021 and to-date in 2022, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [60402/22]
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.
583. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the hospitals in which fluorescence microscopy and threomboelastography are available for diagnostics and treatment. [60403/22]
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.
584. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if respite services have been discontinued temporarily at Ennistymon Community Hospital, County Clare; if so, the plans that are in place to have the services fully restored given that the respite and short stay beds provide a lifeline for families and their loved ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60409/22]
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.
585. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health further to the response to Parliamentary Question No. 736 of 22 November 2022, if clarification and advice will be provided in relation to a case where a complaint has been made (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60412/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Health, I acknowledge the trauma and distress caused to those families who, having experienced the tragedy of losing a beloved child, have then had the difficult experience of learning that organs have been retained without consultation or for an extended period of time. Such incidents are clearly unacceptable and add to the distress and grief of families.
The Department of Health recognises the need to introduce safeguards to protect the integrity of the human body before and after death, and the Human Tissue (Transplant, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill is a legislative priority for this Government. The Bill is a composite piece of legislation that will introduce a statutory framework across the areas of organ donation and transplantation, post-mortem practice and procedures in hospital settings, anatomical examination and public display of bodies after death.
The overarching aim of the Bill is to further embed in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive matters. The Bill received Cabinet approval for publication on 29 November 2022 and is expected to be published on the Oireachtas website shortly.
I know that the HSE is also committed to ensuring post-mortem services comply with best practice across all hospitals and is progressing the eight recommendations identified in an audit report on the post-mortem process published earlier this year.
Actions taken so far include:
- The Chief Clinical Officer has established a Post-Mortem Examination Services Group to review and update the 2012 Standards. This Group is due to complete its work by the end of the year;
- The National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) has accelerated a review of the provision of perinatal pathology, and the HSE is currently developing a National Perinatal Pathology Practice Framework Document to support services;
- The HSE is continuing to invest in perinatal pathology services with the aim of ensuring that all hospitals will have access to a regional service either as part of their Hospital Group or a network of Hospital Groups; and
- HSE National Acute Operations has engaged with local hospital management to ensure that existing guidelines are followed.
While it would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases, I can confirm that the correspondence raised by the Deputy has been received by my Department and I have instructed my officials to respond directly on the matters raised. I also note that a formal complaint has now been lodged with the hospital, and the HSE will respond accordingly.
The individuals concerned might also wish to avail of the Patient Advocacy Service. This service is aimed at supporting patients who wish to make a complaint about care received in a public hospital. The service offers a confidential helpline with experienced advocates on-hand to provide information and support to patients who want to make a formal complaint to the HSE about the care they experienced. The Patient Advocacy Service has a team of patient advocacy officers, advocacy team leads and a service manager providing information and support to patients across Ireland by phone, email and through online information and in person. Further information on the service can be found by ringing 0818 – 293 003 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday or by visiting www.patientadvocacyservice.ie.
586. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason that nurses are being told by management in Navan Hospital to get patients out of the emergency department (details supplied). [60414/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra587. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE is pushing ahead with the official bypass of ambulances with patients of the accident and emergency department in Navan Hospital given that over 100,000 patients have been without a bed to date in 2022. [60415/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra588. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE is pushing ahead with closure of the accident and emergency department in Navan Hospital given that it is being opposed by the senior medics and clinicians in Drogheda Hospital, when the HSEs own data systems indicate that up to 45 patients could be forced to go to Drogheda Hospital each day, when the absence of an ICU in Navan will mean that the medical assessment unit will not be able to accept any patient who could potentially deteriorate. [60416/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra677. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the report that the HSE wrote to close Navan Hospital A&E; the reason that no one has seen the report; and the reason there is secrecy around this report. [60849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.
No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by me or by government.
While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.
For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration and engagement in relation to this matter is ongoing.
From 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols, in place for Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, are being updated to address urgent patient safety matters to include patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. The current ambulance bypass protocol includes paediatric patients, obstetrics patients, major trauma patients, heart attack patients, and stroke care patients.
The HSE Winter Plan for 2022-23, published on 11 October, will support acute and community services this winter to respond to anticipated high levels of emergency attendances and admissions across the acute sector, long waiting times in EDs, and high occupancy rates across acute hospital settings.
