Written Answers Nos. 356-363
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which it is intended to ensure that primary care centres are provided throughout County Kildare with particular reference to growing population centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61620/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
357. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he intends to set up an emergency management team to deal with overcrowding and hospital emergency departments with particular reference to ensuring that the highest possible standards prevail when dealing with the inflow of patients by facilitating their access to emergency treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61621/22]
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.
358. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which outreach children’s hospital facilities are operational at present in Blanchardstown and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61622/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CHI Emergency Care Unit and Outpatient Department at Tallaght, which opened November 2021, has significantly expanded outpatient services to children and young people from the Greater Dublin Area. The new Outpatient Department has 13 family friendly examination rooms in addition to the current Outpatient Unit already established in CHI at Tallaght. The Emergency Care Unit is equipped with 16 single rooms, designed for families and some with en-suite toilets and showers.
The Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown opened in July 2019. CHI at Connolly has a significant number of short-stay observation beds in its urgent care and extensive outpatient facilities, supported by contemporary use of ICT, to support ambulatory and urgent care and avoid unnecessary admissions.
359. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason for delay in dealing with the waiting lists of children seeking procedures for scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61623/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for scoliosis treatment and remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
Earlier this year I approved a €19 million ambitious plan from Children’s Health Ireland to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis/spina bifida) by the year end.
This funding will provide additional theatre access at Temple Street and Crumlin, diagnostic MRI capacity and enable further activity and paediatric theatre lists at Cappagh Hospital or Cappagh Kids.
The additional activity is targeted at reducing the number of children waiting long periods for orthopaedic procedures (including scoliosis and spina bifida), and long waiting times have come down since January 2022; for those waiting for a spinal fusion there has been a 44% reduction in those waiting over 12 months and a 24% reduction in those waiting over 4 months.
However, despite undertaking a record number of spinal procedures, corresponding reductions in the waiting list have been offset by a significant increase in demand and referrals compared to previous years with a 30% increase in additions to the spinal surgery list compared to 2021. Furthermore, unfortunately some of the additional investment in beds, MRI and theatre capacity will not come on stream until Q1 2023, having been delayed due to building and installation challenges. CHI has also experienced delays in recruiting the highly specialised staff required.
In October due to an unprecedented increase in demand through ED’s and Urgent Care Centres and the resulting pressure on its hospitals capacity, CHI has had to reduce planned elective and routine inpatient admissions and this will continue over the winter period.
Ultimately, safeguarding and maintaining the highest possible levels of quality and child safety is the absolute priority for Children’s Health Ireland.
There will be further investment in 2023, funding of €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists. This includes €123 million in recurrent funding, including priority areas such as Spina Bifida and Scoliosis.
360. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the prevention of infectious diseases continues satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61624/22]
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.
361. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress in the hospital building programme in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61625/22]
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.
362. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he can take steps to counter the difficulties of obtaining and retaining professional staff throughout the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61626/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth and Social Care workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland is a top priority for the Government.
Department of Health officials engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.
There are ongoing discussions between both Departments regarding increasing domestic supply of health and Social Care graduates in the short term to medium term through the immediate provision of additional places, and the longer-term planning being undertaken around future skills needs in the context of future demand for health and social care services. These additional places are being targeted in areas of acute skills need.
Further permanent additional places in healthcare disciplines were announced in July, including 135 places on nursing and midwifery programmes commencing from September 2022. In July 2022, Minister Harris and I announced an agreement with the Irish Medical Schools to phase in an increase of 200 additional Irish/EU medicine places over the next 5 years.
In addition, the HSE has been engaging in a programme of work to develop and transform the ability of the HSE to attract essential talent, to meet the needs of our health service now and in the future. Over the past couple of years, the HSE have worked in partnership with service areas to enhance recruitment capability across our health service.
A programme of actions is currently under way including:
- All nursing / midwifery / Health and Social Care professionals being offered permanent contracts.
- Career opportunities across specialist and advanced practice roles and clinical leadership roles which are important factors to attracting and retaining nurses and midwives into the workforce and these continue to grow in community settings under Sláintecare reform.
- Increased funding for Additional Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioner (ANMP) posts. Budget 2022 provided funding for the development of 149 new ANMP posts across the health service increasing the critical mass of ANMPs.
- The number of Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioners will be increased service-wide to achieve a total of 3% of the nursing workforce at advanced level
Further expansion of international recruitment and enhanced nurse programme as well as ongoing rolling campaigns.
- A focused multi stakeholder working group for Medical / Consultants established delivering improvements on average of 58% in times to hire (and improving) – 68 weeks down to 39 weeks with continuous review of process to reduce times to hire and improve candidate experience. Targeted marketing for hard to fill roles. Launched medical consultant hub - A one stop shop microsite for Medical Consultant Recruitment (with the PAS) supported by an international marketing campaign. Link: publicjobs.ie/en/medical-consultants/hse
- Development of Clinical Infrastructure to facilitate additional students and accommodate overseas candidates gaining registration for Health and Social Care professions.
- Development of an Advanced Practice Framework for Health and Social Care Professionals
363. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the total number of children currently awaiting orthodontic treatment; when such services are likely to be provided; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61627/22]
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.
