Tuesday, 31 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 635-654

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (635)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

635. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the type and location of beds he plans to open during 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4106/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (636)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

636. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new chronic disease management hub in Ennis in respect of services currently provided, the roll-out of additional services, and staffing details of the hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4107/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (637)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

637. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE ambulance dispatches that were recorded in County Clare during 2022; the number of occasions where ambulances arrived at scenes where the patient had already passed away; the hospitals which ambulances brought patients to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4108/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the question is related to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (638)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

638. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the additional resources and personnel that have been deployed at Ennis Hospital in light of the decision to facilitate and treat non-urgent 112 and 999 patients being transported by ambulance to the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4109/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (639)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

639. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of non-consultant hospital doctors who were employed in HSE-run hospitals in December 2022; the corresponding figure for December 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4110/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The number of non-consultant hospital doctors employed in the health services at the end of December 2022 was 8,014 (whole time equivalents), compared with 6,795 at the end of 2019. 

There has been significant and ongoing growth in NCHD numbers, in order to support service delivery and reduce average NCHD working hours. Over the past 5 years  the number of NCHDs has increased from 5,962 to 8,014 - an increase of 2,052.

The Government is committed to improving the working conditions for NCHD's and making posts in Ireland more attractive for them and ensuring a better work/life balance. We are also committed to addressing the imbalance in training opportunities, growing the number of training posts and giving all NCHDs training opportunities. I established a National Taskforce to focus on the NCHD workforce in September 2022. This Taskforce is focused on putting in place sustainable workforce planning strategies and policies to address and to improve the NCHDs working experience and to support their retention within the Irish health system. 

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (640)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

640. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on hip and or knee surgery and cataract surgery in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. [4111/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic and the current pressures on Emergency Departments.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols. 

The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, 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. 

The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan set targets to reduce both the number of people waiting for care and the length of time they are waiting. Positive progress was made in 2022 in relation to both targets, despite negative impacts throughout the year on scheduled care from continued COVID-19 surges, emergency department pressures and other operational factors, including staff hiring. In 2022, there were c.1.56m patients removed from the Waiting list and c.1.53m patients added to the waiting list – a net reduction of c.30k (4%). Long waiters were significantly reduced in 2022: the number of patients exceeding the 18-month maximum wait time target for new outpatient (OPD) appointments target decreased by c.59.0k (38.5%) and the number of patients exceeding the 12-month maximum wait time target for in-patient day case (IPDC) procedures and GI Scopes has decreased by c3.8k (22.6%) and c.3.5k (86.5%) respectively.

Through the 2022 Plan, €350m funding was allocated to the HSE and the NTPF to provide additional public and private activity to reduce the waiting list backlogs that were exacerbated during the Pandemic, but also as the first stage of an ambitious multi annual approach, to lay the foundations for important reforms that will deliver sustained reductions in waiting lists.

For 2023, funding of €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists, some €360m of which is targeted at acute hospital waiting lists. The plan to utilise this part of the funding is being developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE and NTPF. This will include details of new capacity planned for 2023 as well as important reforms that will improve capacity in the public hospital system.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached document, provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, outlines the number of patients waiting by time-band for hip/knee and cataract surgery by area of residence for counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, at the end of December 2022.

cataract-Hips-Knees

Departmental Staff

Ceisteanna (641)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

641. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the names of any advisers who have taken up employment in his Department since the Government rotation in December 2022; the annual salary they are being paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4126/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, has two advisors, Denise Duffy and Paul Melia whose salaries are paid by the Department of the Taoiseach.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (642)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

642. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a matter involving the Mental Health Commission interim report into CAMHS (details supplied); if similar risks have not been escalated appropriately across the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4136/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (643)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

643. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that no risk for CAMHS was on the national risk register, following the publishing of the Maskey Report; the last time his office inspected the national risk register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4137/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (644)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

644. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS consultant psychiatrists per CHO from 2017 to 2022, and to date in 2023; the number of vacant positions per CHO for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4138/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (645)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

645. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated to CAMHS as a percentage of the health budget and the overall budget from 2017 to 2022, and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4139/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (646, 647, 648, 649)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

646. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS per CHO that offer family-based therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and play therapy; if there are plans to provide these services where they are absent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4140/23]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

647. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS intellectual disability teams in place; the CHOs in which they are in place; the target number of teams; if he will provide an update on their roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4141/23]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

648. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current number of forensic CAMHS teams in place; the target number of forensic CAMHS teams to be in place; the current and target numbers for forensic CAMHS inpatient beds and their expected opening dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4142/23]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

649. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS teams per CHO that offer out-of-hours mental health treatment; the reason that this has not been developed in CHOs despite the commitment to do so in the 2019 national service plan; the current progress of delivering this commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4143/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 646 to 649, inclusive, together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 647 answered with Question No. 646.

Question No. 648 answered with Question No. 646.

Question No. 649 answered with Question No. 646.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (650)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

650. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the HSE survey of children’s health service stakeholders will take place in relation to page 18 of the Mental Health Commission interim report into CAMHS; the CHOs that are currently carrying out joint working and interagency meetings between children’s health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4144/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (651)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

651. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of CHOs using telepsychiatry for CAMHS; if he will provide feedback on its use to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4145/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (652)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

652. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there is a national standard for the monitoring of antipsychotic medication; if he will outline the process by which a national standard could be developed; the current standards followed; the enforcement of these standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4146/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (653)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

653. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of key workers within CAMHS; the percentage of CAMHS users who have a key worker assigned to them; the percentage of users who have a care plan in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4147/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (654)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

654. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS teams that are currently using Healthlink for referrals; the policy for its use by services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.