Written Answers Nos. 774-793
774. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, in January 2019 for children, by hospital group and hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7182/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
775. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer-related appointments and procedures which were cancelled in January 2023, by hospital including both HSE and voluntary hospitals, for adults and for children, in tabular form. [7183/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
776. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department and or the HSE has taken to ensure all abortions carried out legally in the State are properly notified to the Minister for Health in accordance with section 20 of the Act and made publicly available in the annual report, following on from the underreported abortions in the official report issued in 2022. [7184/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra777. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the way the cyber-attack and Covid-19 so severely impacted the collection of notifications for abortions in 2021 but not the requests for reimbursements related to abortions paid to GPs. [7185/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 776 and 777 together.
The Annual Report on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, as required under section 20 of the Act, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The report covers the period from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2021.
This was the third annual report to be published since the grounds on which termination of pregnancy is lawfully permitted were expanded in Ireland, under the legislation introduced following the result of the May 2018 referendum on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
The overall notifications reported to the Minister under s.20 for 2021 were substantially lower than observed in the first two annual reports. In the preparation of the 2021 Annual Report and the associated processing of the notifications received, Department officials identified the lower number of notifications received compared to 2019 and 2020. In response, the Department engaged with the HSE to make inquiries regarding this, with a view to identifying any underpinning reasons for the reduction in notifications and to assess the level of confidence in overall notification numbers.
In order to assess the issue identified, the Department took the following actions:
- A letter from the Department of Health was forwarded onto all GP termination of pregnancy service providers, reminding providers of their obligation in respect of notifications.
- Engagement was held with the National Women and Infants Health Programme and the Clinical lead for termination of pregnancy services. Following this the HSE followed up with hospitals providing termination of pregnancy services. It was noted that most hospital providers felt their numbers of terminations were lower in 2021 and it was confirmed that their notifications for 2021 had been submitted.
- Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services are provided free of charge in line with the 2018 Act. GP provision of TOP services is predominantly via the GP contract where GPs are reimbursed via the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme (PCRS) for the consultations undertaken with patients in respect of terminations (there are two consultations required to carry out a termination in early pregnancy). The Department has engaged with the PCRS in the HSE to cross-check the total number of TOP claims made against the number of statutory notifications received. Figures received from the HSE indicated that approximately 6,700 second consultation claims were made in 2021. Section 20 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 provides a narrow statutory framework for the notification to the Minister of terminations of pregnancy and provides for a limited data collection, ensuring protection of the personal information and identity of people accessing termination of pregnancy services – as such cross analysis of different data sets is challenging.
778. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the report of the three-year review into Ireland's abortion law in view that he has now received the report. [7186/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Health commenced the Review of the operation Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in line with statutory and Government commitments. The review examined the Act of 2018 which sets out four different types of situations in which a termination of pregnancy can lawfully occur in the State. The Review will assess the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation and will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The final Report of the Review is expected to be submitted to the Minister for his consideration imminently.
779. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed discharges in January 2023 by location, in tabular form.. [7187/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra782. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed discharges in January 2019 by location, in tabular form.. [7190/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra800. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed transfers of care in January 2023 by location, in tabular form.. [7218/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra802. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed transfers of care in January 2019 by location, in tabular form.. [7221/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 779, 782, 800 and 802 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
780. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost due to delayed discharges in January 2023 by location, in tabular form. [7188/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra783. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost due to delayed discharges in in January 2019 by location, in tabular form. [7191/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra801. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost due to delayed transfers of care in in January 2023 by location, in tabular form. [7219/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra803. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost due to delayed transfers of care in January 2019 by location, in tabular form. [7222/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 780, 783, 801 and 803 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
781. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time from admission to discharge in January 2023 by location, in tabular form. [7189/23]
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.
Question No. 782 answered with Question No. 779.
784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time from admission to discharge in January 2019 by location, in tabular form. [7192/23]
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.
785. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a comprehensive update on the provision of the primary health care facility in Maynooth; the expected timelines for the commencement of construction of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7201/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, I have asked the HSE to reply to the deputy as soon as possible.
786. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, in January 2023, by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7202/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
787. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, in January 2019, by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7203/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, for children in January 2023, by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7204/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
789. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, for children in January 2019, by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7205/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
790. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer-related appointments and procedures which were cancelled in January 2023, by hospital, including both HSE and voluntary hospitals, for adults and for children, in tabular form. [7206/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
