Written Answers Nos. 630-643
630. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 14 February 2023, if he will clarify which of the consultants listed in the HSE’s reply accept referrals for children under 16 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10034/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
631. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when legislation dealing with international surrogacy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10038/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 was introduced to, and passed Second Stage in, the Dáil in March 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage.
The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken within the jurisdiction.
Ireland is currently very much an outlier internationally and we do not have a specific regulatory framework in place in respect of this area of healthcare. This means that individuals are currently availing of complex and sometimes risky procedures, at present predominately provided through the private sector, in what is effectively a legal vacuum.
Following the approval in mid-December 2022 by the Government of the policy approach in respect of both the regulation of international surrogacy and the recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements (domestic and international) the formal drafting process by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with the three Departments, as appropriate, is well under way.
These new provisions will need to be approved by Government following the completion of formal drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.
The process of drafting new provisions is being undertaken in tandem with the drafting of potentially substantial proposed amendments to the 11 Parts and 134 pages of the published Bill. It is intended that the new Parts dealing with international surrogacy as well as recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements will be introduced at the Committee Stage.
As the Deputy will appreciate,?I am not in a position at this juncture to give a definitive timeline as to when these new Parts and other proposed amendments will be brought to Committee Stage; however, I wish to reiterate my commitment to progress this much-needed and long-awaited piece of historic legislation to ensure that a robust regulatory framework for AHR is in place as quickly as possible.
633. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the requirement in terms of staffing to upgrade the local injuries unit at Ennis Hospital to open on a 24/7/365, days a year basis (details supplied). [10040/23]
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.
634. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the requirement in terms of staffing to upgrade the medical assessment unit at Ennis Hospital to open on a 24/7/365, days a year basis (details supplied). [10041/23]
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.
635. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a report (details supplied) recommending a model 3 hospital in CHO3 will be considered. [10042/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2013, the Smaller Hospitals Framework defined the role of smaller hospitals and outlined the need for both smaller and larger hospitals to operate within Hospital Groups. The Framework identified the activities that can be performed in smaller Model 2 hospitals, in a safe and sustainable manner. In developing our smaller hospitals, the first and overriding priority is the safety of patients.
This Framework provided a stronger role for smaller hospitals, like Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals, in delivering a higher volume of less complex care in many cases closer to patients’ homes. It also ensures that patients who require true emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in a larger hospital environment.
Regarding hospitals in the University of Limerick Hospital Group, in April 2009, a process of reconfiguration commenced with the closure of the 24-7 emergency departments in Ennis and Nenagh. These emergency departments were replaced with Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) for GP referrals; and by local injury units/urgent care centres for self-referrals and operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week. These changes were supported by an Emergency Care Network, which had been set up in the region and led by Consultants in Emergency Medicine. These consultants, while based in UHL, have clinical responsibility for the Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John's. Additional Consultants in Emergency Medicine were recruited to support these changes in addition to Advanced Nurse Practitioners for the Injury Units in the smaller hospitals and for the ED in UHL.
Within the UL Hospitals Group, there are two Model 2 Hospitals, Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. St John's Hospital is classified as a Model 2S Hospital, i.e. St. John's can carry out intermediate surgery, which requires in-patient stay and accommodation in addition to day case surgery. These hospitals play a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality patient care within the region. The UL Group also includes Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Limerick.
The model 2 hospitals accept transfers of appropriate patients from UHL on a daily basis. These patients can either be stepped down from an inpatient ward in UHL or they may, where a clinician has decided it is appropriate, transfer to Ennis, Nenagh or St John's directly from the ED in UHL.
A recent development in Ennis Hospital from January 9th and Nenagh Hospital from February 7th has been the introduction of the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) pathway for 112/999 patients. This allows patients that meet agreed clinical criteria to be transferred by ambulance and treated in a Model 2 hospital. This pathway will result in patients receiving medical treatment in a hospital closer to their home, will reduce patient presentations to Emergency Departments and will release ambulances more quickly to respond to other emergency calls. The MAUs in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals treat patients referred by GPs, ShannonDoc, and now National Ambulance Service paramedics. 112/999 patients that do not meet these clinical criteria will continue to be transported to Emergency Departments for assessment and treatment.
There has also been significant investment in infrastructure in UHL in recent times. For example, in October 2022, I broke ground on the new 96-bed inpatient block project at University Hospital Limerick. This project represents a total capital investment of just over €90 million, and will deliver a 4-storey, 96 single bed acute inpatient ward block and will go some way toward addressing capacity issues in the region.
In 2021, a new 60-bed modular ward block opened. This follows the completion of two separate rapid-build projects, constructed in response to the Covid-19 emergency, which provided an additional 38 inpatient beds on site at UHL.
Complementary to the development of the new Elective Hospitals, the HSE also plans to work with Hospital Groups and forthcoming Regional Health Areas to progress proposals for a shorter-term measure by developing ‘Surgical Hubs’ in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin with a narrower scope of procedures. Regarding the Surgical Hub for Limerick, planning is at an early stage, and I have asked the HSE to expedite the development, so it is operational as soon as possible.
Following these and other investments in the ULHG, consideration is also being given to future capacity requirements. It is noted that ULHG has developed proposals in this regard. These proposals will be considered by the hospital group and the HSE in line with their governance processes.
I would like to assure the Deputy that my department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the UL Hospitals Group is fully supported and that the necessary improvements to address capacity issues are actioned in a timely manner.
636. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he is confident that the emergency department at UHL could successfully deal with a high-volume trauma event at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10043/23]
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.
637. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a review can be put in place to examine the feasibility of upgrading Ennis to a model 3 and a timeframe for same. [10044/23]
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.
638. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health what would be required for the local injuries unit protocols to be changed for paediatric patients under five years, to permit treatment for minor injuries that is, burns breaks sprains and so on, to limbs and extremities arms, legs, hands and feet while continuing to refer head and torso injuries to the ED with the understanding that the former are very common in small children while the latter can require specialist paediatric diagnostics. [10045/23]
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.
639. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason diagnostics in UHL do not operate on a 24/7/365 basis (details supplied). [10046/23]
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.
640. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health how many MRI X-RAY and CT scanners UHL has in-situ; and the number that are not currently in working order. [10047/23]
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.
641. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the task force examining the provision of emergency ambulance services in the Dublin region by the Dublin Fire Brigade; if the scope of the task force includes examining communication link-up between Dublin Fire Brigade and the National Ambulance Service in terms of handling incoming calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10052/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when he plans to submit a business case for an upgraded, centralised phone system for the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10053/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together.
Ambulance services in Dublin are primarily provided by Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) through an arrangement between Dublin City Council (DCC) and the HSE. The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides emergency ambulance capacity to address service demand for the Dublin area, where required. The HSE's National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) is based in Tallaght, Dublin
A Task and Finish Group has been established to strengthen the service delivery model, centred on patient safety and maintaining a highly professional ambulance service for the citizens of Dublin.
Membership of the Group comprises HSE, Dublin City Council, Dublin Fire Brigade, National Ambulance Service, trade union representative, as well as the Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The group held its first meeting on 21 February 2023 and the group is expected to meet again shortly.
643. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the key services and supports available to teenagers and young adults with autism in County Roscommon once diagnosis takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10060/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
