Written Answers Nos. 503-517
503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of application for additional home help support in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46088/23]
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.
504. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health how many children are on the waiting list for the CAMHS team in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/23]
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.
505. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned hospital for north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46115/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA site identification and assessment process for the delivery of additional elective capacity in Dublin under the National Elective Ambulatory Strategy is at an advanced stage, including engagement with necessary stakeholders, and is expected to be concluded shortly. Once concluded, a Memorandum on preferred site options will be brought to Government for consideration.
506. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health how many nurses were recruited in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46116/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
507. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing vacancies in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46117/23]
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.
508. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing vacancies in Blanchardstown Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46118/23]
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.
509. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant vacancies in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46119/23]
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.
510. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant vacancies in Blanchardstown Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46120/23]
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.
511. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health for an update on the chicken pox vaccine being included in the HSE child vaccine programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46121/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
NIAC continue to revise its recommendations having regard to of the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
The varicella vaccine is not currently included as part of the primary childhood immunisation programme however NIAC has recommended that the vaccine is included in the programme.
My Department asked HIQA to carry out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the Varicella Zoster Vaccine which was published on July 13th 2023.
HIQA found that there is clear and consistent evidence that the chickenpox vaccine is both safe and effective in preventing chickenpox and its complications. It also found that adding the chickenpox vaccine to the programme is likely to be cost effective.
Having considered the findings of the HTA, the Department has asked to HSE to provide detailed costings and an implementation plan which will inform a decision in relation to the inclusion of the chickenpox vaccine in the primary childhood immunisation programme.
512. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that are currently listed as urgent; how long these urgent patients have been awaiting surgery that is, less than 3, 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and 24+ months in UHL by county, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46125/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra513. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that are currently listed as semi-urgent; how long these semi-urgent patients have been awaiting surgery that is, less than 3, 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and 24+ months in UHL by county, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46126/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra514. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that are currently listed as routine; how long these routine patients have been awaiting surgery that is, less than 3, 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and 24+ months in UHL by county, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46127/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 512 to 514,. inclusive, together.
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.
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.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and 2022 plans, both of which reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to reduce hospital waiting lists by implementing longer term reforms and providing additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With the funding from Budget 2024 (€407 million), we are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning Routine, Semi-Urgent and Urgent waiting lists for cataract surgery at UHL by county, in the requested time bands, is outlined in the attached documents.
Urgent Waiting List for Cataracts at UHL by County
|
UHL Cataracts WL Count |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
Small Volume Time Band |
|
28/09/2023 |
59 |
53 |
12 |
38 |
|
Clare |
16 |
9 |
||
|
Exception |
5 |
|||
|
Limerick (city) |
12 |
15 |
5 |
|
|
Limerick (County) |
17 |
19 |
7 |
|
|
Small Volume Procedure |
38 |
|||
|
Tipperary (North) |
9 |
10 |
||
|
Grand Total |
59 |
53 |
12 |
38 |
The NTPF has advised that to preserve confidentiality and mitigate against identification or self-identification of individuals, the time-bands have been condensed to reduce the small volumes associated with the level of detail requested by the Deputy.
Semi-Urgent Waiting List for Cataracts at UHL by County
|
UHL Cataracts WL Count |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
Small Volume Time Band |
|
28/09/2023 |
||||
|
Clare |
8 |
6 |
||
|
Exception |
5 |
|||
|
Limerick (city) |
10 |
5 |
||
|
Limerick (County) |
15 |
10 |
7 |
|
|
Small Volume Procedure |
27 |
|||
|
Tipperary (North) |
9 |
7 |
8 |
|
|
Grand Total |
47 |
23 |
20 |
27 |
The NTPF has advised that to preserve confidentiality and mitigate against identification or self-identification of individuals, the time-bands have been condensed to reduce the small volumes associated with the level of detail requested by the Deputy.
Routine Waiting List for Cataracts at UHL by County
|
UHL Cataracts WL Count |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
Small Volume Time Band |
|
28/09/2023 |
|||||
|
Clare |
13 |
5 |
10 |
||
|
Limerick (city) |
7 |
10 |
|||
|
Limerick (County) |
10 |
8 |
17 |
5 |
|
|
Small Volume Procedure |
24 |
||||
|
Tipperary (North) |
5 |
9 |
5 |
||
|
Grand Total |
28 |
29 |
42 |
5 |
24 |
The NTPF has advised that to preserve confidentiality and mitigate against identification or self-identification of individuals, the time-bands have been condensed to reduce the small volumes associated with the level of detail requested by the Deputy.
515. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times, from referral to procedure, for patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL; if there is a delivery timeline guideline in place by which the service aims to treat these patients; if so, the timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46128/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
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.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and 2022 plans, both of which reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to reduce hospital waiting lists by implementing longer term reforms and providing additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With the funding from Budget 2024 (€407 million), we are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning the average waiting time for cataract surgery at UHL, is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF has advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
With regard to a delivery timeline guideline in place by which the service aims to treat these patients; as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
516. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that have had their urgency category upgraded within the past 12 months due to prolonged waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46129/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
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.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and 2022 plans, both of which reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to reduce hospital waiting lists by implementing longer term reforms and providing additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With the funding from Budget 2024 (€407 million), we are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
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.
517. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the spring being removed from the patients at Temple Street (details supplied) will be retained, in order that it can be analysed as part of the external review. [46135/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I cannot comment on individual clinical care, it is my full expectation that any spring removed from patients at Temple Street will be retained for appropriate review or investigation.
