Written Answers Nos. 751-765
751. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours currently being provided in each LHO area as of 1 December 2023 or the latest date available; how that compares to target in each LHO for the same time period; the number of people currently on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; and the number waiting less than 6 6-12 12-18 and more than 18 months, in tabular form. [54521/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
752. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme as of 1 December 2023, or latest date available; the average waiting time; the number of persons currently awaiting placement under the scheme; and the length of time waiting for each LHO area, in tabular form. [54522/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
753. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54525/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
754. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients that have been removed from outpatient lists in 2023 as a result of a validation exercise and not as a result of having an appointment with a consultant for each public and voluntary hospital, in tabular form. [54526/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeriodic validation forms an essential part of best practice in relation to the management of hospital waiting lists.
Validation is a process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at preplanned intervals to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or if they wish to be removed.
For a number of years validation was conducted at individual hospital level in Ireland but in 2018, the Minister for Health approved the establishment of the National Centralised Validation Unit (NCVU) within the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The establishment of a centralised function has facilitated the introduction of a standardised approach to validation of waiting lists across all hospitals and across Inpatient Day Case and Outpatient waiting lists.
In relation to the data requested by the Deputy, the NCVU provided the attached document which outlines outpatient validation removal figures by hospital to the end of November.
|
Hospital Group |
Hospital |
Number of OP Removals as a result of Validation |
Hospital Group Total |
|
CHI |
CHI at Connolly |
227 |
10351 |
|
CHI |
CHI at Crumlin |
5128 |
|
|
CHI |
CHI at Tallaght |
2014 |
|
|
CHI |
CHI at Temple Street |
2982 |
|
|
DMHG |
Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital |
25 |
22073 |
|
DMHG |
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise |
1736 |
|
|
DMHG |
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
2794 |
|
|
DMHG |
Naas General Hospital |
2175 |
|
|
DMHG |
St. James's Hospital |
4679 |
|
|
DMHG |
Tallaght University Hospital |
10664 |
|
|
IEHG |
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
8565 |
21835 |
|
IEHG |
Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar |
1742 |
|
|
IEHG |
National Maternity Hospital (Holles Street) |
183 |
|
|
IEHG |
National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh |
419 |
|
|
IEHG |
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
1334 |
|
|
IEHG |
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital |
3071 |
|
|
IEHG |
St. Columcille's Hospital |
1040 |
|
|
IEHG |
St. Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny |
781 |
|
|
IEHG |
St. Michael's Hospital |
281 |
|
|
IEHG |
St. Vincent's University Hospital |
3928 |
|
|
IEHG |
Wexford General Hospital |
491 |
|
|
RCSI |
Cavan General Hospital |
6 |
973 |
|
RCSI |
Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown |
583 |
|
|
RCSI |
Louth County Hospital |
69 |
|
|
RCSI |
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda |
45 |
|
|
RCSI |
Rotunda Hospital |
270 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Galway University Hospital |
11642 |
25908 |
|
SAOLTA |
Galway University Hospitals |
58 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Letterkenny University Hospital |
3942 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Mayo University Hospital |
3397 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Mercy University Hospital |
0 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Portiuncula University Hospital |
729 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Roscommon University Hospital |
1748 |
|
|
SAOLTA |
Sligo University Hospital |
4392 |
|
|
SSWHG |
Bantry General Hospital |
111 |
14108 |
|
SSWHG |
Cork University Hospital |
6063 |
|
|
SSWHG |
Cork University Maternity Hospital |
104 |
|
|
SSWHG |
Mallow General Hospital |
398 |
|
|
SSWHG |
Mercy University Hospital |
1463 |
|
|
SSWHG |
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
2570 |
|
|
SSWHG |
Tipperary University Hospital |
965 |
|
|
SSWHG |
University Hospital Kerry |
2269 |
|
|
SSWHG |
University Hospital Waterford |
165 |
|
|
ULHG |
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
1111 |
9448 |
|
ULHG |
Ennis Hospital |
303 |
|
|
ULHG |
Nenagh Hospital |
264 |
|
|
ULHG |
St. John's Hospital Limerick |
351 |
|
|
ULHG |
University Hospital Limerick |
7419 |
|
|
National Total |
104696 |
104696 |
755. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 December 2023; the number of general practitioner cards on the same date; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [54527/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
756. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed discharges in each at the end of November 2023 for each public/voluntary hospital; and the total number to date in 2023, in tabular form. [54528/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
757. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost in each owing to delayed discharges to date in 2023 for each public/voluntary hospital, in tabular form. [54529/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
758. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients aged 75 years or over that experienced an emergency department wait time more than 24 hours during Q3 2023; the total number to date in 2023; and the hospitals where the wait occurred. [54530/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
759. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide in Q3 2023; the number of such ambulances that waited longer than of 20 minutes to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls; the number that waited longer than 40, 60, 90 more than 120 and more than 180 minutes for same, in tabular from. [54531/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
760. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if it is possible for a person on a GP visit card to be assigned to another GP practice locally, in circumstances where they wish to change GPs but other GPs in the area are stating that they do not have spare capacity to take a patient on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54550/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GMS scheme operates under a choice of doctor principle, meaning that patients who hold a medical or GP visit card have the freedom to choose their GP, or move from one GP to another, provided the new GP is willing to accept the patient to their panel, and that the GP concerned holds a GMS contract.
Patients who wish to change their GMS GP can do so via the “Change of GP form” available from the HSE website.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list in accordance with the GMS contract.
761. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the funding made available in 2021, 2022 and 2023 to the HSE orthodontic treatment waiting list initiative through the National Oral Health Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54551/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra762. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the total funding being made available in 2024 for the HSE orthodontic treatment waiting list initiative through the National Oral Health Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54552/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 761 and 762 together.
Reducing waiting times for orthodontic treatment is a priority for the Government and there has been sustained additional investment in recent years.
The table below sets out the additional funding that has been made available to the HSE for the years in question, which the HSE has committed to facilitate the transfer of patients from the HSE's orthodontic treatment waiting list to a private provider. Patients targeted are those who have been waiting the longest and whose clinical needs are suitable to be addressed in a community setting:
|
YEAR |
FUNDING COMMITTED |
NUMBER OF PATIENTS TRANSFERRED TO PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDERS |
|
2021 |
€2,036,420 |
786 |
|
2022 |
€4,166,080 |
1371 |
|
2023 (to date) - Waiting List Action Plan |
€5,459,788 committed for transferred patients (€6m made available for full year) |
1612 |
|
2023 (to date) - Budget 2023* |
€1,618,000 committed for transferred patients (€2.65m made available for full year) |
434 |
*In addition, €1.35m was made available for the first time via Budget 2023 for patients who require complex jaw (orthognathic) surgery, which requires a lengthy hospital stay, as part of their orthodontic treatment. This initiative commenced in September and patients are now received their surgeries.
This sustained Government investment has significantly reduced orthodontic treatment waiting lists, with a 47% reduction in the number of patients waiting achieved between end-Q1 2019 and end-Q2 2023.
For 2024, €3.35m has been made available on a non-recurring basis to continue both the community-based and the orthognathic surgery initiatives.
763. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health how many 5a waiting list patients were seen in the CHO8 area under the HSE orthodontic treatment waiting list initiative in 2021, 2022 and 2023; how much was spent on this category for the same years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54553/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
764. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health how many grade 4 waiting list patients were seen in the CHO8 area under the HSE orthodontic treatment waiting list initiative in 2021, 2022 and 2023; how much was spent on this category for the same years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54554/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
765. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the rate of payment, under the fair deal scheme, to nursing homes when this scheme was first introduced in 2009; to outline the increases that were approved and paid since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54556/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra767. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if there is a unified payment to all nursing homes paid under the fair deal scheme; if this scheme has a varied rate of payment to set out the criteria for such variations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54560/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra768. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the average payment to nursing homes under the fair deal scheme in the Dublin area; if he will compare this rate to the average rate paid to nursing homes in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54574/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 765, 767 and 768 together.
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the questions asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
