Tuesday, 27 Feb 2024

Written Answers Nos. 473-492

Care of the Elderly

Ceisteanna (474)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

474. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a bed will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8646/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

As 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (475)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

475. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact a person (details supplied) has had their procedure cancelled twice at short notice; and if the operation will take place on the newly appointed time as scheduled. [8650/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

I 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.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

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.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (476)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

476. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health for the steps his Department is taking regarding the provision of a dedicated diabetes care unit in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8661/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

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 (477)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

477. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated whole-time equivalent consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses, podiatrists and administrative support posts currently dedicated to the outpatient adult diabetes clinic in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

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 (478)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

478. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking regarding the recruitment of a dedicated diabetes physiologist for all with type 1 diabetes in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8663/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Staff^

Ceisteanna (479)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

479. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to ensure the HSE has the necessary funding and support for recruitment to ensure that University Hospital Waterford has the minimum members of staff required to manage the diabetes unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8664/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (480)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

480. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if contingency plans are in place for staffing of the diabetes unit in University Hospital Waterford, as a model 4 hospital, to ensure adequate cover in the event of staff illness or leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8665/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (481)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

481. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of adults attending University Hospital Waterford with type 1 diabetes who have requested insulin pump therapy and when those patients can expect to avail of said diabetes technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8666/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (482)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

482. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who are awaiting an appointment to see an endocrinologist over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8667/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (483)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

483. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of new insulin pump starts done in all hospitals within the RCSI Hospitals Group in people aged between zero to 17 years and those aged 18 years or more for 2019, 2020, 2021 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8668/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Healthcare Policy

Ceisteanna (484)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

484. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health when the Sláintecare project on the development of a national diabetes register will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8669/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (485)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

485. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions that occurred through the University Hospital Waterford accident and emergency or the acute medical assessment units due to diabetic ketoacidosis in people aged between zero to 17 years and those aged 18 years or more in each of the years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8670/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (486)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

486. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the medical cards of persons (details supplied) are due to expire. [8673/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (487)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

487. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8691/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (488)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

488. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of critical care beds, by type, at each Children’s Health Ireland location in each January in each of the years 2012 to ]2024, in tabular form. [8705/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (489)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

489. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of approved posts attached to each critical care bed at each location within Children’s Health Ireland in each January in each of the years 2012 to 2024, by staff grade, in tabular form; and the number of vacancies at each point. [8706/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

National Children's Hospital

Ceisteanna (490)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

490. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of naming the new children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8707/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ceisteanna (491)

Martin Browne

Ceist:

491. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if a financial assessment of the costs of repurposing a hospital (details supplied) has been carried out or considered; if an estimate is available or can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8713/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (492)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

492. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he is confident that all contracts put to tender are awarded to companies that meet the tender criteria; and if it were to be identified where one clearly did not meet the stated criteria in the tender specifications, what the recourse would be. [8714/24]

Awaiting reply from Department.