Written Answers Nos. 181-201
Stroke Care
181. Deputy Louise O'Reilly   asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to advance the recommendations of the HIQA health technology assessment of mechanical thrombectomy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41086/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): Following a request from the HSE's National Clinical Programme for Stroke, HIQA agreed to carry out a health technology assessment (HTA) of endovascular treatment using mechanical thrombectomy for the management of acute ischaemic stroke. The purpose of the HTA was to examine the evidence for using mechanical thrombectomy in addition to standard medical care as a treatment strategy for acute ischaemic stroke in Ireland. HIQA's advice, as a result of this work, included inter alia that mechanical thrombectomy is a safe and effective procedure when provided as an adjunct to standard medical care within six to 12 hours of onset of an acute ischaemic stroke.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Obesity Strategy
182. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will be reporting on the national obesity plan as per the action point in Ten Steps Forward to report annually on the plan; if so, when; if a report card will be done of the progress to date in view of the fact that the report is a year old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41087/17]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): A draft progress report along the lines described by the deputy will be submitted for consideration at the first meeting of an Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) Implementation Oversight Group. This meeting will take place in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I refer the Deputy to her previous questions that I recently answered with respect to progress with implementing the OPAP
Hospital Services
183. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the rheumatology department at Mayo university hospital; the staffing measures in place; the number of days weekly it operates; the level of staff; the number of persons seen on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41088/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospitals Capital Programme
184. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41089/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): The Capital Programme announced in January 2016 provides for the replacement and refurbishment of 90 public nursing homes across the country over the next five years including the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar. Under this Programme, a new build 74 bed community nursing home is being delivered to replace existing beds where the physical environment requires substantial improvement.
The HSE does not envisage any difficulty with achieving completion of works by the end of 2017 and it expects that the building will be ready for the existing level of service to move in Q1 2018.
Question No. 185 taken with Question No. 33.
Hospitals Data
186. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of surgeries that have been cancelled at Mayo university hospital over each of the past six months, in tabular form; the type of surgery involved; if it was elective surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41091/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
HSE Agency Staff Expenditure
187. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the amount which has been spent on agency staff from 1 January 2017 to 31 August 2017 in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41092/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review
188. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 396 of 20 September 2017, if HIQA has been instructed to invigilate the extra charges by nursing homes; the role of the interdepartmental agency working group; if further funding will be required to ensure the implementation of recommendations in the 2015 review of the nursing homes support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41102/17]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. Arising out of the Review, a number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies.
An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. This Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners, and when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). These recommendations include
- Improvements to the administration of the Scheme, including an examination of the treatment of farm and business assets for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the Scheme;
- A review of how prices for private and voluntary nursing homes are set by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF);
- A Value for Money and Policy Review of the cost differentials in public and private/voluntary residential facilities, due to commence in 2017.
Funding for the implementation of certain recommendations, where required, will be considered on a case by case basis. I have also asked this group to consider the issue of additional charges in nursing homes. On foot of this, a Department led project team will identify and examine the key issues and considerations in relation to additional charges, explore options to respond to those issues and analyse the implications and consequences of those options. The Interdepartmental Group will then consider the issues identified and once they have completed this consideration they will decide what steps to propose next and report back to Minister Daly.
In light of this work I have not requested HIQA to invigilate the additional charges by nursing homes. HIQA is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and to monitor safety and quality in Ireland’s health and personal social care services. Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary and private have been registered and inspected by HIQA.
Hospital Appointments Status
189. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment at Our Lady’s hospital, Manorhamilton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41124/17]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Transport Support Scheme
190. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce the mobility grant which was withdrawn three years ago [41128/17]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Finian McGrath): Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013.
The Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments that support choice and independence. In this regard, monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health and the Programme for a Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. I can confirm that work on the policy proposals for the new Scheme is at an advanced stage. The proposals seek to ensure that:
- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;
- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;
- Resources are targeted at those with greatest needs; and
- The Scheme is capable of being costed and is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
The next step is to seek Government approval to the drafting of a Bill for the new Scheme.
HSE Reports
191. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the report on Roscommon health services detailing the large sums being returned to the Exchequer in previous years; if his Department sought to investigate the cause of underspends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41141/17]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): I am familiar with the recently report published by the HSE referred to by the Deputy, including concerns around funding or other serious issues highlighted in the report. As the HSE has established an Implementation Team to follow through on the recommendations of this Report, I have referred the question to the Executive for a detailed reply to the Deputy. The Deputy can be rest assured that I, and the Department of Health, will continue to closely monitor the progress of the Implementation Team.
Mental Health Services Provision
192. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the progress in developing a pathway to the development of a 24/7 crisis intervention model. [41142/17]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): The HSE is currently providing a 24-hour service through its Acute Units located in General Hospitals for people requiring urgent mental health assessment and treatment . Work is ongoing to expand upon the services available in the community to ensure a 7-day a week service.
Based on an extensive data collection process, areas have been identified that would require additional resources to achieve 7/7 cover. Engagement with local management teams has commenced in order to achieve implementation of seven-over-seven by the end of 2017. The HSE Mental Health Division is establishing an evidence informed model including detailed clinical, governance, training, and performance measurement structures for the operation of a 24/7 service. Through engagement with local CHO management teams, a working group has been established capturing the views of those from across the service pertaining to what form these extended services should take. Building on the development of 7/7 services, these views will then be presented to management for consideration and implementation. The HSE Mental Health Division have not yet completed a costing model in respect of the 24/7 service.
General Practitioner Services
193. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason a doctor in County Limerick is charging €15 for the flu vaccine to persons with medical cards and to persons over 70 years of age. [41143/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): The HSE provides the flu and pneumococcal vaccines free of charge for all those in the at-risk groups. Those aged 18 years or older in the at-risk groups may attend either their GP or pharmacist for vaccination and those under 18 years should attend their GP. The vaccine and consultation are free for those with a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card. Those without a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card will be charged a consultation fee.
Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department has examined the Sláintecare report with a view to identification of apparent weaknesses in the delivery of various health services resulting in waiting lists, overcrowding at accident and emergency and patient anxiety and safety with particular reference to the need to target the areas in question which have been the subject matter of much debate over the past number of years; if he will put in place measures to address these issues in the short to medium term and thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41167/17]
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects the public hospital sector to respond to the challenges set out in the Sláintecare report; if he expects the necessary funding to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41173/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 200 together.
The Government is committed to making tangible and sustainable improvements in our health services and the Sláintecare report now provides a framework and a direction of travel to do this. We have a level of consensus and support for the vision and strategic direction outlined in the report that is unprecedented. I am determined to harness this and to work with colleagues across the political spectrum and with all stakeholders to move forward now on this very important agenda. This is one of the key priorities for the Government, and the focus now must be on ensuring that the implementation phase is properly designed and that a clear implementation plan is developed as quickly as possible.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These Plans have commenced and their implementation is ongoing. These Plans are utilising both the capacity within the private hospital system through outsourcing, whilst maximising existing capacity in our public hospital system through insourcing within hospital groups.
In relation to unscheduled care, Hospital Groups, Community Health Organisations and hospitals are all currently in the process of planning for winter Emergency Department demand through developing integrated winter plans to cover the period October 2017 to March 2018. These plans will be submitted to the HSE for approval in the coming weeks.
Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the most serious waiting list situations in respect of various procedures at various public hospitals as recorded over the past three years; the degree to which he has put in place corrective measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41168/17]
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which provision is being made to ensure that persons awaiting access to surgical procedures can have their waiting period minimised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41183/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 210 together.
I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. The Inpatient/Daycase Action Plan is being delivered through a combination of normal hospital activity, as well as insourcing and outsourcing initiatives utilising NTPF funding. Under the Inpatient/Daycase Plan, since early February, over 23,800 patients have come off the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List.
The NTPF has advised that to date 5,901 patients have been authorised for treatment in private hospitals under its Initiatives, 2,235 patients have accepted an offer of treatment in a private hospital and that 1,112 patients have received their procedure. The NTPF has also indicated that 2,841 patients have been authorised for treatment in public hospitals under the Plan’s insourcing initiatives, 910 offers of treatment have been accepted and 285 patients have been treated.
Under the Outpatient Plan, since early February, more than 84,200 patients have come off the Outpatient Waiting List .
National Children's Hospital Status
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which progress in respect of the provision of the new children’s hospital continues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41169/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): Following the Government’s April 2017 decision to give the green light for the new children's hospital project construction investment, detailed discussions with the preferred tenderer and the hundreds of specialists who are part of the construction team were concluded over the summer period. The construction contract for the building of the main children’s hospital and the satellite centres contract were signed in August. Confirmed dates for completion of the development of the new children's hospital and the paediatric outpatients and urgent care centres have now been agreed with the preferred contractor. The new children’s hospital will be completed by the middle of 2022. The Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care Centre at Connolly will open in 2019 followed by the second one at Tallaght in 2020 in advance of the opening of the main hospital in 2022. Site preparatory work has continued throughout the year and the construction phase of the project has now commenced.
On 29 August, the Minister for Health published the General Scheme for the Children’s Health Bill on the Department of Health’s website. The General Scheme was referred to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 31 August for pre legislative scrutiny, requesting the Committee to note the priority for the Department of progressing this work. This legislation will create a single statutory entity to run the new children’s hospital. The new body will take over the services of the existing three Dublin children’s hospitals and run the new children’s hospital. The Bill provides for the establishment of a single body to govern and manage paediatric services, as well as to facilitate planning for the transition of staff and services to the outpatient and urgent care centres which will open several years ahead of the new children’s hospital opening. It will also support the organisation of the clinical and non-clinical services in an integrated manner across the existing sites before the move to the new facilities.
This new hospital is an extraordinary opportunity to transform paediatric services in Ireland by bringing together patients and staff from across the three existing children’s hospitals into a single organisation as the national tertiary paediatric service with the facilities and necessary status to take on a leadership role nationally in relation to paediatric healthcare and as an international player in paediatric research and innovation.
Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the national treatment purchase scheme can be utilised to alleviate waiting lists at various public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41170/17]
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the private hospital sector can be utilised through the national treatment purchase fund to address the issue of long waiting lists for various procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41171/17]
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the requests for specific medical and surgical procedures have dominated hospital waiting lists in the past two years; the procedures in place to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41172/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive, together.
I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These Plans have commenced and their implementation is ongoing. These Plans are utilising both the capacity within the private hospital system through outsourcing, whilst maximising existing capacity in our public hospital system through insourcing within hospital groups.
Question No. 200 answered with Question No. 194.
Primary Care Centres Data
201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres in place and fully operational in County Kildare; the extent to which each has eased the burden on the public hospital sector in their respective catchment areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41174/17]
Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy. |
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