Darren O'Rourke
Question:1324. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the pathfinder alternative programme from the National Ambulance Services will be extended to County Meath. [36526/23]
View answerAmbulance Service
Questions (1324)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1325)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1325. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of calls received by an entity (details supplied) on the red eye shift for the night of 18 July to the morning of 19 July; the number of home visits made that night; the number of people directed to a different centre for appointment; and the location of that centre. [36539/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Question No. 1326 answered with Question No. 1319.
Question No. 1327 answered with Question No. 1319.
Question No. 1328 answered with Question No. 1319.
Question No. 1329 answered with Question No. 1319.
Question No. 1330 answered with Question No. 1319.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1331)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1331. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their pandemic bonus payment. [36546/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1332)
Robert Troy
Question:1332. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to publish the reasons and rationale for the delay in sanctioning the staff for the MRI scanner at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [36569/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Questions (1333)
Robert Troy
Question:1333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who were presented to St. Loman’s, Mullingar, in 2021 and 2022; the number of people who repeated presentations; and the number of people who subsequently ended their own lives. [36570/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1334)
Robert Troy
Question:1334. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when Section 39 employees will have their wages restored to ensure parity with people who are working directly with the HSE. [36571/23]
View answerWritten answers
It is important that I acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and their staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022. While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers. Follow up engagements took place at the Workplace Relations Commission on 15 May 2023 & on the 28 of June 2023. Further engagement is due to take place at the WRC in the coming weeks. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
Question No. 1335 answered with Question No. 1096.
Question No. 1336 answered with Question No. 1096.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (1337)
Colm Burke
Question:1337. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the 33,348 cataract surgeries which were carried out in 2021; the number completed in public hospitals; what number were completed under the treatment purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36601/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Procedures
Questions (1338)
Colm Burke
Question:1338. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in respect of the 11,159 hip replacements which were carried out in 2021; the number completed in public hospitals; what number were completed under the treatment purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36602/23]
View answerWritten answers
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
Questions (1339)
Cathal Crowe
Question:1339. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds currently available in each public/voluntary hospital, in tabular form; the number available in each public/voluntary hospital in December 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36610/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1340)
Michael McNamara
Question:1340. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment at UHL or Croom Orthopaedic Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36640/23]
View answerWritten answers
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
Questions (1341)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1341. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) will open; and how many staff have been allocated to same. [36647/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
State Bodies
Questions (1342)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1342. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 5 July 2023, if the returns (details supplied) include pension contributions paid to all the other CEOs by the State; if not, the details of same; if, in respect of the VHI return, he will provide further details on how the interim CEO is getting both an acting-up allowance and a performance-related payment; if he will provide details of the €72,000 and €62,000 payment-bonuses in respect of the VHI returns; if he will provide details of the exit payment; if there will be a similar exit payment for the new CEO of VHI BIK medical; the actual amount paid; the policy with VHI; if not, with whom; if with VHI, if discounts are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36655/23]
View answerWritten answers
In respect of the rates of pay set out in the Excel table attached to PQ No. 210, those rates are the gross rates of pay that the employee pension deductions are made from. No deduction on behalf of the employer is reflected in the rates provided. I have asked the Non-Commercial State Agencies to advise in respect of pension contributions paid by the State and will provide this information by way of separate cover once the information is collected and collated.
In respect of the queries raised concerning Vhi, it is a Commercial State Body operating in highly competitive and regulated insurance and healthcare provision markets. Vhi does not receive funding from the State.
Vhi provided detailed information re. PQ No. 210, which is contained in the spreadsheet. This material included that during the period August 2021 to February 2023, the CEO position was held by Interim CEOs. The Interim CEOs remained on their pre-existing employment terms and conditions which included a provision for performance related pay. They were not on CEO State contracts. An acting up allowance was separately agreed in consideration of the additional responsibilities.
A termination payment was made to a former CEO on completion of the full term of his contract; this was in accordance with the CEO contract agreed with the Department of Health and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There is no similar arrangement in place for the current CEO.
A private medical insurance policy from Vhi forms part of the CEO’s remuneration.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (1343)
Colm Burke
Question:1343. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline what action he, his Department and the HSE intend on taking with a view to retaining an out-of-hours GP service in the Fermoy, Mitchelstown area, in particular from 10pm and 8am, given the service which was in place has been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36666/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to assure the Deputy that the GP Out of Hours service in Fermoy, Mitchelstown and north Cork in general has not been withdrawn. Patients who require urgent GP care outside of normal GP hours can continue to contact the Out of Hours service and, where necessary, will be provided with an appointment to see a GP in the relevant centre as heretofore. When a home visit is required that will also be provided. None of the centres operated by the Out of Hours service has been closed.
The Out of Hours service has recently implemented some changes in how it rosters GPs on call during the so-called ‘red-eye’ shift, that is from 10pm to 8am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays. The service is maintaining the capacity to see approximately 500 patients during these shifts across its area of service, a level which is significantly higher than typical demand. I have been assured that the changes to the rosters will not impact on service delivery.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1344)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1344. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36669/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Questions (1345)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1345. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to have a single dedicated HSE safeguarding service number available at all times in order that a person who wishes to report any form of abuse or wishes to gain immediate access to a safeguarding service can do so (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36672/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.