Written Answers Nos. 449-469
450. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 at the end of November 2018 or the latest date available by LHO in tabular form. [50903/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
451. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list; and the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, by LHO in tabular form. [50904/18]
View answer452. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial assessment waiting list; and the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, by LHO in tabular form. [50905/18]
View answer453. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list; and the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, by LHO in tabular form. [50906/18]
View answer454. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and the numbers waiting aged under four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age, respectively, by category and by LHO in tabular form. [50907/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 to 454, inclusive, together.
As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
455. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and wards in all public and voluntary acute hospitals that were closed on 28 November 2018 or the latest date on which data for validated bed closures at hospital and ward level are available, in tabular form. [50909/18]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, information relating to closed beds is collated at a particular date in time. The number of beds closed can fluctuate greatly over time due to, amongst other reasons, on-going refurbishment, maintenance work and infection control measures.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
456. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost through delayed discharges in each public and voluntary hospital to date in 2018, in tabular from. [50910/18]
View answerEnsuring that patients who are clinically fit to leave hospital but require support including in the form of home care packages, transitional care or indeed a nursing home bed, can leave hospital without delay is a key priority this Winter. I will be working closely with community health organisations throughout the winter to ensure that this happens.
A key component of the Winter Plan is the provision of an additional 550 home care packages over the winter period to help patients return home from hospital with the supports they need.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the data requested.
457. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the percentage of clinical status 1 ECHO incidents responded to by first responder in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less; and the percentage of clinical status 1 DELTA incidents responded to by a patient carrying vehicle in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less by each ambulance station by month in the year to the end of October 2018 or the latest date available, in tabular form. [50911/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
458. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients aged 75 years of age or over who experienced an emergency department wait time of more than 24 hours to date in 2018; and the hospitals in which the wait occurred. [50912/18]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
Reflecting the demographic pressures associated with the growth in our aging population, this year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group. Patients in this age group are the highest users of most health and social care services, have more complex needs and longer stays in our Acute Hospitals.
I recognise that hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months. However, the National Service Plan 2018 includes an expected activity target that 100% of patients aged 75 and over are discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration. Therefore, any breach of this target in respect of patients in this age cohort is unacceptable.
With regard to the specific question the Deputy has asked, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly.
459. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours being provided by each LHO area. [50913/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
460. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; and the number waiting up to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively, in tabular form. [50914/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
461. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide in October 2018; the number of such ambulances that waited more than 20, 40, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes, respectively, to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls in tabular form. [50915/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
462. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operations and procedures that were cancelled and postponed in each public hospital to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50916/18]
View answer464. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operations and procedures that were cancelled and postponed in each voluntary hospital to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50918/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 464 together.
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
463. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for spinal fusion and other spinal operations, respectively, waiting less than four, four to eight and more than eight months, respectively, in both Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children's University Hospital for treatment, in tabular form. [50917/18]
View answerThe long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department and the HSE. The Children's Hospital Group, with the additional €9 million provided to the HSE in 2018, has continued to progress the move toward the implementation of a long-term sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service, including scoliosis services for children and young people.
In terms of capacity, Children's Hospital Group (CHG) aims to deliver 446 procedures this year, compared to 371 in 2017, and 224 in 2016. This represents an increase in activity of 99.5% since 2016.
In relation to the number of patients waiting by specific time-band as requested by the Deputy, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond the Deputy directly.
465. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients who have been removed from outpatient lists for each public and voluntary hospital each month in 2018 as a result of a validation exercise and not as a result of having an appointment with a consultant, in tabular form. [50919/18]
View answerGood practice around the management of hospital waiting lists recommends periodic validation of waiting lists. Validation is the process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at pre-planned intervals during the year to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or wish to be removed.
Importantly, the validation process allows for situations where, if requested by the GP/referring clinician, patients can be reinstated back to their original place on to the Waiting List.
In June, I approved the establishment of a Central Waiting List Validation function in the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The NTPF advise that the National Centralised Validation Unit was established in September. The establishment of the new Centralised Validation Unit will put in place protocols and practices which will ensure a standardisation of approach to the validation of all waiting lists across all hospitals.
In relation to the specific breakdown of data as requested by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to provide a direct response.
466. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care; and the number waiting up to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [50920/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
467. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting up to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [50921/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
468. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an audiology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting up to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [50922/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
469. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a dietetics appointment in primary care; and the number waiting up to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [50923/18]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
