Written Answers Nos. 355-368
355. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the expected cost of a project (details supplied); the expected cost of the feasibility report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10779/19]
View answerAs this question refers to a request for tender issued by the HSE, it has been referred to the agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
356. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10788/19]
View answerUnder 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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
357. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 706 of 7 September 2018, the number of adult services without 7/7 mental health supports; the locations involved; the number of staff recruited to provide 7/7 mental health supports since 17 May 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10789/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
358. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his views on the reduced funding to Cork Kerry Community Healthcare from €2.2 million in 2018 to €1.6 million in 2019 for the management of emergency cases in the region; his further views on the fact that Cork Kerry Community Healthcare received no funding for the development of services in 2018 taking into account the increase in service needs by service users and that the known level of need exceeds the funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10798/19]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
359. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person (details supplied) can pursue compensation and justice from his Department in relation to complications regarding an operation post-childbirth in 1967; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10801/19]
View answerThe State Claims Agency has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims, including claims in respect of clinical negligence, on behalf of Delegated State Authorities, DSAs, including the Health Service Executive.
The Clinical Indemnity Scheme, CIS, is the main scheme under which the State Claims Agency (SCA) manages all clinical negligence claims taken against healthcare enterprises, hospitals and clinical, nursing and allied healthcare practitioners covered by the scheme. Where an individual wishes to make a claim for clinical malpractice or negligence, they or their solicitor should submit a letter of claim to the State Claims Agency.
360. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason a hospital is refusing to supply medical records to a person (details supplied) who requested them over 14 months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10810/19]
View answerUnder 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 HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
361. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the base fees and payments from public funds made to persons (details supplied). [10811/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
362. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when services will be rolled out at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10817/19]
View answerThe establishment of hospital groups has enabled a better configuration of hospital services with benefits relating to safety, quality, access, cost and sustainable medical staffing. The structure ensures that hospitals working together in a group will be able to support each other, providing a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care, and ensuring that those who require emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals.
The Smaller Hospitals Framework focuses in particular on the future role of smaller hospitals and outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within these smaller hospitals.
I am committed to securing and further developing the role of our smaller hospitals, including Model 2 hospitals such as Monaghan Hospital, with the expansion of services delivered in these hospitals, especially in services such as day surgery; ambulatory care; medical services and diagnostics.
The planning and management of future health expenditure is considered as part of the annual estimates and budgetary process which seeks to balance available funding across all service areas to achieve the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritise areas of greatest need.
In response to the particular query raised, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you as soon as possible outlining any specific investment plans at Monaghan Hospital.
363. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the options available to the parents of a child (details supplied) with dyspraxia that has been referred for physiotherapy on two occasions only but none since Christmas 2018.## [10818/19]
View answerI understand that the Deputy will provide additional necessary information to enable me to respond to this question.
364. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10824/19]
View answerUnder 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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
366. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of spinal fusion surgeries that have been carried out in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10826/19]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
367. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate a national scoliosis screening programme similar to that which existed prior to 2011 in order to allow for the effective detection, monitoring and treatment of scoliosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/19]
View answerThere are well established international criteria to be met before a national population- based screening programme can be recommended.
The Office of the Chief Medical Officer has informed me that the current position in the NHS arising from an evidence review conducted by the UK National Screening Committee and that is that a population screening programme for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is not recommended.
Arising from a recommendation from the Scally Report (2018) a National Screening Committee (NSC) will be established and become operational in Ireland during the course of 2019. The NSC will be responsible for advising the Minister and Department of Health on all new proposals for screening. However, currently there is insufficient evidence to support the introduction of population screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in Ireland at this time.
368. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of the work to draft new legislation which would replace the Dentists Act 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10829/19]
View answerMy Department is developing new legislation to replace the Dentists Act 1985. While other competing legislative priorities have limited the amount of time officials have been able to spend working on the dental Bill, drafting of the Scheme of the Bill has begun.
The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill, which is a large and complex Bill containing 169 sections, was published in February. The primary purpose of this Bill is to amend all health profession regulatory Acts, including the Dentists Act, as a consequence of the transposition of the Modernised Professional Qualifications Directive (2013/55/EU), and to address a number of other issues.
It is expected that work on the dental Bill will gain momentum once the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill has completed its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas, and the Bill has been enacted.
