Written Answers Nos. 739-750
739. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when they can expect an appointment with a consultant neurosurgeon in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. [24938/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
740. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24944/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
741. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason services are being removed from MUH if adult beds in CUH may be needed to meet need for these services; and whether consideration has been given to retaining paediatric beds in MUH pending full capacity capability in CUH. [24945/24]
View answer742. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1 of 2 May 2024, if he can clarify what is meant by “limited recruitment in very specific cases”; if he will elaborate on what kind of recruitment is permitted in such instances; if there are guidelines for such cases or circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24950/24]
View answerThe recruitment pause initially excluded Consultants, Graduate Nurses and Doctors in formal training programmes however this exemption was later extended to include Critical Flow and Emergency Departments. For the duration of the recruitment pause all external or nett growth recruitment is paused with the following exemptions:
• Approved Consultant Posts & GP training Posts
• Graduate Nurses and NCHD training posts
• Nursing and midwifery – ED/Acute Medical Assessment nursing, Critical Care nursing, Midwifery, Community Nursing CIT/FIT,
• AHP and HCA (to achieve 7 day and extended day availability to UEC priorities)
• Home Helps for discharge.
• Dentists & Orthodontists for Public Service schools and public service emergency service.
• Health & Social Care professionals
• Disability Services specified front line and residential posts.
• National Ambulance Service Pre-Hospital Care
• Radiation Therapists and Medical Physicists
743. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when the new 24-bed block for Nenagh Hospital will be built [24953/24]
View answerThe recently published Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024–2031 provides for an expansion of acute inpatient capacity over the period 2024–2031. The plan was informed by HSE modelling and a site by site assessment, as well as ongoing work by the ESRI.
In addition to the net additional 1,218 acute hospital beds delivered since 2020, the plan aims to deliver 4,367 acute hospital in-patient beds by 2031. This includes 3,352 new beds, with the location of these new beds mapped across the six regional health areas. The 3,352 new beds contained in the plan is comprised of 2,997 net additional beds, as well as 355 replacement beds. These new beds are in addition to the 1,015 beds already under construction or previously committed to.
The Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024–2031 follows an unprecedented investment in healthcare capacity under this government. Since 2020 an additional 1,218 inpatient acute beds have been opened, representing the largest expansion of public acute hospital capacity in the history of the Health Service.
The Bed Capacity Plan has been developed in-line with the following principles and criteria, in line with the Department of Health’s Strategic Health Investment Framework (SHIF):
• Expanding capacity to meet current and future need and aligned with clinical strategies/plans.
• Balanced regional health capacity.
• Value for money, a focus on delivery timeframes and climate impact through use of both traditional and modern methods of construction; and
• investment per hospital that is contingent on each hospital being able to demonstrate productivity with existing allocation of capacity and resources.
The pace of delivery of this overall plan and the basis on which it may need to adapt is dependent on several critical factors, including:
• The provision of capital funding allocated through the National Development Plan currently provided to 2026.
• Site readiness that is dependent on decanting activity off-site, progressing enabling works to free up space to build additional capacity, engagement with providers to relocate existing and access new utility service capacity.
• Engagement with planning authorities and the statutory planning process.
• Public Procurement requirements and Infrastructure Guidance for appraisal & delivery.
• Available construction sector capacity and modern construction technologies that can respond to each of the projects at site and regional level.
In line with the plan, the 24 beds at Nenagh Hospital are planned for delivery in the period 2025-2028. The procurement of a design team for the proposed new 24 bed ward block at Nenagh Hospital will be progressed in 2025.
All projects being progressed must be compliant with the Infrastructure Guidelines. Information on the project timeline will become clearer as the design process advances.
744. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive a new date for a procedure in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/24]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellations or postponements, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
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 follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
745. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reasons hospitality/retail staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda who are employed by a company (details supplied) have been excluded from coverage of the pandemic special recognition payment; if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24979/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
746. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the lack of availability of pathologists to carry out post mortems will be addressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24991/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
747. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a dietitian will be appointed to a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24998/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
748. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health whether or not the intake of new patients to a facility (details supplied) has been suspended for the time being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24999/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
749. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who were funded for the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring CGM sensors by the HSE; the number who were over 18 years of age in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25002/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
750. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who were funded for the Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitoring CGM sensors by the HSE; the number who were over 18 years-of-age in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25003/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
