Written Answers Nos. 794-813
794. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting lists in County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43040/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
795. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in County Cavan and County Monaghan; and the average waiting times for an appointment in each county in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, all in tabular form. [43041/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
796. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43042/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
797. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the CAMHS waiting list in County Cavan and County Monaghan; and the average waiting time in each county 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43043/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
798. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awarded home care support in County Cavan and County Monaghan but who are still awaiting this service to begin due to staff shortage. [43044/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting on the home care support waiting list in County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43045/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting colonoscopy in County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43046/24]
View answer801. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting endoscopy in County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43047/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 800 and 801 together.
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.
To address the issue, I adopted a multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
The 2024 Plan with a budget of €360 million, builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services.
Funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025. This represents an almost 17% increase (€60m) above the significant funding allocated for the Action Plan this year.
The investment clearly demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainably reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and waiting times. With this significant funding for 2025, we will continue to progress towards a having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the following table, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the number of patients awaiting colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures by area of residence in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024.
Number of people on waiting list for Colonoscopy and Endoscopy by area of residence (AOR) County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024
|
Colonoscopy & Endoscopy by AOR in County Cavan and Monaghan |
Cavan |
Monaghan |
|
23/12/2020 |
66 |
38 |
|
Colonoscopy |
36 |
18 |
|
Endoscopy |
30 |
20 |
|
23/12/2021 |
55 |
20 |
|
Colonoscopy |
24 |
12 |
|
Endoscopy |
31 |
8 |
|
22/12/2022 |
46 |
32 |
|
Colonoscopy |
23 |
21 |
|
Endoscopy |
23 |
11 |
|
28/12/2023 |
50 |
31 |
|
Colonoscopy |
24 |
18 |
|
Endoscopy |
26 |
13 |
|
26/09/2024 |
59 |
38 |
|
Colonoscopy |
30 |
25 |
|
Endoscopy |
29 |
13 |
802. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the number of vacancies at Cavan General Hospital; the grade of each vacancy; the length of time of the vacancy, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43048/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
803. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on the waiting list for ophthalmology in County Cavan and County Monaghan; and the average waiting time for appointment in each county in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43052/24]
View answerIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.
To address the issue, I adopted a multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
The 2024 Plan with a budget of €360 million, builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services.
Funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025. This represents an almost 17% increase (€60m) above the significant funding allocated for the Action Plan this year.
The investment clearly demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainably reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and waiting times. With this significant funding for 2025, we will continue to progress towards a having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
The information requested by the Deputy about patients on ophthalmology waiting lists with an Area of Residence in Counties Cavan and Monaghan is outlined at the following link. This information was provided to my Department by the NTPF.
The health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
804. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to provide waiting lists, by both absolute numbers and waiting time on the list, for Kerry for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapies, in tabular form. [43059/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
805. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a mental health charity (details supplied) does not receive any State funding in Cavan and Monaghan; what sources of funding are available to it for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43069/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the planning and delivery of health services at local level, including those for Mental Health. The Department of Health does not directly fund the type of organization referred to by the Deputy in his Question.
Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE may support any person or body that provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide. It is my understanding that the organization in question made an application for section 39 funding to the HSE. It is a therefore a matter for the HSE to make a decision in relation to this funding request. This would take account of all relevant factors including , for example, existing HSE services, how any proposal aligns with local HSE service priorities; Governance arrangements, Quality and Safety, resource availability or any other appropriate matter that normally applies to Service Level Agreements between the HSE and NGOs generally.
In the circumstances, the organisation in question should continue to liaise with the HSE on this matter.
I am aware of the important work SOSAD carry’s out weekly for many people. Arrangements are being made for me to meet with management of SOSAD to discuss the current issues that have been raised.
806. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 26 September 2024, to report on a submission regarding section 39 workers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43071/24]
View answerAs this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
807. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of patients receiving biologics medicines for severe asthma; and the specific biologic medicines included, in tabular form. [43072/24]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
808. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of patients receiving biologic medicines for severe asthma, by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form. [43073/24]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
809. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the number of primary healthcare centres in CHO 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43085/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
810. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will accept the recommendations of the National Radiation Therapist Review Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43086/24]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredibly important role of Radiation Therapists in the provision of cancer services in this country.
I am glad that the independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been finalised. This strategic review considered important issues such as organisation structure, career development in line with Health and Social Care Professional Frameworks, strategic workforce planning and recruitment and retention strategies.
This review has published 16 recommendations which aim to help and support the Radiation Therapy profession into the future. An oversight group will be established to oversee the progression of these recommendations.
As the terms of reference for the review state, the implementation of any recommendations from the review will remain subject to the approval from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform.
811. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health whether the case for a refund for a person (details supplied) can be re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43087/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
812. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will allow patients suffering from long Covid access to hyperbaric oxygenation therapy, where their consultant confirms that this treatment can assist in finding a cure for long Covid; where a chamber for such treatment is available in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43090/24]
View answerAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
813. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place to transition a young person who is under CAMHS when they reach the age of 18 years and are turned over to the adult mental health services, where the only option is to refer the patient to accident and emergency and they are then sent back to outpatients services without any support being offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43092/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
