Martin Kenny
Ceist:1007. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health whether a demand and capacity report has been completed across the Saolta Group Hospitals. [5788/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (1007)
Freagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1008)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:1008. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost due to delayed discharge in hospitals in the CHO1 and CHO2 areas in the past three years. [5789/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (1009)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:1009. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for home care packages following hospital discharge in the CHO1 and CHO2 areas; and the measures in place to reduce delays. [5790/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1010)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:1010. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has considered an accessible digital patient self-schedule system to reduce non-attendance rates. [5791/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1011)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:1011. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients waiting on trolleys in hospitals in the CHO1 and CHO2 areas. [5792/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1012)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:1012. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health her views on whether delayed discharge contributes significantly to emergency department overcrowding in the Saolta Group Hospitals; and whether she will commit to publishing a clear timeline, available to the public, for addressing discharge bottlenecks. [5793/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Discharge planning is fundamental to the efficient operation of our hospitals and represents one of the four pillars of the Unscheduled Emergency Care (UEC) Operational Plan. With wellbeing at the centre of every decision, we recognise that recovery is optimally supported outside the acute setting, evidence shows that prolonging a hospital stay for a patient who is clinically for discharge is not in the interest of their safety and can increase the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Achieving these goals requires a sustained operational grip and a fully integrated approach that coordinates care across acute, community, and private settings to ensure the right care is delivered in the right place.
Since September the HSE at the most senior level are holding oversight meetings focusing on patient flow challenges outside of the targeted range.
The UEC 2025-2026 plan introduces strategic measures to facilitate safe and timely discharges.
• The ‘home first’ policy ensures integrated discharge planning begins at admission and is shaped by an individual's specific needs, will, and preferences.
• To streamline the ‘home first’ policy all inpatients will be assigned a predicted date of discharge for stays exceeding seven days, this date is shared with relevant community services to ensure a seamless, integrated transition of care.
The plan aims to boost the productivity and impact of essential Community Intervention Teams (CIT) and the Integrated Care Program for Older Persons (ICPOP) to support independence and promote discharge from acute hospitals.
In advance of the winter period, we have also stood up virtual wards at Mercy University Hospital, St Luke's General Hospital Kilkenny, Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda and Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. A Virtual Ward at Galway University Hospital is due to come on stream in January 2026.
Investment from Government has provided for over 400 new Community Beds in Model 2 and community hospitals, a move designed to facilitate patient flow away from acute settings. This expansion of bed capacity is supported by dedicated funding for home supports, for transitional care, for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, for aids and appliances and all aimed at boosting capacity in both the acute and community settings.
A central part of this commitment is the delivery of 24 million home support hours to approximately 60,000 people. These resources are essential for promoting patient independence and ensuring a safe and timely egress from acute hospitals.
As this is a service matter referring to Saolta group Hospitals, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1013)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:1013. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health whether the absence of an emergency department in Roscommon University Hospital has been formally assessed for its impact on neighbouring hospitals in the CHO1 and CHO2 areas. [5794/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1014, 1016, 1017)
Barry Ward
Ceist:1014. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health f her attention has been drawn to the case of persons (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that this treatment can be made available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5816/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:1016. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with a family impacted by being unable to access treatment for their child in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5818/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:1017. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she will agree to a formal review of the care received by a sick child (details supplied) that required their family to travel abroad for treatment that was not available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5819/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1014, 1016 and 1017 together.
As Minister for Health, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the family on the loss of their child.
Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) is a crucial and often life-saving treatment for a variety of conditions in childhood. Certain procedures at the National Paediatric Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) and Cellular Therapy Unit at Children’s Health Ireland are currently unavailable, primarily due to staffing issues.
There are currently 4 transplant beds in operation in CHI Crumlin. Once the National Children’s Hospital Ireland is open a further two beds will be added to this capacity. It is anticipated that the increased staffing along with the increased bed capacity on the opening of the new hospital will facilitate allogeneic HSCT for all children who need it.
Pending the full restoration of service, a small number of children will access HSCT in other centres abroad under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. I appreciate that travelling to another country for medical treatment is very challenging for parents and families particularly when they are trying to care for a sick child. Where children are referred abroad for specialist treatment, CHI works closely with the HSE's Treatment Abroad Scheme and other organisations, to support families.
For any meeting requests, please contact my Diary Team at MinistersDiary@health.gov.ie.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1015, 1018, 1019, 1020)
Barry Ward
Ceist:1015. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the basis for the policy position that requires families to travel abroad for treatment in cases (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5817/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:1018. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the HIQA report published in February 2023 that recommended that a specialist stem cell transplant service be made available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5820/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:1019. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the basis for the delay in implementing the recommendations of the HIQA report published in February 2023 that recommended that a specialist stem cell transplant service be made available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5821/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:1020. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a timeline for the implementation of the recommendations of the HIQA report published in February 2023 that recommended that a specialist stem cell transplant service be made available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5822/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1015, 1018, 1019 and 1020 together.
In 2023, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the repatriation of paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant (allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)) services to Ireland. The HTA was undertaken following a request from the HSE and examined the choice of treatment location for children with certain rare, inherited conditions who require stem cell transplants.
A HTA systematically gathers evidence to assist a decision-maker, such as the HSE, in informing policy choices on adopting, funding, or disinvesting in a health technology. A HTA report provides evidence-based recommendations on the clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of the assessed technology. The conclusions and information in a HTA are advisory and form just one element informing the decision making. A HTA cannot, for example, determine if there is adequate budget available to fund a new technology.
Where children are referred abroad for specialist treatment, CHI works closely with the HSE's Treatment Abroad Scheme and other organisations to support families.
As the HSE commissioned this HTA, and the implementation of recommendations is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1016 answered with Question No. 1014.
Question No. 1017 answered with Question No. 1014.
Question No. 1018 answered with Question No. 1015.
Question No. 1019 answered with Question No. 1015.
Question No. 1020 answered with Question No. 1015.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1021)
Ann Graves
Ceist:1021. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if it can be ensured that a person (details supplied) gets moved to NFMHS in Portrane as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5827/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1022)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:1022. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a cohort of post-surgery clients can be considered for the reimbursement scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5828/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (1023)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:1023. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 534 of 15 January 2026, the percentage of consultants that are still employed on the pre-2023 contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5831/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (1024)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Ceist:1024. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant WTE consultant posts, by speciality at Tallaght University Hospital, in tabular form. [5835/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 Staff
Ceisteanna (1025)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Ceist:1025. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title working within the pharmacy department of Naas General Hospital as of 19 January 2026, in tabular form. [5836/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.