Written Answers Nos. 1100-1119
1100. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of beds at each of the UL Hospital Group hospitals, from 2011 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15103/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1101. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have waited over twenty-four hours to be treated following presentation at the emergency department of the University Hospital Limerick, from 2011 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15104/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1102. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient beds in St. James Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, the Mater Hospital and St. Vincent's University Hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15105/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1103. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1141 of 10 February 2026, when she anticipates that a chairperson and requisite board members will be in place. [15133/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is expected that the nomination of a Chairperson will be completed in the next fortnight after which invitations to other required Review Group members will be issued.
1104. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health to outline the supports that are in place for parents of children who had their scoliosis operations delayed and who are now declined for surgery in this State, to enable them to get an independent assessment from outside the State, in particular the parents of a child (details supplied) who wish to secure an assessment from The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) Stanmore or the Royal London Hospital; to outline the steps to be taken in securing an assessment and the financial assistance available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15134/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1105. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the protocol and procedure that HSE staff and in particular those within hospitals and psychiatric units follow when a patient discloses a rape; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15149/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1106. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the ambulance response times for each ambulance base for clinical status 1 ECHO and clinical status 1 DELTA; by end of 2023, 2024, 2025; in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15150/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1107. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances per ambulance base; the number of ambulances in use per ambulance base; the average age of those ambulances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15151/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1108. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of funded posts per each ambulance base; the number of vacancies per ambulance base; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15152/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1106 to 1108, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1109. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently examine and allow for a continuous glucose monitors on the long term illness scheme for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15157/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter and 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, this question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1111. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1228 of 10 February 2026, if the Mental Health Commission will provide details, not available in its annual Restrictive Practices activity report, relating to the duration of restraint and the rationale for such around instances of "enduring mechanical restraint" in mental health settings under its regulatory remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15168/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMechanical restraint for enduring risk primarily refers to the use of bedrails or cot sides. The use of these devices can be a safety measure for people who may be at risk of serious injury as a result of falling out of bed, or as a result of their posture and positioning needs.
However, they can also be a restrictive practice if they are used incorrectly. The decision to use such devices must be prescribed and signed off by a consultant psychiatrist and it is the registered proprietor’s responsibility to put systems in place to oversee each individual use of these devices, and to maintain all of the information prescribed in the Mental Health Commission's Rules Governing the Use of Mechanical Means of Bodily Restraint.
Under these Rules, approved mental health centres are required to submit two 6-monthly reports, to the Mental Health Commission, on the use of mechanical means of bodily restraint for enduring risk of harm to self or others. The results of the 6-monthly reports are published in the Commission's annual Restrictive Practices activity reports. The Rules are assessed on each approved centre annual inspection, and compliance with the Rules are published in annual inspection reports of each approved centre and in the Mental Health Commission's Annual Report which address overall national compliance.
1112. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital initiated cancellations in January 2026, in tabular form. [15188/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1113. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of a successor to the national maternity strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15192/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Maternity Strategy - Creating a Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 is in its final year. There is ongoing work to deliver outstanding actions in 2026, as outlined in the HSE's National Service Plan 2026.
A full assessment of the delivery of the Strategy will form a key part of the considerations for the successor, as outlined in the Programme for Government. This is being supported by an ongoing review that is being undertaken by the HSE into the implementation of the Strategy’s actions. Further work is being undertaken by the Department and the HSE in 2026 to collate an extensive evidence base from which this successor will draw.
Work will then commence later in the year on the development of the successor to the Strategy, once this evidence base is established.
1114. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline in detail the additional capacity to be provided in the new elective hospital for Galway (details supplied); if this will be a standalone facility; the timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15195/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1115. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline in detail the additional capacity to be provided in the new elective hospital for Cork (details supplied); if this will be a standalone facility; the timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15196/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1116. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline in detail the additional capacity to be provided in the two new elective hospitals for Dublin (details supplied); if these will be standalone facilities; the timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15197/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe government is fully committed to increasing elective-only day-case capacity through the Elective Ambulatory Care Programme. This is being delivered in two phases: a national network of Surgical Hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity, and, in the longer term, a network of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Cork, Galway and Dublin.
These new ‘elective-only’ facilities are for day-case patients, they are not for acute or emergency care. Significant international evidence supports the separation of scheduled (elective) and non-scheduled (emergency) care, leading to improved care for all patients. These elective facilities will provide routine treatments, procedures and consultations which have been scheduled in advance for non-emergency issues. There are no in-patient beds; instead, patients arrive and leave on the same day.
In relation to the two for Dublin, demand modelling is currently underway, ahead of detailed design for the new Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, to ensure that we can meet our longer-term elective care capacity requirements. The modelling includes an assessment of current capacity/infrastructure and how it can be best utilised to meet future needs. The impact of the four surgical hubs which come within the Dublin and surrounding HSE Health Regions (Tallaght, Swords, Mount Carmel and Waterford) as well as other existing facilities and future requirements are being considered as part of this process.
On conclusion of this demand modelling work, the Preliminary Business Case for Dublin will be finalised. It would be premature to try to give a number of theatres, rooms, etc prior to this work being concluded.
1117. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if the role of directors of psychology will be developed in all health regions; if their reporting relationship is to the director of health and social care professions or the regional executive officer; if the title of this role is director of psychology or regional director of psychology and if they are proposed to be part of the regional directorate of health regions along with regional clinical director, the regional director of finance and similar management roles. [15203/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1118. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop directors of disciplines such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy which are experiencing crises in waiting-lists, in addition to psychology, within primary care services. [15204/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1119. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health for an update on recruitment to the role of director of health and social care professions across each health region. [15205/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
