Written Answers Nos. 204-220
204. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting speech and language therapy; and the number waiting over one, two and three years, respectively. [50877/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
205. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if the situation for members of a panel (details supplied) will be clarified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50879/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
206. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 30 November 2019; the number of general practitioner visit cards on the same date; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [50880/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
207. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme at the end of November 2019 or latest date available; the average waiting time; the numbers of persons awaiting placement under the scheme in tabular form; and the length of time waiting. [50881/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
208. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and wards in each public and voluntary acute hospital that were closed on 30 November 2019 or the latest date on which data for validated bed closures at hospital and ward level is available in tabular form. [50882/19]
View answerThe Open Beds Report, published by my Department monthly, provides a summary of the average numbers of open inpatient beds and day beds/places in the acute hospital system based on data provided by the HSE. It can be found on the Department's website:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d97576-department-of-health-open-beds-report-for-september-2019/
According to provisional data received from the HSE Acute Business Information Unit, there were on average 10,955 inpatient beds and 2,276 day case beds/places available nationally in September 2019.
Information relating to closed beds is collated at a particular date in time. The number of beds closed can fluctuate greatly from day to day for a variety of reasons, including on-going refurbishment, maintenance work, and infection control measures.
With regard to the Deputy's specific question, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.
209. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed discharges in each public and voluntary hospital at the end of November 2019; and the number to date in each in 2019, in tabular form. [50883/19]
View answerDelayed transfers of care (previously referred to as delayed discharges) occur when patients have been deemed clinically fit for discharge from an acute bed but their discharge is delayed because they are waiting for some form of ongoing support or care following their discharge. There are many reasons for this, such as a patient undertaking the application process for NHSS, awaiting assessment for a home support package, homelessness, ward of court application, and the availability of resources.
When possible, the HSE will use transitional care to accommodate the patient during the period between discharge and the finalisation of new care arrangements, but there can often be a delay, especially in cases where the patient and family are coming to terms with the new circumstances.
This year, services are being stretched more than ever, with demand consistently outstripping supply, and we have seen an increase the number of delayed transfers of care. While the HSE maximises the use of resources, prioritising those requiring discharge from acute hospitals, there is a growing demand for egress support. In response, and in the context of planning and preparing for the challenges of the winter period, the Department and the HSE have been considering a comprehensive approach to the current the high-level of DTOCs. Recognising the urgency of the situation, approval was provided to the HSE to begin actions immediately to the value of €5m in 2019. As part of these measures the HSE released a significant number of funding approvals within NHSS in September, and provided additional home care and transitional care beds.
In addition, the HSE Winter Plan was launched on Thursday 14 November. The aim of the Winter Plan is to ensure that service providers are prepared for the additional external pressures associated with the winter period, including the prolonged holiday period, severe winter weather, seasonal influenza, and the spread of norovirus and other healthcare associated infections.
Nine Winter Action Teams, each aligned to a Community Healthcare Organisation and associated acute hospitals and Hospital Groups, have prepared Integrated Winter Plans. These plans focus on demand management and reduction, staffing availability, timely access to the most appropriate care pathway for patients, and appropriate timely discharge from acute hospitals.
The HSE Winter Plan is supported by an additional €26m in winter funding nationally. This winter funding will support access to the Fair Deal scheme, and will provide additional home support and transitional care to facilitate timely hospital discharge and reduce congestion in EDs over the winter period.
With regard to the Deputy's specific question, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.
210. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost in each public and voluntary hospital owing to delayed discharges between 1 January and 30 November 2019 or the latest date available in tabular form. [50884/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
211. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the percentage of clinical status 1 ECHO incidents responded to by a first responder in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less in each ambulance station in each month in 2019 to the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the percentage of clinical status 1 DELTA incidents responded to by a patient-carrying vehicle in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less in tabular form. [50885/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
212. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients aged 75 years of age or over who experienced an emergency department wait time of more than 24 hours during November 2019; the number to date in 2019; and the hospitals in which the wait occurred. [50886/19]
View answerThe hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year. HSE figures show that for the first ten months of 2019, the number of patients attending Emergency Departments nationally increased by 2.7% while the number of attendances of patients over the age of 75 increased by 3.3% compared to the same period in 2018. This reflects increasing demand for unscheduled care, especially by patients in the 75 years and over age group.
However, the National Service Plan 2019 includes an expected activity target that 99% of patients aged 75 and over attending at an Emergency Department are discharged or admitted within 24 hours and any breach of this target in respect of patients in this age cohort is unacceptable.
With regard to the Deputy's specific question, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.
213. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours being provided in each LHO area to the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; the way in which it compares to the target in each LHO for the same time period; the number of persons on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months in tabular form. [50887/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
214. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide in November 2019; the number of such ambulances that waited longer than of 20 minutes to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls; and the number that waited longer than 40, 60, 90, 120 and more than 180 minutes for same in tabular form. [50888/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
215. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of spinal fusion patients waiting less than four, four to eight and more than eight months, respectively, in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital to the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and if he will provide the same information for other spinal patients in tabular form. [50889/19]
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.
216. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively in tabular form. [50890/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
217. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively in tabular form. [50891/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
218. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an audiology appointment in primary care at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively in tabular form. [50892/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
219. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a dietetics appointment in primary care at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively in tabular form. [50893/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
220. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an oral health appointment in primary care at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively in tabular form. [50894/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
