Written Answers

29 May 2018 Written Answers. The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised]. Questions Nos. 1 to 36, inclusive, resubmitted. Questions Nos. 37 to 45, inclusive, answered orally. Health Services Staff Remuneration 29/05/2018WRA0050046. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the role of his Department in approving an increased salary level for a CEO of a section 38 organisation that has been unable to recruit a suitable candidate at the approved rate of pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21673/18] 29/05/2018WRA00600Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): In 2015, my Department completed a review of the appropriate salary levels for the CEOs of Section 38 funded agencies, in conjunc- tion with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The review came about as a result of a recommendation made in the HSE’s Internal Audit Report on remuneration of senior managers in Section 38 agencies. This recommendation stated that a review of the remuneration rates of CEOs and senior management was required for a number of organisa- tions, particularly in the social care area, to ensure pay rates reflect the comparable size, scale and complexity of each organisation. Where a Section 38 organisation can demonstrate that it has attempted to fill a post but has been unsuccessful in attracting suitable applicants, there may be grounds for a business case to be made to the HSE to seek an increase in the remuneration level payable. If the HSE were supportive, it would then be considered by my Department. Given the senior level of the post in question, sanction would also be required from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I understand that the Deputy has already made representations in relation to one specific agency, KARE. I am aware that this is not the only agency in this sector experiencing this challenge. My officials have sought a meeting with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to explore the issue further. As outlined any change to the approved salary attaching to a CEO position requires the submission of a business case to the HSE and the approval of both my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Questions Nos. 47 and 48 answered orally. 29/05/2018WRA00750Hospital Staff Data 1 Questions - Written Answers 29/05/2018WRA0080049. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 5 December 2017, the staff that have been recruited to enable St. Finbarr’s Ward, UHG to support an orthopaedic elective service at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23457/18] 29/05/2018WRA00900Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): Elective orthopaedic services are provided at Merlin Park Hospital. The Deputy will be aware that in September 2017, leaks developed in the roof of the build- ing that houses the two orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park Hospital. This necessitated the clo- sure of both theatres in the interest of patient safety. The Saolta University Healthcare Group, with a view to retaining elective orthopaedic services within Galway University Hospitals, transferred a number of staff to University Hospital Galway, as an interim measure. In that regard, 8 elective orthopaedic beds were opened in St Finbarr’s ward and these operated from October 2017 to March 2018. Works on the repairs of the roof at Merlin Park have now been completed. Consequently, staff who had transferred temporarily to St. Finbarr’s Ward have returned to Merlin Park where elective orthopaedic surgery has recommenced. The Deputy may wish to note that there are now 25 elective orthopaedic beds, comprising 21 inpatient beds and 4 day beds, at the hospital and these beds have been in operation since March last. Finally, I should mention that the HSE has submitted a proposal to the Department for the development of increased bed capacity across the system, and this includes a submission from Saolta University Health Care Group. This proposal is part of a general submission from the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year, and into 2019, in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/19. Con- sideration of the proposal is at an early stage. Questions Nos. 50 and 51 answered orally. 29/05/2018WRA01100Hospital Appointments Delays 29/05/2018WRA0120052. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason more than 10,000 per- sons had been waiting over a year for an outpatient appointment in Galway University Hospital in April 2018. [23511/18] 29/05/2018WRA01300Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): I acknowledge that Outpatient waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Each year 3.3 million patients attend Hospital Outpatient clinics for appointments, with demand for services growing year-on-year. A key component of the management of waiting lists by hospitals is the categorisation of patients by clinical priority to ensure that all patients receive care in timely and clinically appropriate matter. The HSE Service Plan 2018 sets out a target that 80% of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment will be seen within a 52 week wait timeframe. In 2017, Galway University Hospital had over 246,000 Outpatient Department attendances. This was the highest outpatient attendance of any individual hospital across the country. Based upon HSE figures for March 2018 that show Galway University Hospital is seeing over 73% outpatients within 52 weeks, further improvement is being pursued by the Hospital to achieve 2 29 May 2018 national targets for 2018. The HSE is working with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and my Department to finalise a joint plan focused on improving overall use of resources to tackle long patient waiting times and ensuring timely access to treatment and care for our patients. I hope to publish this Plan shortly. As part of this process the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the HSE are currently reviewing proposals from hospitals for outpatient initiatives, including in respect of Galway University Hospital. 29/05/2018WRA01400Health Service Capacity Review 29/05/2018WRA0150053. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the State will provide the 13,000 extra residential care beds that the Health Service Capacity Review an- ticipates will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23504/18] 29/05/2018WRA01600Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Jim Daly): Residential care is provided through a mix of public, private and voluntary provision. At present the Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support to approximately 23,000 people in long term nursing home care. The Capacity Review noted that if key reforms and productivity measures are implemented, 13,000 extra residential care beds will be required by 2031 to meet the demands of our growing and ageing population. Public residential care facilities are an essential part of our health infrastructure. There are approximately 5,000 long stay and 2,000 short stay public beds across the country. The Government is committed to investing in additional capacity and making tangible reforms to our model of healthcare delivery as outlined in the Capacity Review. Programmes to increase capacity are already underway including the on-going Capital Investment Programme 2016- 2021 for Community Nursing Units. The National Development Plan provides for an extra 4,500 additional public short-term and long-term beds over the next 10 years. Significant new programmes or projects included in the NDP, including residential beds, reflect the next stage of health sector development. Important policy scoping and planning as- sessment will need to be carried out, which will involve close co-operation between Hospital Groups, CHOs and local planning authorities where relevant, guided by the appropriate model of care developments. 29/05/2018WRA01700Hospital Equipment 29/05/2018WRA0180054. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the walk-in x-ray facility is still operational at Roscommon University Hospital; if not, the reason for the withdrawal of the service; the x-ray facilities that are currently available at the hospital; the date on which the walk-in x-ray facility will be fully restored at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23146/18] 29/05/2018WRA01900Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris): Saolta University Health Care Group has advised that an equipment failure in recent weeks has impacted the X-Ray Walk-In Service at Roscommon University Hospital. Normally, GPs refer patients with non-injury related con- ditions directly to this Walk-In Service. To facilitate partial continuation of the service, the hospital has leased mobile x-ray equipment on a temporary basis. While continuing to provide 3 Questions - Written Answers chest x-rays, the hospital has asked GPs, as an interim measure, to refer patients who require non-urgent x-rays, to other hospitals in the region. However, I have been advised that the Walk- In Service will be fully restored by the end of July. Saolta University Health Care Group has confirmed that the operation of the Minor Injuries Unit is unaffected by the equipment failure and that patients who attend the clinic continue to receive x-rays as necessary. The Deputy will be pleased to note that funding for the replacement of general x-ray equipment was allocated to Roscommon University Hospital in January 2018. This x-ray equipment is on order and work is currently underway on the infrastructure required to accommodate the new equipment.

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