Results 361-380 of 1,371 for speaker:Máire Hoctor

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 138 together. The Health Information and Quality Authority submitted its draft national quality standards for residential care settings for older people to the Minister for Health and Children on 29 February 2008. The draft standards have been published and copies are available on the authority's website. In line with best practice, the draft...

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Some staff have been transferred over, and more staff will follow. There is ongoing negotiation between the HSE and HIQA to finalise the arrangement to sign over the standards and put them in place.

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: While there will be some new staff, we anticipate that the vast majority will be transferred over from the HSE. It would not make sense to let people go from the HSE and take on new staff. Therefore, the vast majority of the inspectorate will be transferred directly over, with the possibility of some new staff also being hired. On the issue of the regularity or frequency of inspections,...

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: We have engaged in extensive consultations with the key stakeholders on the regulations and agreement has been reached. We hope to finalise the regulations early in the new year, at which stage we will be ready to move forward. The Deputy also asked about costs and expectations that may emerge.

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: A regulatory impact assessment is being undertaken at the moment, which will determine the costs and benefits. When the assessment is finalised we will know what additional costs, if any, will be involved. At present, however, I cannot give the Deputy a definitive answer on the matter.

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: The vast bulk of additional resources will be transferred from the HSE and, as I have stated, some new staff may also be hired.

Nursing Home Standards. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: The staff resources will come from a variety of areas and specialisms, including those mentioned by the Deputy. We envisage that the inspectorate will comprise between 60 and 70 people. Many of the staff involved have already received training and any additional training requirements will be met in due course to ensure the smooth operation of the inspection service.

Health Services. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Based on the hospitals listed, I understand the Deputy's question to refer to north Dublin, that is, to the area previously covered by the former northern area health board. The number of long-stay nursing home beds in Dublin North at present is about 2,260. This includes 1,300 beds in private nursing homes, 440 in voluntary nursing homes and 520 in public nursing homes. This equates to...

Health Services. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: No, I said that there were 43 long-term care beds per 1,000 people over the age of 65, which compares favourably to the international norm of 45 beds per 1,000 people over the age of 65.

Health Services. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: I remind Deputy Reilly that 200 extra beds, most of them in Dublin, were provided from January of this year.

Health Services. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: It is very difficult to say when we will have enough beds but that was a new development from 1 January of this year. Funding was provided by transferring fair deal money for both the installation and continued upkeep of those beds. The original fair deal funding figure was €110 million, a portion of which was allocated for the opening and upkeep of those additional beds.

Health Services. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: The fair deal will result in a much more equitable situation. As and from the new year, it will be the same cost regardless of whether people are in public or private beds. This will address the Deputy's point.

Health Services. (25 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Deputy Ó Caoláin asked about an audit. The most recent was the Prospectus audit carried out in January of this year. A total of 68% of beds in the HSE Dublin/north-east region are in private nursing homes, and 32% are public beds. However, that report also notes that there are significant variations across the local health offices regarding the ratio of public to private long-stay beds....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: As the Deputy is aware the new Office for Older People was established on 30 January 2008. In line with recommendations of Prospectus Report 2003 the National Council on Ageing and Older People will be absorbed into the Department of Health and Children. Legislation will be required and my Department is working on the legislation at present. The National Council on Ageing and Older People...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (18 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal, a person will pay a contribution towards their care costs of up to 80% of assessable income and up to 5% of the value of any assets in excess of the asset disregard per annum. In the case of the principal private residence, the contributions payable will be capped at 15%, i.e. after three years of care a person will not be liable for any...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...

Written Answers — Hospice Care: Hospice Care (18 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: This issue was addressed by my colleague Deputy Wallace in an adjournment debate on the 5th November when it was indicated that the HSE were working closely with the Hospice to ensure that, not withstanding existing budgetary pressures overall at the Hospice, the infusion treatment currently being provided for rheumatology patients at Harold's Cross will continue to be provided. As the Deputy...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (18 Nov 2008)

Máire Hoctor: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter...