Written answers

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Department of Health and Children

Health Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on this potentially life and death issue affecting patients attending and requiring treatment at this hospital. [11926/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if every effort will be made to accommodate a person (details supplied) in County Laois with regard to an appointment for the removal of a tumour; if, in view of the anxiety and worry involved, matters will be progressed in early course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11929/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the hospitals that have been forced to stop the intake of patients or have asked visitors not to visit due to the vomiting bug; the dates in the past year this has occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11938/08]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the national policy in place to curtail the spread of the vomiting bug in hospitals; the procedures the Health Service Executive and her Department have asked each hospital to put in place; if any hospital has their own procedures that differ from the HSE policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11939/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together.

Tackling all Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), including the norovirus infection continues to be a priority for this Government and for the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Norovirus is a virus that causes one of the commonest forms of gastroenteritis. Every year as many as 5% of the population will develop it. Although it is known commonly as "winter vomiting disease" it occurs throughout the year. In winter, people tend to be in closer contact indoors making spread more likely. Outbreaks occur in hospitals, nursing and residential homes, nurseries, schools, hotels, cruise ships and places of employment — anywhere large numbers of people gather. While it is not possible to prevent completely outbreaks due to norovirus, simple interventions can minimise its effects.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has developed National Guidelines on the Management of Outbreaks of Norovirus Infection in Healthcare Settings. These Guidelines have been disseminated to all hospitals and provide guidance on managing an outbreak, instituting control measures and restricting the extent of the outbreak. The Guidelines are for use and adaptation in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Local arrangements can be put in place to match local needs, with the principles outlined in the Guidelines guiding decision making in all circumstances.

The HSE issued National Guidelines on visiting policy to hospitals in September 2006. These guidelines reflect a balance between the needs of patients, their visitors, hospital staff and hospital procedures which allow for the most effective delivery of safe healthcare services. The guidelines state that the welfare of the patient must always be taken into consideration. The need for privacy and the potential for the spread of infection means that continuous visiting hours are not in the best interests of all patients.

In relation to the question on restrictions on the actual intake of patients and visiting in individual hospitals due to the norovirus, the information is not collected in the format requested by the Deputy.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the waiting lists for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy in health centres (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11942/08]

Photo of Jimmy DevinsJimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75m in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included monies to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on June 1st 2007 for the under 5's and also for the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

The Government is also honouring its promise in relation to the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50m investment which was announced in the 2008 Budget.

The Deputy's specific question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to reduce the number of local health officers in County Wicklow; the location of these planned closures; the timeframe for possible closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11954/08]

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to reduce the number of local health offices; the location of these planned closures; the timeframe for possible closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11955/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.

Over 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

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