Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

387. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the preparation of a development control plan for South Tipperary General Hospital site at Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33722/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

388. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the south-south west hospital group has categorised as high risk the out of hours access to interventional cardiology services at University Hospital Waterford, UHW; his views on this risk analysis; his further views on whether this justifies the need to extend out of hours access and move to full 24-7 emergency cover at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33728/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The risk register helps to establish a direction for managing risks. It provides managers with a high level overview of the services’ risk status at a particular point in time, and becomes a dynamic tool for the monitoring of actions which need to be taken to mitigate that risk.

I am aware that the South/South West Hospital Group risk register had identified out of hours access to interventional cardiology services as a risk. However, to manage this risk protocols are in place for STEMI patients out of hours, which includes patients being transferred to Cork or Dublin for primary PCI. Alternatively, STEMI patients receive thrombolysis at the nearest hospital before later being referred to a PCI centre.

The Deputy will be aware of the review of cath lab services at UHW which was undertaken by Dr Niall Herity. Dr Herity has made clear recommendations that a second cardiac cath lab at UHW is not justified. However, he recommends investing in UHW to enhance the existing cardiology services including increasing the number of weekly sessions currently provided, in order to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients. He also recommends that new specialist equipment be provided to improve contingency for radiological equipment failure during a procedure. I am happy to provide the additional resources necessary to implement these recommendations. This investment will be reflected in the HSE National Service Plan for 2017.

Dr Herity also recommends that some services be provided elsewhere. In this regard, I have asked my Department to address the implications of this recommendation by undertaking a national review of all primary PCI services with the aim to ensure that as many patients as possible have access to a 24/7 basis to safe and sustainable emergency interventions following a heart attack. I expect the review to be completed by the end of July 2017.

Implementation of Dr Herity’s report will, I believe, strengthen the provision of safe and sustainable primary PCI services for STEMI patients in the South East.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

389. To ask the Minister for Health the reason ten in-patient beds at University Hospital Waterford have been closed; the details of the additional beds which were promised as part of the winter programme; if these additional beds will also now not open; the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33729/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Integrated, patient-centred approaches to winter planning are key to ensuring that the health service effectively manages peak winter pressure times in our EDs, such that patients experience a safe, high quality health service, in the setting most appropriate to their needs. Accordingly, the Winter Initiative has provided €40 million of additional funding to facilitate such an approach for this period of particularly high pressure.

The Initiative aims to strike a balance between hospital avoidance measures, supporting patient flow through acute hospitals and increasing the availability of social care services. In relation to University Hospital Waterford the Winter Initiative will provide: 6 additional Home Care Packages per week until February 2017, funding to discharge 2 complex cases on a once off basis; funding for 15 surge capacity beds; funding to enable patients requiring orthopaedic surgery to avail of treatment at Cappagh Hospital.

I am currently chairing a weekly meeting with the HSE to drive progress in implementing the Winter Initiative. With regard to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.