Questions

595. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address untreated age-related hearing loss as a public health priority, given that the Lancet Commission identifies hearing loss as the biggest modifiable risk factor for dementia and that managing hearing loss between ages 45-65 years reduces dementia risk by 7%. [18177/26]

596. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will introduce a national awareness campaign on age related hearing loss, given evidence that people often wait between seven to ten years before seeking help and that 66% of hearing aid users regret not acting sooner. [18178/26]

597. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether hearing care will be incorporated into Ireland's Healthy Ageing Strategy, given the strong links between untreated hearing loss, social isolation, mental ill health, and loss of independence. [18179/26]

598. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will explore partnerships with community based providers to deliver timely hearing assessments and hearing aid fittings, noting that early diagnosis and support can reduce isolation, improve mental well-being and lower the risk of dementia. [18180/26]

599. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of adults currently on waiting lists for audiology services in each CHO area; the average and longest waiting times in each area; and the number waiting more than six, 12 and 18 months, in tabular form. [18181/26]

600. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children awaiting audiology assessment or treatment in hospital-based audiology services and community-based audiology services, by CHO area; and the steps being taken to address regional disparities, in tabular form. [18182/26]

601. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown, of current staffing levels and vacancies in audiology services in each CHO area; the number of posts filled and unfilled for senior audiologists, staff grade audiologists, clinical specialists, ENT linked audiology posts, and administrative support roles, in tabular form. [18185/26]

602. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way staffing shortages in audiology services are contributing to the waiting lists and capacity pressures; and to provide a plan to address recruitment and retention challenges. [18186/26]

319. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the date on which the HSE National Guidelines for Accessible Health and Social Care Services were last reviewed; the timetable for the planned review; and whether the review will include consultation with representative organisations for people with visual impairments. [17753/26]

320. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether the updated guidelines will include mandatory minimum standards for communication with people who are blind or have low vision; if so, to provide the proposed standards; and to state the timeframe for implementation across all HSE services. [17754/26]

321. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that any changes arising from the guidelines review are incorporated into mandatory staff training and local policies; and to provide an implementation timetable. [17755/26]

322. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the proportion of frontline HSE staff who have completed training on supporting patients with visual impairments in the last-24 months; to provide this data broken down by acute and community services; and to state what additional training will be provided following the guidelines review. [17756/26]

323. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health what minimum training content and learning outcomes the HSE requires for staff who communicate with visually impaired patients; whether completion of this training is mandatory; and how compliance is monitored. [17757/26]

324. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has a central record of staff training on disability awareness and accessible communication; if not, whether the Minister will direct the HSE to establish one and provide a timeline. [17758/26]

325. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the current number and geographic distribution of HSE access officers across acute and community services; the criteria used to determine their placement; and to indicate whether a review of locations and staffing levels is complete or planned. [17759/26]

326. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health what the standard operating procedure is for frontline staff to escalate complex accessibility queries to an access officer; the expected response times; and to provide data on average response times in the last 12-months. [17760/26]

327. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether access officers have a defined set of competencies and continuing professional development requirements specific to visual impairment; if so, to provide details; if not, whether the Minister will require these to be established. [17761/26]

328. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health what formats of patient information (for example large print, audio, braille, electronic text) are routinely available across HSE services; the percentage of services able to supply each format on request; and how patient format preferences are recorded and shared across services. [17762/26]

329. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE requires a standardised process for recording and communicating reasonable adjustments and accessibility preferences in patient records; if so, to provide details and the implementation timetable; and if not, whether she will introduce such a requirement. [17763/26]

330. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the length of time it typically takes for a patient to receive information in an accessible format after requesting it; to provide average and maximum response times recorded in the past 12 months; and the targets which will be set following the guidelines review. [17764/26]

331. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the HSE verifies compliance with universal design principles and building regulations for new builds and major refurbishments; to provide the audit process and frequency; and whether post occupancy accessibility testing involving people with visual impairments is mandatory. [17765/26]

332. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the specific tactile, lighting, signage and wayfinding standards the HSE requires in patient facing areas to assist people with visual impairments; to provide examples of mandatory features; and the way in which compliance is monitored. [17766/26]

333. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the HSE’s current programme and prioritisation criteria for retrofitting accessibility features in older buildings; the number of sites scheduled for retrofit in the next three years; and the estimated budget allocation. [17767/26]

334. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the national guidance the HSE issues to local hospitals regarding awareness events (for example International Day for Persons with Disabilities); whether attendance by disability organisations is encouraged or funded; and the way in which the impact of such events is evaluated. [17768/26]

335. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the national and local organisations with which the HSE has formal partnership agreements to support people with visual impairments; to provide the nature of those agreements; and to state whether the HSE has service level agreements for information and training support. [17769/26]