Written Answers Nos. 629-649
631. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the date on which a decision will be made on the location of the new National Children's Hospital; the process and criteria that is being used to decide on the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42984/12]
View answerAs you will be aware, I established an independent Review Group to consider the implications of the decision of An Bord Pleanála, received on 23 February 2012, to reject the planning application for the proposed construction of a national paediatric hospital on the site of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The aim of the Review was to consider all the possible options for the earliest possible delivery of a new children's hospital having regard to: Government policy on the delivery of health services, including accessibility and paediatric services in particular and best clinical practice considerations; the cost and value for money considerations of the different options; the likely timelines associated with the different options; and the implementations risks associated with the different options.
In June, the Group presented its report, to which I have been giving careful consideration and which I intend to bring to Government shortly.
632. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if there is a disability appeals officer in place within his Department under the terms of the Disability Act 2005; if a permanent post for this position is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42985/12]
View answerPart 2 of the Disability Act 2005 makes provision for the introduction of very specific obligations on the health services, including a statutory entitlement to: An independent assessment of health and education needs {Section 8}; a statement of services {Section 11} which it is proposed to provide; an independent redress and complaints mechanism {Section 14} if required; make an appeal to the independent Disability Appeals Officer {Section 18}.
The Disability Appeals Officer (DAO) is an independent officer appointed by the Minister for Health whose purpose is to provide an appeals service to people who wish to appeal (i) against a finding or recommendation of a complaints officer of the HSE made under the Disability Act 2005; or (ii) against the failure of the HSE or an education service provider to implement a recommendation of a complaints officer.
The Office of the Disability Appeals Officer (ODAO) was created to support the DAO in the performance of his/her functions. It should be noted that the Disability Act does not create an office which exists independently of the person who holds office and, accordingly, the ODAO is not a corporate body. Since 2007, the ODAO has successfully supported the DAO in providing the appeals service envisaged under the Disability Act. From 2007 staff from the Department of Health were assigned to the ODAO to assist the DAO in the performance of her functions.
Following the decision in October 2008 to defer further roll-out of Part 2 of the Disability Act for other cohorts, it became apparent that the ODAO did not have the volume of work originally envisaged and by 2011 there was an insufficient quantum of work to justify a full-time DAO position. The former Disability Appeals Officer resigned her position with effect from 31/12/2011 and my Department has been in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the filling of this post. As an interim measure, a Principal Officer on my Department’s staff has been designated to discharge the duties of the DAO and is independent in the performance of this function. This is a temporary measure only and a longer term arrangement will be put in place as soon as possible.
The provisions for parents wishing to make an appeal have not changed and appeals will continue to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act.
633. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an application under the National Lottery grant scheme will be approved and funded in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Waterford [43000/12]
View answerMy Department has no record of an application for funding from the organisation for the 2012 national lottery discretionary fund. If the organisation wishes to make an application for national lottery funding it should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures, along with the application form are on my Department's website www.doh.ie.
634. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will assist in resolving an ongoing issue (details supplied) regarding Valentia Island Community Hospital, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43005/12]
View answerI understand that work on matters relating to the pricing of long term residential care services in section 39 nursing homes is at an advanced stage. The accounting firm has visited all nursing homes (which were funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004 prior to the commencement of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme) and either information is awaited or reports are actively being prepared and are in the process of being reviewed for accuracy and completeness with the homes.
An advanced draft of the review of the nursing home referred to by the Deputy has recently been received by the NTPF and this is under consideration.
635. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the increased costs to former cancer patients of in vitro fertilisation treatment; if he will investigate this anomaly and take measures to rectify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43007/12]
View answerAssisted Human Reproduction treatment (AHR) is not provided or funded by the public health system. The treatment is available from clinics that operate privately. The cost of AHR treatment is a matter for individual clinics to determine. Patients who access these services privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.
In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive. Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist. The costs of medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drug Payment Scheme.
I am conscious of the financial burden that fertility services can place on the couples concerned. The matter has to be considered in the context of the difficult economic situation that prevails and the other compelling funding demands across a full range of health issues.
636. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in the development of community-based mental health services since he came to office; with respect to the promised 370 staff for adult child and adolescent community mental health teams, 34 staff for suicide prevention and 10 staff for primary healthcare counselling services, the number of these posts that have been filled and are now in position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43010/12]
View answer686. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress of the implementation of A Vision for Change since 2011; if his Department's spending ratio between residential care and community care changed since he came into office in order to favour community care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43344/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 and 686 together.
Working closely with the Department of Health, the HSE, in its Service Plan 2012, prioritised three initiatives within the €35m of funding, ring-fenced from within the existing health budget to implement the objectives in the Programme for Government, to progress the implementation of A Vision for Change and to provide a basis for implementing the agreed Clinical Programmes for Mental Health as follows:- Strengthen the Adult and Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health Teams to ensure that there is at least one of each required discipline on every team in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change; Introduction of a Mental Health in Primary Care National Counselling Service Initiative to provide access to counselling and psychological services in primary care for those with mental health problems; and Further advancement of suicide prevention initiatives in line with Reach Out, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
414 posts were approved to implement the €35 million package of special measures for mental health and of those 378 are with the National Recruitment Service of the HSE at various stages in the recruitment process, 231 of the posts have been accepted and the appointments are being processed, 109 offers have been put to candidates to express an interest, 28 posts are being filled either through transfer or are being amalgamated with other posts and the 10 posts for the National Counselling Service were advertised last week for a national panel. Most start dates are expected to be in December to allow for the process of checking references, Garda clearance etc. This Government remains committed to engaging these professionals as soon as is feasible and the work of completing the process remains a priority.
In the context of the clinical programme in mental health, each mental health service has been asked to identify an experienced staff member from the community teams to take responsibility in respect of those elements of the clinical programme dealing with suicide prevention and to undergo specific training to fulfil this function.
The budget allocated for mental health services in the HSE’s Service Plan 2012 is €707m. The HSE operates eleven different financial systems based on the HSE Areas which are the accountable structures for all health services. These systems do not currently allow for accounting by care group and, as a result, the information sought in respect of spending on residential and community care is not available.
637. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres in operation across the State; if he will provide a list of these sites and the locations of same; if he will provide information on the services available at each site and the staffing based at each site [43011/12]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy on the number of Primary Care Centres (PCCs) and their locations is collated by the HSE on an Integrated Service Area (ISA) basis and is as follows. The other information requested is not routinely furnished to my Department by the HSE. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.
Number of Primary Care Centres By August 2012
|
Location |
Centres |
|
Dublin South East Wicklow |
2 |
|
Dublin South Central |
4 |
|
Dublin South West Wicklow |
1 |
|
Midlands |
4 |
|
11 |
|
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
2 |
|
North Dublin |
|
|
Dublin North City |
1 |
|
Louth/Meath |
3 |
|
6 |
|
|
Kilkenny South Tipperary |
3 |
|
Kerry |
|
|
Cork |
4 |
|
Waterford/Wexford |
3 |
|
10 |
|
|
Midwest |
2 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Galway/Roscommon |
3 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
|
|
9 |
|
|
Total |
36 |
638. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if Omacol tablets for heart problems were previously issued under the medical card scheme; and the reason it is no longer so [43013/12]
View answerIn the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of reimbursable items. These include omega-3 triglyceride products.
Omega-3 triglyceride products (e.g. Omacor) have been identified both nationally and internationally as not being cost effective or being of lesser benefit to patients. However, these products are available over the counter without prescriptions.
639. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the formula used by the Health Service Executive when calculating income from money on deposit in respect of medical card applications; if he will indicate how rental income from second properties are calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43017/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
640. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if a directive has been issued to ambulance personnel in the Health Service Executive Southern Region not to engage the fire service, outside of Cork City, to assist them; and if so, the reason such a directive has been given. [43023/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
642. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the amount of money paid to medical consultants in the Health Service in 2011 and to date in 2012, in respect of their obligations under their public contracts; the anticipated savings in this area arising from recently concluded negotiations for the Health Service budget in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43037/12]
View answer643. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the level of salary cuts negotiated for medical consultants recently for both new entrants and existing contract holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43038/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 643 together.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the amount paid to consultants in the public health service in 2011 and to date in 2012. The outcome of the negotiations with the consultant representative bodies is that detailed proposals have been agreed between the parties. Amongst the key provisions of this agreement are: Consultants' co-operation with measures to improve patient flow through the hospital system with the potential to deliver a saving of 220,000 bed days per annum; Consultants' availability for rostering for any five days out of seven as opposed to weekdays as at present; Rostering of consultants where required on a 16/7 (8 a.m. to midnight) or 24/7 basis in services where this is required; Clinical Directors will have a much strengthened management role in respect of consultants; Consultants commit to expeditious processing and signing of claims for submission to private health insurers; More cost-effective arrangements for funding of continuing medical education.
These flexibilities are centred on enhancing productivity and efficiency on an ongoing basis and on maximising the availability of consultants, as key clinical decision makers. A range of other measures is being pursued to address the HSE's budgetary issues. Separate from the negotiations with the consultant representative organisations, I have announced that new consultants will be appointed at a significantly reduced rate, involving a 30% reduction in salary for future appointees. The relevant pay scales have been issued to the HSE.
I believe that the proposals which have been agreed between the parties, when implemented, will allow for very significant reforms in how health services are delivered and ultimately will lead to improved outcomes for users of the services. Health service management is now proceeding with implementation in the coming weeks, having regard to the relevant provisions in the Public Sector Agreement.
644. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full list of the locations and addresses of the primary care centres on the list of 35 primary care centres in the stimulus plan and detailed information on the criterion and weightings used for the selection of the most recent 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43121/12]
View answerThe full list of 35 potential locations to be progressed by PPP as part of the Government’s Infrastructure Stimulus Package was published 17 July 2012 and is available at www.healthupdate.gov.ie in the section for press releases.
Three criteria were deployed for selecting primary care centres: 1. An assessment of deprivation – The Deprivation Index for the catchment population of the centre; 2. The service priority identified by each Integrated Service Area/Local Health Office; 3. An Accommodation Assessment which assessed accommodation available for the primary care team within the catchment area, the quality of the accommodation, and whether or not the accommodation was spread over more than one building.
Other factors were considered when selecting centres for inclusion in the PPP list. New criteria were added; it was evident, for example, that consideration needed to be given to Existing health facilities; Pressures on services, particularly acute services; GP cooperation, GP to population ratio, and cost effective GP buy-in; Implementability of a PPP (size, site and scale) and Funding options including lease or HSE build.
Thirty five potential locations for the PPP programme were identified. Approximately 20 of these will be progressed by way of PPP. The current position is that the HSE is engaging with the NDFA as required to progress the Primary Care Centre Public Private Partnership Programme. The HSE is currently analysing the available sites in each location and engaging with the GPs in each location to determine their interest in participating in the primary care centre development.
Site identification and selection is ongoing in all locations; it is not possible to give detailed information on individual site addresses.
645. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the full facts and figures of the costs involved in supporting elderly and disabled people and children with life-limiting illnesses to live independently in their own homes through the public provision of home help/home care services; if he will also provide a similar cost breakdown in relation to caring for elderly and disabled people and children with life-limiting illnesses in residential nursing homes and acute hospital beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43122/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
646. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of voluntary/and not-for-profit home help/home care organisations are there currently operating in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43123/12]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not collated as a matter of routine by the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive.
The Deputy will be aware that the HSE works in partnership with a number of providers in the Not-for-Profit and the private sectors, who deliver home care as required on behalf of the Executive. Some of the non-profit organisations currently providing home care on behalf of the HSE also provide other health or personal social services. However, the Executive would not have details in respect of organisations outside of this remit. There are a number of organisations representing at least some of the non-statutory home care agencies nationally and details of these are available in the public domain e.g. Home Care Association, www.hca.ie.
647. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the location of and to whom the new home help/home care service tenders are being given/or have been for the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43124/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
649. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who is in receipt of a medical card and who is seriously debilitated with multiple medical problems has been left without incontinence pads; if he will intervene to ensure that they are given the supplies that they require; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43137/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
