Wednesday, 24 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 236 - 246

Cancer Screening Programmes

Questions (236)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding bowel cancer screening programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46631/12]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Plans for the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme are at an advanced stage within the HSE-National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) and the programme will be introduced on a phased basis shortly. When fully implemented the programme will offer free screening to men and women aged 55-74 every two years. As 50% of cancers within this age group are found in people aged 60-69 the programme will begin with this latter age cohort (a population of approximately 500,000). The NCSS issued a set of Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Colorectal Screeningon 19 October to support the programme.

This is the first call/recall screening programme in Ireland to be offered to men as well as women. Organised population-based call/re-call screening for colorectal cancer is complex. In order to ensure quality and safety it is imperative that it is introduced in a carefully managed and monitored way. We must also ensure that risks to patients are minimised and best clinical outcomes are maximised. Over time the phasing of the programme will allow development of colonoscopy capacity to cater for the full 55-74 year old population.

The HSE-NCSS and the Special Delivery Unit in my Department have been working together to develop the appropriate capacity in colonoscopy services nationwide to support the introduction, sustainability and growth of the screening programme, while maintaining and enhancing the capability of the symptomatic endoscopy service. The focus is on improving quality and access at all publicly-funded screening colonoscopy units. This applies not only for those referred for colonoscopy as part of the screening programme, but for all men and women who require a colonoscopy or any other diagnostic endoscopic procedure. This will be achieved by building sufficient capacity in endoscopy services nationwide to sustain the implementation of the national screening programme, while maintaining and enhancing the symptomatic service.

Fifteen candidate colonoscopy units have been identified around the country to support the screening programme and these must achieve accreditation in order to provide colonoscopy services on behalf of the programme. The candidate colonoscopy units are: Cavan General Hospital; Connolly Hospital, Dublin; Kerry General Hospital,Tralee; Letterkenny General Hospital; Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar; Mercy University Hospital, Cork; Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis; Sligo General Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel; St James’s Hospital, Dublin; St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin; The Adelaide and Meath Hospital Dublin incorporating the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght; Wexford General Hospital.

I regard the colorectal screening programme as a national priority. I am pleased that it will shortly commence, and I am committed to supporting it as it develops.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (237)

Gerry Adams

Question:

237. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to develop a primary care centre in Dundalk, County Louth by means of operational lease process [46635/12]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The management and delivery of the health capital programme is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (238)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card was not granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46650/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointment Status

Questions (239)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

239. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be given for an urgent surgical intervention in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46657/12]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

HSE Staffing

Questions (240)

Michael Creed

Question:

240. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the process if any made within the Health Service Executive regarding facilitation of staff transfer within the organisation including inter-hospital transfers for professional and administrative staff and in particular where vacancies arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46660/12]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medicinal Products Supply

Questions (241)

Joe Higgins

Question:

241. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to take gluten free foods off the medical card list in view of the financial pressure this is having on some coeliacs [46686/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In 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. This includes gluten-free products. Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf . Separate application forms are available for children. For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, monies spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.

Drug Treatment Programmes Funding

Questions (242)

Seán Crowe

Question:

242. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding each community drug response project in the Tallaght area, Dublin 24, received each year from the Health Service Executive over the past five years; and the cuts in funding that have been imposed each year on each project [46694/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Questions (243)

Joe McHugh

Question:

243. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health his plans to update the long-term illness benefit scheme to take account of the withdrawal of a product (details supplied) from the market; if the scheme will incorporate replacement products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46695/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (244, 245, 246)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

244. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has designated an estate (details supplied) in County Longford as unsafe; and if this has any effect on the safety of the neighbouring primary care unit [46696/12]

Dessie Ellis

Question:

245. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the way the decision was made to place a primary care unit in County Longford on a flood plain with no sufficient transport links [46697/12]

Dessie Ellis

Question:

246. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the person who owns the land rented for the site of the primary care unit in County Longford [46698/12]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 to 246, inclusive, together.

The management and delivery of the health capital programme is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.