Written Answers Nos. 268-277
268. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if the promised second adult diabetes endocrinologist consultant post will soon be awarded in Waterford Regional Hospital; when this post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50431/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
270. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be arranged as a matter of urgency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [50527/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
271. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is waiting on essential surgery in St. James's Hospital in Dublin will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50528/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
272. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of bodies that have been abolished or amalgamated by his Department out of the list of bodies listed in the Public Service Reform document of 17 November 2011; the savings or cost of this in 2012; the projected savings or cost of this programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50541/12]
View answerThe Public Service Reform document on 17th November 2011 identified there agencies under the aegis if this Department to be rationalised, amalgamated or abolished in 2012. , The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery was dissolved on the 31st December, 2011. In relation to the Opticians Board, a Working Group was established in 2010 to provide legislatively for the subsumation of the Opticians Board into the Health and Social Care Professionals Council. It is expected it will be end 2012 before the draft heads are available for Ministerial approval as part of the Health Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2012. With regard to the National Cancer Registry Board, with the ongoing changes to the structures of the HSE, I consider that it would not at this stage be appropriate to subsume the Registry into the National Cancer Control Programme.
Progress on the candidates for critical review in the Public Health Reform document such as the Mental Health Commission and HIQA will be contingent on other factors such as the creation of a Patient Safety Authority and in the case of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and Health Insurance Authority, in the context of the move to Universal Health Insurance. I am considering the precise future role of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board in light of the overall governance structures required for the effective running of the new children's hospital and the project to build it. With regard to PHECC, I have decided that it should continue to operate in its present form for a further period and the matter will be kept under review with a view to proceeding with the integration with CORU when it is operationally ready to assume the functions involved, which is expected to be 4 or 5 years.
The extent of savings will vary between organisations and the majority of staff will be redeployed to other public service bodies, as was the case with the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery. Efficiencies will derive from economies of scale and the elimination of duplication in areas such as recruitment, procurement, payroll and ICT systems. Savings will also arise from the dissolution of Agency Boards, some of which attract payment of travel and subsistence and/or Board fees.
274. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange an appointment with the audiology department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50552/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
275. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Health if there is any scope for re-instating Glucosamine Dona as part of the medical card scheme for persons who have suffered from strokes and are not able to take anti-imflammatorys as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50556/12]
View answerThe 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 glucosamine, omega-3 triglyceride products, orlistat, and gluten-free products.
Glucosamine is indicated for the management of symptoms of osteoarthritis. The National Centre for Pharmoeconomics (NCPE) have assessed the cost-effectiveness of glucosamine on two occasions and concluded that it did not offer value for money to the HSE. However, glucosamine products are available over the counter without prescriptions.
276. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50564/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
277. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the Health Service Executive to appoint a replacement doctor to the dispensary in Sneem, County Kerry even on a temporary basis of two mornings and two evenings a week in view of the fact that the discontinuation of this service in the dispensary over the past 12 months has caused much inconvenience to local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50566/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
