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Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos 229-237

Departmental Reports

Questions (229)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

229. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the date on which he expects to receive the report on hospital groups/networks from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53194/12]

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Written answers

A key stepping stone towards the introduction of Universal Health Insurance will be to develop independent not-for-profit hospital trusts in which all hospitals will function as part of integrated groups. The rationale behind the establishment of hospital groups and trusts is to support increased operational autonomy and accountability for hospital services in a way that will drive service reforms and provide the maximum possible benefit to patients. Reform across the three domains of access, quality and resources is not achievable unless there is real clinical and managerial accountability at hospital level.

The work on hospital groups is not about downgrading hospitals. It is about the bringing together groups of hospitals to form single cohesive entities to allow maximum flexibility in management, budgets and service delivery. Hospital groups will be established on an administrative basis pending the legislation required to set up hospital trusts by 2014. Before those trusts are established the make-up and functioning of the Groups will be reviewed and if changes prove necessary then they will be made with Government approval when the hospital trusts are being formed.

Last June I appointed Professor John Higgins to chair a Strategic Board on the Establishment of Hospital Groups. The Strategic Board is composed of representatives with both national and international expertise in health service delivery, governance and linkages with academic institutions. A Project Team was established to make recommendations to the Strategic Board on the composition of hospital groups, governance arrangements, management frameworks and linkages to academic institutions.

The Project Team is currently finalising a Report on the recommendations outlined above, taking account of the observations and comments made by the Strategic Board at their meeting on 14th November. It is anticipated that this work will be completed within the next week. Upon completion, this Report will be submitted to me and I will then bring it to Cabinet. The composition of Hospital groups will be a Government decision, taking into account the recommendations of that Report.

Suicide Prevention

Questions (230)

Dan Neville

Question:

230. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the strategy which is planned to progress action on suicide prevention post 2014 when the present national strategy, Reach Out 2005 - 2014 has expired in view of the time span to research a further strategy (details supplied) [53201/12]

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Written answers

The National Office for Suicide Prevention was established in 2005 to oversee the implementation of Reach Out the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005 – 2014. Earlier this year, the National Office established a Working Group comprising the statutory and voluntary sectors to review the current activities in the area of suicide prevention and to determine the priorities within this area to ensure that we maximise available resources. The Group will also review current national and international evidence on effective approaches in suicide prevention and will consider how the emerging evidence base can be used to inform the remaining period of the Reach Out strategy and influence new policy on suicide prevention beyond 2014. The conclusions of the Group will inform how suicide prevention will be taken forward beyond 2014, both strategically and operationally.

Health Services Provision

Questions (231)

Finian McGrath

Question:

231. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views regarding complementary therapies and their importance in supporting the health service here (details supplied) [53202/12]

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Written answers

The Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists was published in 2006. The Report noted that there was no agreed definition of what constitutes a complementary therapy. While it focussed on the regulatory environment, some definitions which the Report considered were:

- ‘‘Complementary Medicine refers to a group of therapeutic and diagnostic disciplines that exist largely outside the institutions where conventional health care is taught and provided.’’

- ‘‘Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period……”

There are no approved grades in the complementary therapies in the publicly-funded health sector and there have been no requests to my Department from the publicly-funded health sector for the approval of such grades. However the Report noted a large increase in the number of people using complementary therapies, both in Ireland and worldwide, and my Department makes available an information leaflet on complementary therapy to assist consumers in making an informed choice if they choose to use complementary therapy. A copy is available on the Department’s website at http://www.dohc.ie/publications/pdf/complementary_therapists_leaflet.pdf?direct=1

The 2006 Report made recommendations on strengthening the regulatory environment for complementary therapists. My Department’s concern, while carefully considering this Report, has been the most effective way to regulate this sector and protect public safety while still allowing people freedom of choice. My Department therefore supports greater voluntary self-regulation for all such therapies and has facilitated workshops for stake-holders. Issues such as therapeutic effectiveness; initial professional training/entry qualifications; continuing professional development; quality and accountability of complementary therapists; and agreement among practitioners within each individual profession so that professional bodies are representative, all need to be considered in this context.

In relation to entry level qualifications, a review on the academic recognition of five specific complementary therapies (Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine) was jointly commissioned in 2010 by my Department and Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), now Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Its conclusions are now being considered.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (232)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

232. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on each waiting list to see each speciality at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the average waiting time to see each speciality;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53235/12]

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Written answers

The management of inpatient and daycase waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first).

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services Provision

Questions (233)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

233. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve paediatrican neurologist services in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53236/12]

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Written answers

The purpose of the HSE National Clinical Programme in Paediatrics and Neonatology is to define the way paediatric Clinical Services should be delivered, resourced and measured. The Clinical Programme Leads are Dr John Murphy (Neonatology Lead) and Professor Alf Nicholson (Paediatrics Lead). A key aim of the programme is to develop a Model of Care which will ensure that babies and children receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time regardless of which part of the country they live in.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Questions (234)

Gerry Adams

Question:

234. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans to give Junior Minister Alex White responsibility and authority for the development and delivery of the Government's Primary Care Strategy; if he plans to bring forward any statutory instruments to give the Junior Minister with responsibility for primary care responsibility for this matter [53281/12]

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Written answers

Subject to Government approval, I envisage that Minister of State White will be given statutory responsibilities across a range of functions, similar to those delegated to his predecessor including: controlled drugs, pharmacy and medicines. A Statutory Instrument to give effect to these is in preparation.

Many of the matters that arise for ministerial decision in the Primary Care area do not have a specific statutory basis and therefore will not form part of a statutory instrument.

I intend to delegate responsibility to Minister of State White on a non-statutory basis in relation to the following areas of Primary Care:

Development of Primary Care

Medical Card and GP Visit Card Schemes

Community Drug Schemes

Issues relating to GPs, Dentists, Pharmacists, and Opticians

Dental, Audiology, Optical and Chiropody services

National Drugs Strategy

Mobility Allowance Eligibility

Questions (235)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

235. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the reason a mobility allowance was discontinued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will reinstate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53286/12]

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Written answers

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

General Medical Services Scheme Payments

Questions (236)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

236. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the measures that are taken to ensure that the list of medical card holders, that doctors are paid for under the medical card scheme, is kept updated in order to ensure that over payment does not occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53289/12]

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Written answers

I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (237)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

237. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the criteria being applied and the manner in which assessments are being made by the Health Service Executive in County Mayo when reducing and removing home help hours from recipients as part of €8 million savings which are required to be made in the cost of home help to the HSE nationwide by the end of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53295/12]

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Written answers

In the context of measures recently adopted to reduce Home Help expenditure, the focus of the HSE is to ensure that services are directed towards personal care for the most vulnerable, in line with individual assessed need and resource availability at local level.

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

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