Written Answers Nos. 1010 - 1028
1010. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary which is awaiting a decision by the medical officer since September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1011. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if it his policy to cut the number of public nursing home beds in County Louth; if this drop in public nursing home beds will be covered by increased homecare packages or home help hours; the steps he is putting in place to cater for the projected increases in the elderly population in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1043/13]
View answerAt the request of Dr James Reilly, T.D., Minister for Health, the HSE has reviewed the status of its long stay nursing homes, focusing on areas such as ability to meet HIQA standards, environmental issues including age & structure, and location. This review will inform the formulation by the HSE, in collaboration with my Department, of a comprehensive proposal on this issue for the Minister’s consideration.
This Government is committed to enhancing the quality of life of older people, maintaining their full potential, supporting them in their homes and communities, providing access to respite care and day care and, when required, providing access to appropriate quality long-term residential care. Both myself and my colleague, the Minister, are committed to the provision of a public nursing home service.
1012. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he has any concerns at the continued availability of a certain drug (details supplied) here in view of the fact that it is no longer legally available in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1044/13]
View answerCentrax contains the active substance prazepam which is a long acting benzodiazepine. Prazepam shares the characteristics of benzodiazepines in general, including the need to use them for the shortest length of time possible and to gradually reduce the dose when discontinuing treatment to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The product information for Centrax approved by the Irish Medicines Board includes these warnings and recommends a maximum treatment time of 4-6 weeks including the time for the tapering-off process. It also states that extensions to this time period should be based on a re-evaluation of the patient's status by specialist experts.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, Centrax has been discontinued in the US but my Department is not aware of any safety concerns regarding long-term use specific to this medicine other than the general concerns relating to benzodiazepines generally.
Benzodiazepines are known to be associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms and consequently are primarily recommended for short-term treatment only. My Department is reviewing the Misuse of Drugs Regulations with a view to, amongst other issues, introducing tighter controls on benzodiazepine medicines. My Department has consulted with key stakeholders in relation to the proposed amendments. It is anticipated that new legislation will be introduced early this year.
1013. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will restore a medical card to a family (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1047/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1014. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his policy in relation to home help and home care packages; the steps that have been taken to ensure that those who have a medically assessed requirement for these services receive them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1061/13]
View answerThe HSE Service Plan 2013 reinforces Government policy to support vulnerable older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as possible. These services, which are provided either by the HSE directly or in partnership with non-statutory providers, include Home Help, Home Care Packages, Meals-on-Wheels and Day/Respite Care.
The HSE has developed various initiatives nationally in its approach to all relevant aspects of its Home Support services. These include new Guidelines for Home Care and a new Procurement Framework for approved agencies providing services on its behalf. While on-going developments have been designed to standardise and maximise the use of limited resources, they also promote quality, safety and equity for both providers and care recipients alike. In line with its normal procedures for the allocation or review of Home Support services at individual level, the HSE will review as appropriate those who have a medically assessed requirement for services, to ensure that services are provided on a prioritised basis in line with their assessed need. The HSE has committed in its National Service Plan to maintaining the home help and home care package service at levels planned for in 2012.
1015. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times in place for persons in County Tipperary seeking to avail of child and adolescent mental health services with the Health Service Executive; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress being caused as a result of these delays; the steps being taken to tackle this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1082/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1016. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the role of the new registration authority for social workers, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council; the details of the persons charged with responsibility for setting the registration fee for social workers and on deciding the expenditure plan of this body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1101/13]
View answer1017. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the role of the new Health and Social Care Professionals Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1102/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1016 and 1017 together.
The Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the twelve registration boards to be established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act). It is responsible for protecting the public by regulating health and social care professionals. The Council was established in March 2007 and is working to put in place the necessary structures for registration, education and fitness to practice for the twelve health and social care professions, including social workers, designated under the Act.
The Council's role is to oversee and coordinate the activities of registration boards and to provide administrative support to the boards and their committees. The Council will also be responsible for enabling committees of inquiry into complaints against registrants. The first registration board to be established, the Social Workers Registration Board, was established in August 2010, and the associated Social Workers Register opened for receipt and processing of applications on 31st May 2011. Since then, a further four registration boards have been established, three of them on November 1st last. All twelve registration boards and their registers are expected to be established by 2015. e role of a registration board includes the establishment and maintenance of a register of members of the relevant designated profession, the approval of qualifications to be required of persons wishing to register, monitoring the suitability of approved education and training programmes, and making recommendations to the Council with respect to disciplinary sanctions to be imposed on a registrant against whom a substantiated complaint about his/her conduct or competence has been made.
The Health and Social Care Professionals Council is an independent statutory body responsible for setting the level of fees for registration under the Act and for retention of registration. The Council formulates annual costed Business Plans setting out its proposed programme of work. The Act provides for the appointment by the Council of a Chief Executive Officer to carry on, manage and control generally the administration and business of the Council and the registration boards. The Health and Social Care Professionals Council consists of 13 lay members including the chairperson, and 12 professional members, one for each designated profession. All members are appointed by the Minister for Health. In time, each registration board will nominate one of its elected members to be appointed to the Council as the relevant professional member.
1019. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the arrangements that are in place to accommodate the transfer of paramedics within the ambulance service from one county to another; if there is a co-ordinated national human resource redeployment scheme within the national ambulance service or if it his intention to establish such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1122/13]
View answerThe HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) signed a framework agreement with trade unions on staff transfers in February 2012. The Framework Agreement for Staff Transfers has been agreed through the Public Service Agreement (PSA) and the NAS is committed to developing this agreement further, through the PSA, to ensure a consistent approach to accessing transfers within the NAS. There is a nationally coordinated approach in place to ensure no local variation occurs and all transfers are transparently undertaken in line with the Agreement. Under this process, almost 200 staff expressed an interest in transferring to their desired location, with approximately 30% taking up the opportunity to relocate.
Unfortunately, the number of staff who have expressed an interest in transferring to the North West far outnumbers the amount of vacancies in that area. The NAS is engaged with staff representatives to agree the criteria that determine the order in which staff gain access to any vacancies.
1020. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a full medical card will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and if he will expedite the matter. [1123/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1021. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date for a knee operation will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and if he will expedite the matter. [1124/13]
View answerShould the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. 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.
1022. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if eight hours of home support granted by the Health Service Executive in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be maintained in view of the exceptional circumstances of the case and based on the many professional reports that the HSE is aware of; and if he will expedite a response. [1125/13]
View answerAs 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.
1023. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a pension (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has been waiting four years for an operation; and if he will expedite the matter. [1128/13]
View answerShould the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. 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.
1024. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he intends to increase the number of palliative care nurses, from three, working in County Wicklow; if he will address the anomaly where palliative nurse care is unavailable at the weekend in County Wicklow and is subject to caredocs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1132/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1025. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the date on which he intends to publish the hospital groupings [1150/13]
View answer1048. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he has received the Higgins Report on Hospital Groups; if the Report has been received at the Department of Health; if not, when he expects to receive the Report; the way he intends to proceed with the Report; if he will publish the Report before he brings it to Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1302/13]
View answer1071. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the date on which he or his Department will receive the report on hospital groups; the date on which he will publish the report and his plans to progress the implementation of hospital groups; if he intends to publish the report and its recommendations before it goes to Cabinet; if he will commit to maintaining the cohesion of the south east region as a single hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1497/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1025, 1048 and 1071 together.
Recommendations on the formation of specific groups and arrangements for the management and governance of all groups have been drafted as part of a report on the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to hospital trusts. This report is based on a comprehensive consultation process, as well as a significant number of submissions from stakeholders and individual citizens. These recommendations have been considered and endorsed by a Strategic Board composed of representatives with national and international expertise in health service delivery, governance and linkages with academic institutions. The report on the establishment of hospital groups as a transition to independent hospital trust will be presented formally to me by the Chair of the Strategic Board, Professor John Higgins, in the near future. I will prioritise consideration of that report, which will then be submitted to and presented to Government for decision on the hospital groups composition in light of the recommendations of the Report.
1026. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the application of the prescription charge for persons who are obliged for exceptional medical reasons to collect their medication on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1156/13]
View answerMedical card holders are required to pay a €1.50 charge (per item) for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €19.50 per month for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. There are no plans to review the application of the prescription charge.
1027. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1177/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1028. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding new nurse graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1179/13]
View answer1045. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the recruitment of 1,000 new graduate by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1265/13]
View answer1049. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the estimated saving for replacing 1,000 agency nurses/midwives with newly qualified nurses/midwives on 80% of the pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1313/13]
View answer1055. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding nurses pay; the plans he has or is proposing to overcome the grave concerns expressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1364/13]
View answer1064. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding plans to employ newly qualified nurses on a reduced salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/13]
View answer1069. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health with regard to the recent announcement by his Department to recruit 1,000 new graduates at 80% of the proper starting salary, the way in which it can be deemed to be fair or equitable that people would be asked to do the same work as their colleagues but at a different salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1491/13]
View answer1083. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with unions representing nurses and midwives to explore ways of achieving significant savings in the Health Service Executive agency spend without imposing a further salary reduction of 20% on this year's newly qualified graduates; his views on whether the engagement of nurses and midwives through agencies is on average 30% more expensive than direct employment; his further views on whether the HSE could save up to €23 million if they directly converted currently employed agency staff into direct employment and if they employed the newly qualified graduates on the correct salary scale of €27,211, then the HSE would save 54% of their current costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1611/13]
View answer1093. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of the proposal to recruit some 1,000 nurses and midwives at reduced rates of pay as part of the graduate placement programme; if due consideration has been given to the displacement of agency staff, temporary staff and others, including those who are currently on recruitment panels or awaiting full-time posts; the implications of this proposal for this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1702/13]
View answer1095. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will end the proposed reduced salary for newly qualified nurses and midwives as it will create apartheid in our health service. [1710/13]
View answer1108. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health with the announcement by the Health Service Executive that 1,000 nurses and midwives are to be given two year contracts to replace agency staff, the reason these positions are only open to new graduates and not staff already on the panel. [1824/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1028, 1045, 1049, 1055, 1064, 1069, 1083, 1093, 1095 and 1108 together.
In the context of the unprecedented challenges faced by the country in sustaining our public health services, including the ongoing requirement to achieve reductions in staff numbers, the Graduate Employment Initiative will support the retention of recently-qualified graduate nurses and midwives within the Irish health system and enable them to gain valuable work experience and development opportunities post-graduation. Under the Initiative, up to 1,000 graduate nurses will be recruited on two-year contracts and will be paid 80% of the first point of the Staff Nurse Scale. They will also qualify for premium payments and allowances on a pro rata basis, bringing expected average pay to approximately €25,000 per year, excluding overtime. The Initiative will also facilitate a reduction in the use of nurse agency staffing and overtime to provide services.
The salary payable has been set on the basis that staff appointed under this initiative will be outside the scope of the Health Sector Employment Control Framework. Given the requirement to achieve reductions in staff numbers in the health sector and to maximise savings, it is not possible at present, other than in very limited circumstances, to offer permanent staff nurse positions. For the same reasons it is not possible for the HSE to simply to convert posts currently filled by agency staff to permanent positions.
The Initiative will include formal professional development elements, the details of which are being finalised at present. Participants will also have access to a variety of care settings while gaining clinical experience.
This scheme represents an opportunity for a substantial number of recently-qualified nurses to work in Ireland for a two-year period at a time when job opportunities in the public service are, regrettably, very limited. While in the first instance positions are open to 2012 graduates, the scheme may be extended to other cohorts of qualified nurses on a phased basis.
