Written Answers Nos. 645 - 663
645. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the drugs payment scheme to include drugs (details supplied) that are currently not available on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2927/13]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the Drug Payment Scheme. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
646. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocated to the National Suicide Prevention Office; and the details of the spending of the budget. [2931/13]
View answerThe annual budget for suicide prevention increased in 2012 to over €12m. €7.1m is administered by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) which includes an additional €3 million from the special allocation of €35m for mental health in 2012 and is used to fund voluntary and statutory agencies delivering services in the area of prevention, intervention, postvention and research. The remaining €5m is available regionally to fund Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention, Self Harm Liaison Nurses in Hospital Emergency Departments and local suicide prevention initiatives. A further €1m is being provided to the NOSP in 2013 (from the additional mental health funding provided in Budget 2013) bringing the total available to the Office this year to €8.1m. A special programme of measures to further advance suicide prevention in 2013 is currently being developed.
Initiatives progressed by the NOSP in 2012 include the provision of a wide range of awareness and training programmes including safeTALK and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Training) which trains participants to become more alert to the possibility of suicide in their community, the continuation of National Awareness Campaigns, the evaluation of the SCAN (Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse) model, the development of Guidance for Post Primary Schools on Mental Health & Suicide Prevention in association with the Department of Education and Skills (to be launched in the very near future) and the continued funding of 41 partner agencies and projects. In relation to the specific breakdown of the expenditure by NOSP in 2012, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly on this matter.
647. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the details of the spending of €35 million at the 2012 Budget presented to Dáil Éireann in December 2012 for the implementation of the recommendation of the expert report A Vision for Change. [2932/13]
View answerImplementation of A Vision for Change the 2006 Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy is a priority for this Government. In 2012, a special allocation of €35m was provided for mental health to be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both adult and children's mental health services in respect of which €25m was estimated. Up to €3m of the fund was to be used to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention and a cost of €5m was estimated to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems. The remaining €2m was made available to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities, in line with A Vision for Change. In relation to the specific outlay of the €35 million in 2012, I have referred your query to the HSE for direct reply.
648. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the amount of respite care days that a person (details provided) in County Kerry is entitled to per annun if they spent any days as a respite patient in Kerry General Hospital in November following a surgical procedure, if they were entitled to respite care free of charge for any period in Killarney District Hospital following their admission on the 29 November 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2937/13]
View answerAs the question relates to service provision, I have referred that part of the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy in relation to the particular circumstances relating to the individual concerned.
In accordance with the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005-2011, charges apply for in-patient services other than for acute hospital care and long-term residential care services supported under the Fair Deal Scheme (both of which are subject to separate charging regimes). Under these Regulations, the HSE must apply charges (subject to certain exemptions) to all those who receive in-patient services for longer than 30 days over a rolling 12 month period. Charges apply whether or not the person has full or limited eligibility. The level of the charges is based on income and cannot exceed 80% of the weekly non-contributory State pension. The Regulations currently provide for a maximum charge of €175 per week where in-patient care is provided in a setting with 24-hour nursing care or a maximum of €130 per week where in-patient care is provided in other settings. To take respite care specifically, charges apply from the day on which the patient has already received 30 days of in-patient services over the previous 12 month period.
650. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a surgical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2972/13]
View answerThe 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). Should 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.
651. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if selective dorsal rhizotomy for patients with cystic fibrosis will be available here in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2975/13]
View answerI am fully aware of the challenges facing cystic fibrosis patients in managing their condition and of the need to support these patients and their families. I am committed to providing the best possible health service and will continue to work with the HSE to ensure the best possible outcomes for these patients. As the issue raised is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
652. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will employ an additional permanent radiographer at Kerry General Hospital in view of the fact that agency radiographers cost an additional €25,000 each per annum; if he will take into consideration the huge demand for the service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains with its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. As the recruitment of radiographers is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
653. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of parliamentary questions that have not been replied to in full in 2012 in respect of parliamentary questions that he forwarded to the Health Service Executive or direct reply to Deputies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2977/13]
View answerMy Department received over 7,500 Parliamentary Questions in 2012. 53% of these questions concerned operational issues and were referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to Deputies. Many of these questions relate to individual patients and local day to day operational matters.
I would like to assure the Deputy that responding to the information needs of the Oireachtas is a priority both for my Department and the Executive. The Executive is committed, in the 2012 National Service Plan, to answering 75% of directly referred Parliamentary Questions within a period of 15 working days of receipt. Performance in relation to this target it is currently being met and will continue to be monitored closely. The Executive introduced a new I.T. system in the last quarter of 2011 and this has led to a significant improvement in its overall response time to referred questions.
In 2012, 4,045 questions were referred to the Executive for direct reply to Deputies. It should be noted that this figure represents a 63% increase on the volume of questions referred in 2011. Of this amount, 3,010 (74%) have been answered within the 15 day timeframe. Taking into account questions which took longer than the 15 day timeframe to answer, the figures show that 3,981 (98%) of referred questions have now been answered. 64 questions (2%) remain open and it is expected that these questions will be finalised in the near future. My Department holds regular meetings with the HSE's Parliamentary Affairs Division to monitor response times and to emphasise the importance of issuing timely and comprehensive replies to Deputies.
657. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to publish outpatient waiting times for each publicly contracted hospital consultant in order that patients and their general practitioners may exercise choice based on the length of waiting time in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/13]
View answerIn relation to the collection of waiting time data, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) collects information on (a) hospital in-patients and day case waiting times and (b) outpatient waiting times. In relation to in-patient and daycases, information on the median (average) waiting time in each hospital for the top surgical procedures on the waiting list is published on the NTPF website. In regard to outpatients, the numbers of patients waiting for a first appointment at a consultant-led clinic, by hospital, by time band are published and available on the NTPF website and through the HSE Performance Reports . HIQA's Tallaght Hospital Investigation Report 2012 recommended the benchmarking and publication of outpatient department (OPD) appointment wait times across all hospitals at a national, regional, local and consultant level. National, regional and local wait times are now available and I am advised by the NTPF that it is the intention to publish consultant level waiting time during the course of 2013/14.
658. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in the finalisation of a public health policy arising from the launch of the consultative process which commenced in June 2011; and when these proposals are likely to be presented to Dáil Éireann. [2986/13]
View answerWork is progressing well on the development of a Health and Wellbeing Framework. A large scale consultation process was undertaken at the national and regional level and involving members of the public. The Framework is due to be discussed by Cabinet in the near future.
659. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2996/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
660. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he has received a report (details supplied); when it is intended to publish this report; when he expects to receive the final report and when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2997/13]
View answerI received the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Investigation Team's progress report into Ms Savita Halappanavar's death before Christmas. I also met briefly with Mr. Halappanavar and his solicitor on 20th December in Athlone. I briefed them on progress in relation to the clinical review of the circumstances surrounding Savita's death. I assured Mr. Halappanavar and his solicitor of my concern to ensure that the review would be completed and published as soon as possible and also gave them an undertaking that I would provide them with the final report as soon as it was ready in advance of its publication.
It is the policy of the HSE to share reports of investigations such as this with the next of kin provided this is in line with the wishes of the next of kin. This occurs after a robust factual accuracy checking process and natural justice and due process procedure. The process of factual accuracy checking and due process is not yet complete. The Investigation Team is working diligently to complete the investigation in the shortest timeframe possible to achieve the objectives of the investigation. It is the intention of the HSE to publish the final report of this investigation.
661. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on improving the health of our Traveller community. [3022/13]
View answerThe All Ireland Traveller Health Study (AITHS) was carried out in 2007 and the findings were published in September 2010 with a follow up Birth Cohort Study published in September 2011. This was a comprehensive study of the health and social status of the Traveller community in Ireland and was carried out by the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin on behalf of Travellers, with the direct involvement of Travellers. The findings of the Study provide a strong evidence base for assessing existing and future service delivery and allowed the identification of a range priorities and means of addressing these. The key findings of the study were that Travellers experienced higher levels of morbidity and mortality. Life expectancy for Travellers was over 11 years lower for women and over 15 years lower for men – the same as in 1987. Priority areas for action were identified, including mental health & suicide; men’s health; addiction/alcohol; domestic violence; diabetes and cardiovascular health. The forthcoming Health and Wellbeing Framework will put in place new structures which will focus on the cross sectoral social determinants of health and will incorporate actions relating to addressing health inequalities among marginalised groups such as Travellers.
Traveller Health Units (THUs) operate in each HSE area and work in partnership with local Traveller organisations. Peer led healthcare projects known as Primary Healthcare Projects play an invaluable role. They began in 1994 and now there are over 40 projects involving over 450 participants. In addition the HSE’s National Traveller Health Advisory Forum (NTHAF) is a governance body comprising THUs and Traveller representation as well as HSE personnel working together to address key priorities. These structures are accountable to the National Social Inclusion Governance Group in the Health Service Executive.
An amount of €10,546,230 was spent on Traveller health via Traveller Health Units during 2011. This amount excludes the costs of core/mainstream services accessed by members of the Travelling community e.g. GP services, foster care etc. Efforts have continued to ensure that funding for all vulnerable groups remains protected as far as possible. New initiatives in the form of health awareness programmes and health screening will be delivered via the Traveller Health Units/Primary Care Projects in each HSE region and will target those most at risk in the Traveller community.
662. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the cystic fibrosis services at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin; and the issues raised [3023/13]
View answerI am fully aware of the challenges facing cystic fibrosis patients in managing their condition and of the need to support these patients and their families. I am committed to providing the best possible health service and will continue to work with the HSE to ensure the best possible outcomes for these patients. Services in Dublin for children with Cystic Fibrosis are provided at Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple Street Hospitals. A new dedicated Respiratory and CF unit was opened in Temple Street in June 2010 providing state of the art facilities for children with respiratory disorders, their families and staff. It includes a lung function laboratory with the most up to date equipment, spacious patient treatment rooms and outpatient clinic rooms. The National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Laboratory is also located in Temple Street and newborn screening for Cystic Fibrosis, introduced in July 2011, is an integral component of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme.
I understand that the HSE advised the Deputy recently in relation to the physiotherapist and dietician posts at Temple Street. In relation to the specific issues raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter.
663. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assistance from a psychiatrist to deal with post-traumatic stress in respect of a person (details supplied); when treatment will be provided; the number of persons currently on the waiting list; the length of time the person will have to wait to secure treatment; and the average waiting time for psychiatric services. [3030/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
