Tuesday, 29 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 697-716

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (698)

Ciara Conway

Question:

698. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the mental health support available to medical staff, in particular junior doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4225/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Mental health support services are available to all, including medical staff, through referral from their GP or through Hospital Emergency Departments. As an employer the Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to ensuring that appropriate systems, processes and resources are in place to ensure the safety, health and welfare of staff particularly those staff affected by their activities at work. Employees may seek support on occupational safety, health and welfare from staff in human resources, health and safety, health promotion, occupational health services, employee assistance and staff counselling services. The role of the staff in these areas is to provide relevant and timely advice, guidance and support to managers and employees on how to comply with their legislative duties and create a positive working environment that takes account of employee well-being and, where appropriate, they can also provide counselling to employees. They also help to promote effective safety, health and welfare practices and to develop relevant training programmes.

As part of a framework for understanding and addressing employee well-being and welfare priorities, additional support is provided to staff through the implementation of a range of HSE Policies and Procedures including Prevention and Management of Stress in the Workplace; Preventing and Managing Critical Incident Stress in the Workplace; Rehabilitation of Employees back to work following illness or injury and Employee Welfare and Well-being Strategy.

Question No. 699 answered with Question No. 679.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (700)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

700. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1105 of 16 January 2013, if he will set out if it is intended to withdraw; and if so, when and through what means, medical card eligibility from those over-seventies who currently hold a medical card with a validity period of some years hence but who will exceed the income criteria when new legislation is introduced this year [4240/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Legislation Programme for the Spring 2013 Parliamentary session includes Bills that are required to underpin decisions made in Budget 2013, including proposed changes to the full eligibility for persons aged 70 years or more. The provisions will be set out in detail when the legislation, which is in preparation, is published.

Notwithstanding this, the Deputy will be aware, that under the existing provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), a person is obliged to advise the HSE if there is a change of circumstance which disentitles him or her to the service currently being provided.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (701)

Tom Fleming

Question:

701. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respectt of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4243/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

HIQA Inspections

Questions (702)

Tom Fleming

Question:

702. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on a submission (details supplied) regarding inspections of residential care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4244/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I have recently received the submission referred to by the Deputy and have responded directly to the issues raised.While the generous offer referred to in the proposal is appreciated, would like to assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to ensuring that vulnerable people with disabilities in residential services are safeguarded and protected, and that their quality of life is enhanced. With this in mind, the current Programme for Government includes a specific commitment to put the draft standards developed by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) on a statutory footing and ensure that the services are inspected by HIQA. These draft standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services.

A public consultation process has recently been completed by HIQA on the draft standards document and it is now in the process of being finalised and submitted to the Board of the Authority. The final agreed standards will then be forwarded to my Department for approval with an anticipated publication date in February 2013. It is expected that the new regulatory system which will allow for a robust registration and inspection of Residential Centres should be up and running by mid 2013. Work is also continuing in my Department on both the 'Registration and Inspection' regulations and the 'Care and Welfare' regulations required to bring the standards into law. These are being developed taking into account the lessons learned from similar regulations for nursing homes.

My Department has also been in active engagement with HIQA on the level of resources and staffing needed. 10 posts which will enable the Authority commence preparatory work for the registration and inspection regime have already been approved. My Department is continuing discussions with HIQA to determine the longer term staffing and resource requirements and it is expected that agreement on this element will be finalised shortly. While the HIQA standards have yet to be put on a statutory footing, it is worth noting that compliance with the HIQA standards is already included in the Service Level Arrangements between the HSE and service providers in the disability sector.

Question No. 703 answered with Question No. 650.

Dispensing Fees

Questions (704)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

704. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 64 and 69 of 19 December 2012, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4246/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A reply has issued to the Deputy.

Question No. 705 answered with Question No. 661.

Public Service Reform Plan Update

Questions (706)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

706. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health with reference to the public service reform document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011, Appendix IIa, Bodies to be rationalised, Amalgamated or Abolished in 2012, the progress that has been made on those bodies; the changes that require legislation; the expected timeframe for conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4289/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Public Service Reform document on 17th November 2011 identified three agencies under the aegis of 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 that the draft heads will be available during 2013 for Ministerial approval as part of the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2013 and rationalisation of the Opticians Board is expected during 2014. With regard to the National Cancer Registry Board, with the ongoing changes to the structures of the HSE, in order to safeguard the functions of the Registry I consider that it would not at this stage be appropriate to subsume the Registry into the National Cancer Control Programme.

Hospital Services

Questions (707)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

707. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) travelled from north Donegal to Mayo General Hospital for an operation and that upon arrival to the hospital that evening, they were advised that their operation had been cancelled; and if he will make inquiries into this matter. [4296/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

With regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, details of which are on the HSE website, at www.hse.ie/eng/services/ysys/Complaint. In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at www.healthcomplaints.ie. In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance, to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred. If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out as follows: HSE Director of Advocacy, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co Kildare, Tel [phone]; Office of the Ombudsman, 18, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Tel [phone]; Email: [e-mail]. I have asked the HSE to answer the specific queries you have raised and to reply to you directly.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (708)

Michael McGrath

Question:

708. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the new income thresholds will apply to persons 70 years of age or over applying for a medical card; if the thresholds will apply to all gross income; and if any exceptions will be made for persons marginally in excess of the income limits when exceptional circumstances apply. [4297/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The new eligibility rules for medical cards for persons aged over 70 years, which were announced in the Budget 2013, will not take effect until later in 2013, after primary legislation has been enacted. The implementation date will be announced and publicised in advance by the Department and HSE. As is the current situation, the revised thresholds will apply to gross income. There is provision for discretion by the HSE to grant a medical card in cases of "undue hardship" where income guidelines are exceeded and this provision will not be effected.

Speech and Language Therapy

Questions (709)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

709. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will receive speech and language therapy and occupational therapy; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4318/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (710, 717)

Joe McHugh

Question:

710. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the Northern Ireland Minister for Health in respect of the maximising the utility of the planned National Children's Hospital; if he will use the Altnagelvin Radiotherapy Unit model as a basis for such engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4327/13]

Joe McHugh

Question:

717. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing an opportunity for paediatrics specialists to meet with their Northern Ireland counterparts, to discuss potential mutual arrangements for shared services at the planned new Children's Hospital [4358/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 717 together.

There is ongoing cooperation between my Department and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland. In this regard, one service that is actively being progressed at present is paediatric congenital cardiac surgery. There have been a number of meetings and teleconferences between the Department of Health and the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Northern Ireland Commissioning Services and Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin, and contacts are continuing with a view to determining as soon as possible how best an all-island service might be established and how soon this could be realised if it is determined, through consultation, to be the optimum solution. A project team has also been established, comprising of the HSE, Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin and the Department of Health, to address potential service issues and requirements. Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin 12 has since 2009 been assisting the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust in providing Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery Services to patients from Northern Ireland. Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin cared for 9 such patients in 2011 and 28 in 2012.

I am considering how the new children's hospital might best contribute to an all-island health service for children. I have discussed this possibility with my colleague Minister Poots and further discussions have been held between our respective Departments in this regard. I am seeking to ensure the involvement of Northern Ireland members in the governance arrangements for both the building of the new hospital and the board which needs to be set up to help govern the existing Dublin children's hospitals and the new hospital in the longer term. I will consider what the model used in the Altnagelvin development can contribute in this regard.

I am very much committed to working together with my Northern colleagues on issues of common concern and benefit. This is of particular relevance in the current time when both jurisdictions are implementing change and pushing forward health reform. Terms of Reference for engagement between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on acute hospital issues are expected to be agreed shortly.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (711)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

711. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the feasibility of including a chicken pox vaccine in the national immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4328/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice and by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). Varicella vaccination is currently recommended by the NIAC for at-risk groups including:

- Healthcare workers without a definite history of chickenpox, or proof of immunity, particularly those working with haematology, oncology, obstetrical, general paediatric or neonatal patients

- Laboratory staff who may be exposed to varicella virus in the course of their work

- Healthy susceptible close household contacts of immunocompromised patients.

Hospital Services

Questions (712)

Joe McHugh

Question:

712. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the planned new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital, which will serve patients from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. [4336/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government is committed to ensuring a high-quality radiotherapy service for the entire population of Ireland, including close collaboration with Northern Ireland, for services in the North West. I have committed once-off capital funding of around one third of the cost (up to a ceiling of €19 million) for the development of new radiotherapy facilities (3 linear accelerators) at Altnagelvin. The Service will be managed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust and commissioned by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland and the Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland. It will provide more locally accessible and timely services and improve patient travelling times for patients in the North Western area. The project is at Outline Business Case 2 stage and services are expected to commence at the centre in 2016.

Question No. 713 answered with Question No. 650.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (714)

Seamus Healy

Question:

714. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health in view of commitments to re-open closed beds at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, County Tipperary, if he will ensure that the re-opening of the beds will form part of the Health Service Executive West Service Plan 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/13]

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.

Dispensing Fees

Questions (715)

Simon Harris

Question:

715. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the criteria that is required for a person with a long term illness to avail of a reduced prescription charge; and when additional illnesses are present the level to which that reduction is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4354/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Medical 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.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (716)

Joe McHugh

Question:

716. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing a singular paediatric muscular unit as part of the planned national Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4357/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government decided on 6 November 2012 that the new children’s hospital should be co-located with St James’s Hospital on its campus. e new hospital, when ready, will bring together the three existing Dublin paediatric hospitals (Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, Children’s University Hospital Temple Street and the National Children’s Hospital, part of Tallaght Hospital) into one entity, providing secondary paediatric services for the Greater Dublin Area and tertiary paediatric services throughout Ireland. It will play a central role in an integrated network of paediatric services across Ireland. Decisions about the services and infrastructure to be provided at the hospital will be made in conjunction with the three existing paediatric hospitals and the Health Service Executive or its successor, and will be informed by best practice, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcomes for children.