Written Answers Nos. 200-209
200. 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 whose application is awaiting decision by the medical officer in PCRS since October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4850/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
201. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4861/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to vacancies on the boards of organisations or agencies under my aegis is not readily available, but I will forward a detailed reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
202. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the post of national clinic lead for the audiology clinical care programme has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4867/13]
View answer203. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in implementing the increase of staff levels in audiology as recommended in the Health Service Executive national audiology review group report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4868/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.
The HSE National Audiology Review Group Report, published in April 2011, made recommendations to address inconsistencies and shortcomings in audiology services including recommendations on governance and staffing matters. The HSE audiology service currently employs 72.37 Whole Time Equivalents (WTEs). A new post of National Clinical Lead for Audiology will take up appointment on 1 March 2013. Four Assistant National Lead posts for Audiology will be advertised shortly. All five Leads will have management and clinical duties. In addition 12 new Audiologists will be recruited in October 2013. This will lead to 17 additional posts by year end reflecting a 23% increase in the audiology workforce.
204. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred to the Health Service Executive on annual basis since 2008 due to tobacco related illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4881/13]
View answerSmoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland, killing over 5,200 people a year. In high income countries, such as Ireland, smoking related health care costs account for 6-15% of all annual health care costs. The average cost per admission of treating a smoker in an in-patient setting for a tobacco related illness is €7,700. As this is a service matter, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
205. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a Vision For Change supports the provision of community based mental health services; if his attention has been drawn to the threat to the continued operation of a community mental health clinic (details supplied) in County Cork by the removal of secretarial support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4886/13]
View answerA Vision for Change sets out a comprehensive framework for the development of all mental health services and recommends a move away from the traditional institutional based model of care to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service, where need for hospital admission is greatly reduced, while still providing in-patient care when appropriate. This Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community and in this regard substantial additional funding has been provided in 2012 and 2013 primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams, to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems, and to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities. 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.
206. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason the recent breakthrough drug available in Britain to cystic fibrosis sufferers is not being made available here; and his views on the Health Service Executive's approach to addressing the shortfall in services and facilities to help cystic fibrosis sufferers here. [4899/13]
View answer209. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding negotiations between the Health Service Executive and a company (details supplied) for a price reduction on the cystic fibrosis drug, Kalydeco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4911/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 209 together.
The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of Kalydeco (generic name: Ivacaftor) in the GMS and community drugs schemes which is being considered in line with the procedures agreed with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). These include clearly documented processes and timelines for the assessment of new medicines in as timely a fashion as possible. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducts a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) which provides detailed information on the potential budget impact of the medicine. It also assesses whether the medicine is cost effective at the price quoted by the company in question.
The NCPE published its report on the cost-effectiveness of Kalydeco on 21 January. The report concluded that “In view of the very high drug acquisition cost, the significant budget impact, the absence of long term clinical data and the fact that the company has failed to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of ivacaftor we cannot recommend reimbursement of ivacaftor at the submitted price of €234,804 per patient per annum. A mechanism such as a performance based risk sharing scheme and/or a significant reduction in price could facilitate access to ivacaftor treatment for cystic fibrosis patients with the G551D CFTR mutation”.
The NCPE report is an important input to assist decision making and will help inform the next stage of the process which involves further discussions with the manufacturer of the drug, in accordance with the aforementioned procedures agreed with the pharmaceutical industry. The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of Kalydeco that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. The HSE understands that patients, the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and clinicians are very anxious that a decision be made as soon as possible. No further comment is possible at this time as the decision making process is ongoing.
207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if an application for funding (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reconsidered in view of the essential services it provides in the community. [4900/13]
View answerApplications for National Lottery grants far exceed resources and as the funds available for 2012 have been disbursed it is not possible, unfortunately, to assist in this particular case. However, if funding for this project is required in 2013, the organisation may wish to apply for a grant from the 2013 National Lottery allocation.
208. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of non-consultant hospital doctors regarding working hours and conditions and who may be forced to seek work abroad because of the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4907/13]
View answer211. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to end the practice of junior doctors working excessively long hours in contravention of S.I. No. 494 of 2004 European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4944/13]
View answer225. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to ensure that doctors and medical professionals in the health service, such as non-consultant doctors, are employed on contracts with suitable rest periods and time off which is vital for the well-being of the medical professional as well as for upholding the high standard of patient care [5005/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 211 and 225 together.
The Government is committed to achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive in respect of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) by 2014. I have emphasised to the HSE the high priority the Government and I attach to this issue. In January 2012, a detailed plan for the achievement of compliance by NCHDs with the Working Time Directive was submitted to the EU Commission. The plan affirmed Ireland's commitment to achieving compliance with the Directive over a three-year time period. It committed to implementing the measures necessary, including: the implementation of new work patterns for medical staff, transfer of work undertaken by NCHDs to other grades, and the organisation of hospital services to support compliance. The Health Service Executive's Service Plan for 2013 specifically recognises the need to address the issue as a priority, stating that there will be a particular focus in the acute hospital service on the achievement of compliance with the European Working Time Directive amongst the non-consultant hospital doctor workforce, in line with the Implementation Plan submitted to the Commission in 2012.
The HSE is currently finalising its National Operational Plan to support the implementation of the National Service Plan 2013. This will specify in greater detail the actions to be taken during the year in relation to EWTD compliance. A key priority for the HSE in 2013 will be a further reduction of average weekly hours worked and also a reduction in the duration of shifts undertaken. S.I. No. 494 of 2004 European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive for doctors in training, provides for:
- A maximum 48 hour average working week;
- A 30 minute rest break every 6 hours during period on-site on-call
- 11 hours rest every 24 hours or equivalent compensatory rest before return to work; and
- 35 hours continuous rest per week or twice a fortnight or 59 hours continuous rest per fortnight.
The 2010 Contract of Employment for NCHDs, which these staff sign on appointment, reflects the above provisions. The contract also provides that NCHDs shall not be required to work more than 24 consecutive hours on-site. A related agreement between the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation provides that the contract is subject to the requirements of the Directive.
