Tuesday, 12 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 638-647

Medical Card Applications

Questions (638)

Barry Cowen

Question:

638. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [6710/13]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (639)

Barry Cowen

Question:

639. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [6711/13]

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.

Orthodontic Service Provision

Questions (640, 657)

Pat Breen

Question:

640. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 648 of the 20 November 2012, if the independent review of orthodontic services commissioned by the Health Service Executive has been finalised; if not when he expects same to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6719/13]

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

657. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when he expects to have the review into the provision of orthodontic services concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6820/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 657 together.

The HSE review of orthodontic services is under way. It is anticipated that a report for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health will be ready by the end of the second quarter of 2013.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (641, 658, 694, 705, 712)

Tom Fleming

Question:

641. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will open the new epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital and the redeveloped unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that they remain unopened despite the completion of the units in the autumn of 2012 at an estimated spend of €900,000; if he will take into consideration that there are currently no functioning EMUs anywhere in the State, a situation unacceptable to those living with epilepsy and that in the region of 260 people are now awaiting monitoring, many to be assessed for potentially life-changing surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6724/13]

Seán Kenny

Question:

658. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a date when the epilepsy monitoring unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, will be fully opened; if he will allocate all necessary staff to the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6826/13]

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

694. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health his plans in regard to the opening of the newly prepared epilepsy monitoring units at Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital; if he will confirm that at present there is no functioning EMU in the State; if he will provide an exemption from generic substitution for anti-epileptic drugs in forthcoming legislation as recommended by advocates on behalf of epileptics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7141/13]

Clare Daly

Question:

705. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to sanction all necessary recruitment of nurses, and EEG technologists to allow the epilepsy monitoring units in Cork and Beaumont hospitals to open without further delay. [7197/13]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

712. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason people suffering from epilepsy are not having the systems put in place to take care of them in view of the fact that this is a very dangerous condition; if it has been highlighted in recent times as the systems in place are inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7257/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 641, 658, 694, 705 and 712 together.

The National Clinical Care Programme for Epilepsy is one of a number of National Clinical Care Programmes established by the HSE and now in various stages of development. These Programmes have three main objectives – to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost-effectiveness. Their primary aim is to modernise the way hospital services are provided across a wide range of clinical areas. This is being done through standardising access to and delivery of high quality, safe and efficient hospital services and maximising linkages to primary care and other community services. Cork and Beaumont are two of six regional centres which have been identified for the provision of specialist epilepsy services under the Clinical Care Programme for Epilepsy. It is intended that services will be provided by a team of nurses and consultant neurologists working as a virtual national network supporting all acute and primary care locations. Rapid Access Clinics (separate to the Epilepsy Monitoring Units) have been developed at four of centres so far and 10.5 (WTE) Advanced Nurse Practitioners have been recruited to lead these clinics, so that a total of 12 Advanced Nurse Practitioners are now in place across the four centres. When the Epilepsy Monitoring Units in CUH and Beaumont are open, they will increase pre-surgical evaluation capacity. Monitoring is required for the most vulnerable patients with the worst effects of epilepsy and their development is therefore a priority for the Programme. Patients at these units will require 24/7 care. The staffing requirements to enable the units to be safely opened have been identified.

With regard to recruitment, the Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced 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 within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. I understand that the normal processes will apply to the HSE’s decisions regarding the recruitment of the required staff in CUH and Beaumont. With regard to Beaumont, the HSE has advised that Beaumont Hospital and the HSE are working jointly to fill the posts necessary to support service development. I am advised that the staffing required for the unit includes five staff nurses, one consultant neurophysiologist and three technicians. Of these, three staff nurse posts and one technician post remain to be recruited. I am informed that this is being prioritised. The recruitment of nursing personnel is a key element to facilitate phased opening of the unit as nursing staff come into post. With regard to Cork, the HSE has advised that the Service Plan for 2013 for CUH is being drawn up currently and will be finalised in the coming weeks, and that the provision of additional staff for the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit is being considered as part of that process.

With regard to the issue of exemption from generic substitution of anti-epileptic drugs, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill, the Irish Medicines Board has statutory responsibility for establishing and publishing a List of Interchangeable Medicinal Products. In making a decision to add a medicinal product to a group of interchangeable medicinal products or a group of medicinal products to the List of Interchangeable Medicinal Products, the board is obliged to have regard to the criteria set out in the Bill. These criteria fully reflect the recommendations set out in the Joint Department of Health/HSE report "Proposed Model of Reference Pricing and Generic Substitution" (the Moran Report, 2010) regarding criteria for interchangeability. To further enhance the patient safety aspect of generic substitution, section 13 of the Bill allows a prescriber to indicate on a prescription that a branded interchangeable medicinal product should, for clinical reasons, not be substituted. I am satisfied that these provisions address the concerns raised. I met the Irish Epilepsy Association in January and explained this position.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (642)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

642. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a person (details supplied) suffering from multiple sclerosis, whose condition is deteriorating; if he will provide clarification on when this patient may expect an appointment to alleviate their pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6732/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (643)

Dan Neville

Question:

643. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 771 of 5 January 2013 the position regarding a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6735/13]

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (644, 645)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

644. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when Sligo Regional Hospital will start accepting outpatient referrals for urology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6737/13]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

645. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the supports and assistance being given to Sligo Regional Hospital to manage the increasing referrals and the backlog for its urology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6738/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 together.

In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.

Child Care Services Provision

Questions (646)

Pat Deering

Question:

646. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if the Holy Angels Day Care Centre in Carlow will be included in the Health Service Executive Service Plan 2013. [6751/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Staff

Questions (647)

Pat Deering

Question:

647. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the total number of agency staff employed in acute public hospitals in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and the cost of same. [6752/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to agency staff is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.