Written Answers Nos. 340-357
340. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average and longest waiting time for an outpatient appointment at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, Our Lady's Hospital Navan and James Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7926/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the NTPF has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time, clear and comprehensive data is available on www.ptr.ie. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. A maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment by 30 November 2013. In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time. 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.
341. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will list in tabular form staffing numbers and grade at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, in January 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 in the following categories, medical, dental, allied health and social care professionals, science/laboratory, management/admin/ICT, general support staff, technical and maintenance, catering and housekeeping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7927/13]
View answerThe detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to staffing numbers at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan is a matter for the HSE and, accordingly, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
342. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will list in tabular form, the primary care centres open or planned for County Meath; the staff number and grade therein; the date or planned date of opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7928/13]
View answerThe HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care Centres and the maintenance of existing health centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputies.
345. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that there are more than 100 children in County Kerry with autism spectrum disorder awaiting assessment for intervention services, the plans in place to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7966/13]
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.
348. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the approval of the drug ampligen as a reimbursable drug under the GMS in Ireland. [7975/13]
View answerBefore a medicine can be placed on the Irish market the manufacturer has to seek an authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) or in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines agency (EMA). In the case of Ampligen, because of the biotechnology nature of the active substance involved, any application for Ampligen to be made available to European patients has to be made to the EMA. I have no information on whether or not such an application has been received by the EMA. The current position, therefore, is that Ampligen has not been authorised to be placed on the market in Europe and consequently does not meet the criteria for reimbursement under the GMS and community drug schemes.
349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when agency workers employed by the Health Service Executive in a company (details supplied), will receive their full entitlement under the Agency Workers Directive; and when back payments will be made. [7976/13]
View answerFollowing the enactment of the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act in 2012, the HSE provided guidance to public service employers on the Act, including the fact that the equal pay provisions of the Act have retrospective effect to 5 December 2011. All agency staff employed through agencies contracted by the HSE have now had their basic pay adjusted in accordance with the Act. The question of payment of any outstanding retrospective amounts due to a specific company is a matter for the HSE, and as such, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
350. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing an application for a home care package in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will expedite a reply. [7978/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
351. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he has any other options to consider before all Guthrie cards from pre-2002 are destroyed; the way his Department is contacting parents of children whose records are involved to ask for their consent before they are destroyed; if an opt out consent system is being considered by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7986/13]
View answerIn late 2009 the Data Protection Commissioner received a complaint from a member of the public on the retention of NSCs. The basis of the complaint, which was upheld by the Data Protection Commissioner, was that NSCs should not be retained indefinitely without consent as this breached the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003. There followed a series of meetings between the Deputy Data Protection Commissioner, representatives from my Department, the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, which resulted in the decision to destroy existing cards that are older than ten years. I received representations from a number of people and organisations, who pointed out their potential value for research. Consequently, I requested the HSE to conduct a review of the decision to destroy these cards. This review examined both the legal and ethical basis for retention of NSCs and the potential use of the existing cards for research purposes. The report and recommendations of the review group were submitted to me in January 2012. The review group supported the decision to destroy cards more than ten years old. Following careful consideration I accepted this recommendation.
However, the review group also explored how the cards could be made available to the research community in a way which is compatible with ethical and legal obligations. It must be remembered that there is no written consent from parents for the retention or use of these newborn screening cards taken before 2002 for research, or other, purposes. In line with its recommendations, the HSE has begun an information campaign offering people the opportunity to have their screening card returned to them, prior to any cards being destroyed. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy setting out how people can donate, or give consent for the donation of, NSCs for research purposes; and providing details of their information campaign.
352. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on implementation of the programme for Government commitment in respect of the proposed extension of the Neary redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/13]
View answerA commitment was made in the programme for Government to seek a mechanism to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone from the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme. The scheme of redress approved by Government in 2007 was a non-statutory, ex-gratia scheme. Awards were determined by an independent redress board in 2007 and 2008. My Department has been engaged in a review to identify the most appropriate mechanism to compensate these women. This review has included taking instructions and legal advice, including advice from the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to bringing proposals to Government for a decision. This process is ongoing, and it is my intention that it will be brought to a satisfactory, legally sound conclusion as quickly as possible.
354. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when the first phase of the national asthma programme will be implemented; the initial actions that will be taken in order to implement the programme; the deadlines for these actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8003/13]
View answer355. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the reason implementation of the national asthma programme was not prioritised in the 2013 Health Service Executive service plan in view of the fact that there are 470,000 persons in Ireland with asthma, that more than one person per week dies from asthma and in view of the fact that it is a chronic respiratory disease that is particularly prevalent in children, with one in five children here suffering from the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8004/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together.
The HSE is developing programmes to manage patients with chronic diseases in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in best health outcomes, enhanced clinical decision making and the most effective use of resources. The following priority programmes are particularly relevant to primary care: Stroke; Heart Failure; Asthma; Diabetes; and COPD. The Diabetes programme is the most advanced. The delivery of the National Asthma Programme (NAP) is a priority for progression in primary care settings in 2013. 85% of asthma is managed in primary care, which is in line with the Government's policy of providing care as close as possible to the patient's home. The overarching aim of the NAP is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with asthma in Ireland and to improve clinical outcomes and the quality of life of all patients with asthma. A key component is improved management of people with asthma in primary care and thereby, avoiding emergency attendance at General Practitioner (GP) out-of-hours services, hospital emergency departments and in-patient admission services. The target is to reduce bed days by 10% per year over three years through implementing the programme’s asthma guidelines and national model of care, which is in development. The model of care document will be available by the end of Quarter 1, 2013. In 2011, the first year of programme implementation, there was an 8% reduction in acute hospital bed days for acute asthma.
The initial focus of the work of the NAP has been on the development and implementation of national asthma guidelines based on international best practice, both for acute care and ongoing asthma management. The National Model of Care for Asthma will detail how physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals will work with engaged patients to make the clinical decisions most appropriate to their circumstances and to collaborate with specialist colleagues in providing a safe, seamless experience through their journey within the health system in Ireland. This includes a model for the management of asthma in primary care and the necessary links with secondary specialist services.
It is reported that one person dies from asthma each week, however, the most recent year of validated data is 2009. Studies on asthma deaths internationally, such as Confidential Enquiries in the UK, have shown that up to 90% of asthma deaths have preventable factors. The NAP is developing a proposal to undertake a similar study. Adult Emergency Asthma Guidelines were published in November 2011 and are available on www.hse.ie. These guidelines are being revised at present and will be submitted to the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC). Paediatric Emergency Asthma Guidelines have also been developed and will be available for circulation by the end of Q1, 2013. Asthma Control in General Practice (guidelines for managing a patient with asthma in primary care) have been developed and recently approved by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). These are currently being circulated.
A self-learning asthma e-learning 6 modular theoretical programme, based on the national evidenced based guidelines and developed by NAP in conjunction with the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI), is available on http://www.hseland.ie and www.asthmasociety.ie for any health care professional who wishes to update their knowledge. This will enable healthcare professionals to underpin their skill sets with theory. There is also a similar programme available for GPs on the ICGP website.
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the determination of entitlement to a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8007/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
357. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when it will be possible to arrange for the further promised assessment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8008/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
