Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 474-85

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (474, 475, 476)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

474. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no full-time rheumatologist operating in Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14185/13]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

475. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the average length of time a person in County Kerry has to wait to see a consultant rheumatologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14186/13]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

476. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant rheumatologist in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14187/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 to 476, inclusive, together.

Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time, data is available on www.ntpf.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 resources to be targeted towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment.

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 specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Questions (477)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

477. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that young nurses in County Cork and in County Galway are being given three month contracts in view of the fact that nurses in County Kerry are being given two week contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14188/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Workplace Safety

Questions (478)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

478. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a psychiatric nurse is entitled to a smoke-free work place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14190/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy is aware smoking is prohibited in most enclosed workplaces under Section 47 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004. It should be noted that the exemption in the case of psychiatric hospitals was intended to cover cases that might arise with persons with serious mental health issues who require constant observation and where staff/client safety would be an issue if the client had to go outside to smoke. In the case of the majority of clients there should be no need to avail of this exemption and nothing in the legislation obliges employers in exempted premises to permit smoking. In any event, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 provides that 'every employer shall ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all employees'. Therefore, while psychiatric hospitals are exempt from the smoking ban, employers continue to have a duty of care to their employees and a statutory responsibility to provide a reasonably safe working environment.

The 'HSE Best Practice Guidelines for Tobacco Management in the Mental Health Setting' were drafted to assist employers in the management of tobacco use in the mental health setting, taking into account the exemption from legislation and the continuing duty of care to health care workers to ensure minimum exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The Guidelines state that: Smoking is prohibited in all work areas, common areas and facilities used by staff, clients and visitors in the organisation, including transport; if smoking areas are designated, they should be completely separate from non-smoking areas and all efforts should be made to reduce time spent there by smokers; the designation of indoor smoking facilities may only be provided, if appropriate, in extreme circumstances and the decision to do so has been recorded and reviewed by a senior manager; management is responsible for ensuring that every effort is made to provide staff with a smoke free working environment; mental health services staff may only smoke at official break times, in external designated smoking areas or facilities, away from entrances.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (479)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

479. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to meet with the Sound support group for children who developed narcolepsy from the Pandemrix injection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14191/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Both myself and officials from my Department, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education and Skills have met with the relevant advocacy group on a number of occasions, to address their concerns and to outline the services available. My priority is to ensure that children/adolescents affected by narcolepsy with symptom onset post pandemic vaccination are provided with services and supports to meet their health needs. My Department is considering all possible supports which may need to be put in place for those affected by Narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination. A further meeting with representatives from the support group will be arranged when the matter has been concluded.

Thalidomide Victim Compensation

Questions (480)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

480. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 651 of 12 March 2013, the timeline involved in his proposal to provide health care protocol to the survivors of Thalidomide involving the appointment and training of a multi-disciplinary team, identifying and documenting their healthcare needs and developing plans to address those needs; the reason he has not engaged with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the specific accommodation needs of some survivors, that is, housing adaptation and so on, as part of a holistic approach as suggested by the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14211/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has developed a health care protocol for Irish survivors of Thalidomide which envisages the identification and documentation of survivors' health care needs and the development of plans to address those needs, following an evaluation by a trained, multi-disciplinary team. The Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society has stated that it is not willing to engage with this process. Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of a means tested Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, which can assist people with a physical. sensory or intellectual disability or mental health difficulty to make changes and adaptations to their home to make it more suitable in which to live.

Health Care Inflation

Questions (481)

Joe McHugh

Question:

481. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health his views on inflation in healthcare prices here and across the European Union; if he will update Dáil Éireann on any relevant EU discussions in which his Department is engaged; if he will compare Irish health care inflation trends since 2005 with Dutch health care inflation trends; if he will identify sources for relevant statistical data; if his Department has conducted any relevant statistical analysis since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14216/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The principal source of statistical data on health care inflation across the European Union (EU) is the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). This measures the average level of prices paid for consumer goods and services by all private households in a country. The index can be subdivided depending on types of consumption. The health category includes prices of medical products, appliances and equipment, hospital and outpatient costs, and services supplied by doctors, dentists, opticians etc. and other health care practitioners including alternative medicine.

Over the period from the year 2005 to January 2013, Ireland records the third highest rate of inflation in the EU 15 and the twelfth highest rate in the EU 27 in the health category of the HICP. By comparison, the Netherlands had the highest rate of inflation of the EU 15 countries over the period, and ranked seventh highest in the EU 27.

The most recent year of available data for Ireland shows a marked change in these rankings. For the period February 2012 to January 2013, Ireland recorded the sixth lowest inflation rate in the EU 15 and the ninth lowest in the EU 27. For the same period, the Netherlands, by comparison, showed the second highest rate of inflation for both the EU 15 and the EU 27 countries. It should be noted that the health category of the HICP refers specifically to prices paid by consumers of health care products and services. It does not measure the cost to the Health Service Executive (HSE) in providing treatment and as such does not reflect changes in the cost of inter alia human resources, medications and professional fees.

Home Care Packages

Questions (482)

Michael McGrath

Question:

482. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will review the provision of home care assistance in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork to ensure it is adequate for their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14218/13]

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.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (483)

Willie Penrose

Question:

483. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if there has been a reduction negotiated in the past two years in respect of medical costs associated with medical treatment provided by medical personnel; his policy regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14221/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It is the policy of my Department to reduce costs wherever possible. Details of specific reductions achieved will be forwarded to the Deputy in the near future.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (484)

John Browne

Question:

484. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [14227/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (485)

John Browne

Question:

485. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive a hospital appointment. [14228/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time, data is available on www.ntpf.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 resources to be targeted towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment.

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 specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Question No. 486 answered with Question No. 446.