Written Answers Nos. 523-532
523. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by his Department to redress the damage done as a result of the administration of the black leg vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13917/13]
View answerThe issues contained in the Report of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group are complex. They need to be considered in the wider context of how best to address the long term health and social needs of people who may have experienced adverse outcomes from all healthcare interventions.
524. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he has received a copy of the Walsh Report; if so, the date on which he received same; when it will be published; if he will explain the delay in bringing the report to the public domain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13919/13]
View answerI have not yet received a copy of this report. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has commissioned an independent research report in relation to the practice of symphysiotomy in Ireland. The research included a consultation process involving patient groups, health professionals and in particular the women who have experienced symphysiotomy. The researcher is currently finalising the report based on the consultation and it is also planned to have a peer review process. It is hoped that the report will be published early in 2013.
My first priority is to ensure that the women who have had this procedure have their health needs comprehensively and professionally met. In this regard, the HSE provides a range of services to women who continue to suffer the effects of having had this procedure. These services include the provision of medical cards, the availability of independent clinical advice and the organisation of individual pathways of care and the arrangement of appropriate follow-up.
525. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider placing an upper limit cap on the amount charged when a patient is in receipt of a number of prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13885/13]
View answerMedical 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. 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.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
526. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on research carried out by the National Coalition for Vision Health here which indicates that the 220,000 already suffering sight loss could rise to 272,000 by 2020 and that the majority of these cases may be medically managed to prevent sight loss moving to total blindness; if he will make the additional resources required available as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13920/13]
View answerThere are detection and treatment services available at present, in the community and in acute hospital settings, for many conditions which can lead to vision impairment and blindness. The Department's priorities are to continue to identify and address ophthalmic defects noticed at child health and/or school health examinations; to provide free eye examinations and free spectacles to all adult medical card holders; to screen for diabetic retinopathy and to reduce long waiting lists.
527. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a new chief dental officer will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/13]
View answer528. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a new chief nursing officer will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.
The current moratorium on the filling of posts has meant that my Department has not been in a position to fill the posts of Chief Dental Officer and Chief Nursing Officer. Future decisions on these posts will be taken against the backdrop of my Department's need to balance the delivery of business priorities with falling levels of overall resources.
529. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the destruction of guthrie cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13902/13]
View answer538. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health in view of the recent polling that indicates that the vast majority of the public is unaware of the impending destruction of Guthrie cards, if he will reconsider disposing of them; if the issue could be re-examined in view of the fact that the generic diagnosis issue was not addressed in the policy review; if the issue will be addressed in the context of the forthcoming Human Tissue Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13956/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 538 together.
In 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. This is to rectify a situation which had developed and which, in the words of the Data Protection Commissioner, "...was unlawful and could not be allowed to continue".
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.
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. As Deputies are aware, Part 4 of the Disability Act 2005 deals with genetic testing. Section 42.1 (b) which states that genetic testing shall not be carried out on a person unless "the consent of the person to the processing of any genetic data to be derived from the testing has been obtained in accordance with the Acts". Sections 41.3 and 41.4 also point out what information should be provided to people before processing of genetic information and make clear it is an offence to process genetic information without the consent of the person concerned.
In line with its recommendations, the HSE began an information campaign offering people the opportunity to have their screening card returned to them. This campaign will run until 31 March 2013, after which the retrieval procedure will begin. I have been assured that no material will be disposed of before all requests received before 31 March 2013 have been processed.
530. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the number of claims under the Equal Status Acts 2000 - 2008, made since January 2009 against his Department or the Health Service Executive, arising from the application of an upper age limit in the case of the mobility allowance, and which were referred to the Director of the Equality Tribunal; the number of such claims which have been settled by his Department and or the HSE prior to an Equality Officer hearing; the most recent date on which such a claim has been settled ans if there have been settlements; and the terms on which such claims have been settled [13946/13]
View answerOne complaint was made to the Equality Tribunal against the Department of Health under the Equal Status Acts on the grounds of age discrimination relating to a refusal of the Mobility Allowance. The Health Service Executive was also a named respondent.
A settlement was agreed prior to a hearing on the matter, which was scheduled for 4 March 2013. I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with details of the settlement as the terms of the settlement included a confidentiality clause.
I have asked the HSE to provide details of any other Equality Tribunal complaints it may have received since 2009 in respect of the age limit for the Mobility Allowance and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
531. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is awaiting a surgical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13906/13]
View answerAs the Deputy's query relates to operational matters for the Health Service Executive, this question has been forwarded to the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
532. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the possibility of contracting narcolepsy from the flu vaccine in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if there are many persons here to whom this has happened; the number of persons; and the reason he has ceased communication with the support group Sound which is working with victims of this affliction in County Kilkenny, when support measures were promised as far back as April 2012. [13932/13]
View answerIn a number of studies in European countries including Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, there is a reported association between vaccination against Pandemic H1N1 (2009) and subsequent development of narcolepsy. In Ireland, the report of National Steering Committee on Narcolepsy (2012) concludes that an observed 13-fold increase in the incidence of narcolepsy in children/adolescents in Ireland since 2009 is associated with Pandemrix. The Irish Medicines Board has reported 42 such cases to my Department. My priority is to ensure that those affected by narcolepsy with symptom onset post pandemic vaccination are provided with services and supports to meet their health needs.
The HSE and the Department of Education and Skills together provide a comprehensive range of services and supports to those affected. These supports and services include access to rapid diagnosis, clear treatment pathways, temporary medical cards and reimbursement of expenses incurred. This includes expenses for counselling services for individuals and also for families of children affected by narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination in cases where such services are not already available through the HSE. Multi-disciplinary assessments which allow for the appropriate individualised health and educational supports to be put in place are ongoing. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is also engaging with the HSE and with the individual schools and parents of children concerned to identify and provide educational supports for the children and adolescents affected.
Myself, officials from my Department and representatives from the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills have met representatives of the support group SOUND on a number of occasions to address their concerns and to outline the services available. The Health Service Executive advocacy unit is in regular contact with the support group SOUND. Through regional co-ordinators the HSE also has frequent contact with individual members of SOUND. 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.
