Thursday, 25 Apr 2013

Written Answers Nos. 205 - 215

Water Fluoridation

Questions (205)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding artificial water fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, monitors new and emerging issues on fluoride and its effects. It advises that the balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, at the optimal level, does not cause any ill effects and is the safest and most cost effective method of protecting the oral health of the population. The effects of fluoridation on health and related matters are kept under constant review. The material to which the Deputy refers is a generic letter, which has already been received and forwarded to the Expert Body for examination. I will write to the Deputy separately to deal with the issues raised in the letter.

Question No. 206 answered with Question No. 204.

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Questions (207)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

207. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that persons (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive the refund owed to them by the Health Service Executive due to an overpayment of the monthly €120 prescribed by the drug payment scheme over the periods from March to December 2011 and January to August 2012, in view of the fact that at that time the guidelines for the drug payment scheme clearly stated that a person or family only had to pay €120 each month for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by that person or their family in that month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19517/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE is responsible for the administration of the Drug Payment Scheme; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Questions (208)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

208. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of scheduled surgical procedures and treatments cancelled or postponed in the past year at University Hospital Galway owing to lack of availability of hospital beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19522/13]

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.

Accident and Emergency Services Provision

Questions (209)

Robert Troy

Question:

209. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an issue regarding availability of medical care at an accident and emergency in the eye and ear hospital in Dublin (details supplied); his views on whether this level of care is acceptable; and if he will ensure adequate cover is provided in hospitals. [19523/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Maternity Services

Questions (210)

Clare Daly

Question:

210. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of non-national maternal deaths using MDE classifications rather than CSO classifications that have occured here. [19524/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Statistics on causes of death are based on civil registration and compiled internationally by the World Health Organisation. In the most recent World Health Statistics Annual Report (2012), Ireland had the 13th lowest rate of maternal mortality out of 178 countries reporting data. It is generally recognised internationally that official vital statistics can result in an underestimate of maternal deaths. In particular, indirect obstetric deaths resulting from previous existing disease or diseases which developed during the pregnancy may be missed in the official statistics. For this reason, Ireland established a Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry (MDE) system in 2009. In doing so, it linked itself with the United Kingdom’s Confidential MDE which has been acknowledged as a gold standard for maternal death enquiry in recent decades.

The MDE report shows that 75.4 per cent of maternities in Ireland in 2010 were women of Irish nationality and that 40% of all maternal deaths identified in the triennium 2009-2011 occurred in women who were not born in Ireland. There were 25 maternal deaths in the period, and 10 of these deaths were women not born in Ireland. The report draws attention to how these women engage with Irish maternity services and the importance of the availability of interpretive services. A particular concern was the issue of engagement with the services by non-national patients in receipt of alternative medical advice from outside the country.

In order to improve standardisation and to drive service quality, the HSE's National Clinical Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology has been working on the development of national clinical guidelines; to date, 20 guidelines have been developed, eight are under review and a further 20 have been commissioned. It is important to state that no matter what definitions are used or how case ascertainment is conducted, that Ireland continues to be a very safe country for a woman to give birth and our safety record compares favourably with other developed countries.

Departmental Legal Cases

Questions (211)

Clare Daly

Question:

211. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of High Court maternity cases which have involved non-nationals. [19525/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I understand that this question has been clarified with the Deputy and that she is seeking information concerning how many Irish high court maternity cases have involved non-nationals being brought to court by medical practitioners to compel them to undergo a procedure for which they do not give their consent. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available within the health system. As Minister for Health I have no function in court cases that have not been taken by or against the State in relation to health care.

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Questions (212)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

212. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the annual cost per patient for the supply of Kalydeco, the cystic fibrosis drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19529/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Dr. James Reilly TD, Minister for Health announced, on the 1st February 2013, that Kalydeco, a new innovative medicine for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients who have the G551D mutation, would be made available for patients in Ireland from the 1st of March. The projected costs for the provision of Kalydeco to patients was estimated at over €234,000 per patient per annum in the assessment carried out by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. Following successful confidential commercial negotiations between the HSE and the manufacturer, a mechanism was agreed whereby the drug could be made available to patients while at the same time significantly reducing the budget impact of the drug. The treatment cost per patient per annum is commercially confidential.

Mobility Allowance Decision

Questions (213)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the proposed new alternative scheme to the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if he will outline if representative bodies have been involved in consultations relating to the new scheme to replace this grant; if he will provide a timeframe for the introduction of a new scheme; if the new proposal will be in place by 1 July 2013; if current holders have to reapply or if their existing certificates will be accepted in the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19536/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A Project Group, which is independently chaired, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the priority transport needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. In advance of the establishment of the Project Group, Department of Health officials met with representatives of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association at my request. The work of the Project Group is being supported by the National Disability Authority and includes representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, an independent service user and advocate for people with disabilities and a retired County Council Manager with relevant experience. Both Minister Reilly and myself have instructed the Project Group to seek solutions across the whole of Government, so that alongside representatives from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, membership also includes representatives from Pobal and from the Departments of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Environment, Community and Local Government, Social Protection and Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.

The work of the Project Group includes a public consultation process, which is currently underway. Any views held by individuals or organisations on this matter can be made known to the Project Group, through this process. The Group who will report to Government next month, has met four times, with the next meeting scheduled for 29th April. The results of the review will be presented to the Government before any final decisions are made on future arrangements. At this stage, I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of Government.

Health Services Provision

Questions (214)

Finian McGrath

Question:

214. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17. [19546/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to refer the Deputy to my answer to his question of 28 March last. I have also asked the Health Service Executive to follow up on his further query.

Organ Donation

Questions (215)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

215. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans for an opt out organ transplant system; the work his Department is doing to investigate if this system could work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Programme for Government envisages the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation, with a view to improving the availability of organs for patients in need of transplantation. This will of course require detailed consideration and further consultation and I am developing proposals for Government on this matter. In addition to consent systems, there is evidence from other countries that good co-ordination at hospital level and counselling arrangements for relatives are significant factors in achieving high organ donation rates. In conjunction with the HSE's National Organ Donation and Transplantation Office I am also examining what practices and organisational changes could further improve donation rates in this country.

The Deputy may also wish to note that following discussions between my Department and the Road Safety Authority, the new Driving Licence Application Form contains a question asking applicants if they would like a code to be placed on their driving licence indicating their wish to become an organ donor. Since the introduction of a new type of driving licence on 19 January, the code that will appear on new driving licences issued to people who indicate that they wish to become an organ donor, is 115. My Department has written to the National Organ Donation and Transplantation Office and the Regional Directors of Operations in the HSE asking them to alert relevant hospital staff to this initiative and to the code which will appear on new driving licences of people who wish to donate. My Department is also in discussion with the Department of Social Protection with a view to including a similar code on the Public Services Card.