Written Answers Nos. 522-540
522. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that the Health Service Executive are closing St. Joseph's House for the adult deaf and deaf blind; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is a unique nursing home for the deaf elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28865/13]
View answerGovernment policy in relation to the provision of health and personal services to people with a disability is to provide quality supports, including residential services, which facilitates their participation, to their full potential, in the economic and social life of their community. We will be moving from the approach that was predominantly centred on group based service delivery towards a model of person centred and individually chosen supports.
As St Joseph's residential centre Brewery Road, Stillorgan, Dublin is funded by the Health Service Executive the Department has referred your question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
523. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the final report on the wider issue of general transport for persons with disabilities has been submitted; if a decision has been reached on a replacement for the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if this replacement will run seamlessly after the final payment of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant to ensure that persons are not at a disadvantage; and if he will ensure that the replacement or alternative scheme will address the needs of all recipients equally nationwide. [28885/13]
View answerI understand that the work of the Review Group to review Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant is nearing completion. The final report of the Review Group, which will include consideration of the wider issue of accessible transport, will be presented to Government in the coming weeks.
On Wednesday 12th June, the Government decided to extend payments of Mobility Allowance by the Health Service Executive to those currently in receipt for a further number of months, pending establishment of new statutory provisions to support the mobility needs of people with severe disabilities, on the basis that this will prevent hardship, and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society. The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who have relied on individual payments of Mobility Allowance to support their independence and will take all of this into consideration when making a decision on future arrangements.
Following detailed consideration of the Interim Report of the Review Group the Government has decided that new statutory provisions will be established to provide individual payments to people with severe disabilities who require additional income to address the costs of their mobility needs. The Government has agreed that an inter-departmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, will now be asked to develop detailed proposals for the operation of the new scheme or schemes, including eligibility criteria and administrative arrangements, and should report back to Government by October.
The existing position regarding the Motorised Transport Grant remains as before, i.e. the scheme remains closed. The inter-departmental group will examine this issue as part of its considerations of how future statutory arrangements should operate.
524. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health his views that the appropriate training and qualifications are being adhered to by private and voluntary organisations who provide services under the Care of the Elderly service provision; if he will outline the standards that apply when a person is providing care in the home, in a day centre or in an institution; if he will outline the monitoring that takes place to ensure that no abuse or low standards of service provision are being missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28891/13]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2007, statutory responsibility is given to the Chief Inspector of Social Services, part of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), for the independent inspection and registration of all nursing homes, private and public. This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive regulatory framework and the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland.
All nursing homes are subject to the same core standards and regulations in relation to quality and safety in order to ensure the well-being of their residents. Standard 24 requires that “Staff receive induction and continued professional development and appropriate supervision”. The underlying criteria require that
- “All newly recruited care staff and those in post less than one year commence training to FETAC Level 5 or equivalent within two years of taking up employment. - - Long standing care staff have their competency and skills assessed to determine their need for further training and suitable arrangements are put in place to meet their identified needs”.
In relation to home care, the HSE, as part of the home care tender process introduced written standards of care in 2012. These standards covered such areas as:
- principles of service delivery
- confidentiality
- complaints procedure
- protection of service user
- consent policy
- governance and management
- workforce recruitment, training, staff development and supervision.
The purpose of these measures is to promote quality and safety and to provide a more standardised approach to service provision nationally.
The standards apply to all external providers, private and voluntary, who have been approved to provide home care funded through the Home Care Package Scheme. Each Local Health Office area monitors the service providers approved under this process to ensure that the standards are being adhered to. Audits are completed and quarterly reports are requested and reviewed. Supporting this is the ongoing monitoring and review carried out by healthcare professionals such as public health nurses.
HIQA introduced the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare in June 2012. These standards set out the key principles of quality and safety that apply to all healthcare services provided or funded by the HSE.
Building on both the residential care standards and Better Safer Healthcare, the HSE has developed draft National Quality Guidelines for Home Help Services. These guidelines are currently the subject of negotiations between the HSE and the relevant union under the auspices of the Labour Court.
Home Help Services, as well as services provided as part of a Home Care Package are reviewed regularly by HSE personnel to ensure that clients care needs are being met. In addition, the HSE complaints procedures are available to all service users where services are funded through the HSE. Complaints are monitored as an indicator of quality of care provided and to ensure that clients needs are supported.
525. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if any payments have been made by his Department or agencies under his control since 2007 to provide foreign holidays for persons or families; if so, the way payments were made; the total amount spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28894/13]
View answerMy Department has made no payments for the provision of foreign holidays for individuals or families. The position regarding the Health Service Executive (HSE) is a matter for the HSE. My Department has requested the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in this regard. The information in relation to the Non-Commercial State Agencies is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
526. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm if the inferred allocation of increased staffing has been approved for the New Accident and Emergancy Unit at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny in view of the fact that it is imperative that this matter is resolved prior to completion of the project to ensure that a new facility is not lying vacant due to lack of appropriate and relevant staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28907/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order 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. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
527. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if talks are taking place between health centres (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for the purpose of forming a primary care centre. [28914/13]
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.
528. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans to have the drug pirfenidone made available for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis based on economic grounds. [28923/13]
View answer548. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in negotiations with the manufacturers of the drug pirfenidone (details supplied); and when the drug will be available for reimbursement under the medical card scheme. [29132/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 548 together.
The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of pirfenidone and concluded that, at the submitted price, pirfenidone is not cost-effective for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie). The NCPE report is an important input to assist decision making and informs further discussions between the HSE and the manufacturer of the drug. The HSE has had negotiations with Intermune (the manufacturer of pirfenidone) in relation to the pricing of pirfenidone and is examining an offer made by Intermune. The offer will be assessed in the context of the procedures for the assessment of new medicines as per the 2012 agreement between IPHA, the HSE and the Department of Health. The HSE is carefully considering all the issues which arise in relation to the proposed benefits and costs of this medicine and expects to reach a decision in the near future.
529. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reasons the drug Lyrica, which is used to treat nerve ending damage in patients with diabetes, is not available on the long term illness scheme; the measures he is taking to make it available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28927/13]
View answerThe drug Lyrica is on the HSE's list of reimbursable items and is available under the Long Term Illness Scheme. I understand that this question refers to an individual case and is a matter for the relevant Local Health Office. The issue has, therefore, been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
530. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his plans to sanction the employment of public health/community nurses in Carlow/Kilkenny area; the reason sanction has not already given for these positions as part of an announcement made recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28936/13]
View answerIn 2012, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. The analysis revealed considerable variation across the HSE’s 17 Integrated Service Areas in ratios of health care professionals to population, and to population numbers in areas of high deprivation.
Based on this exercise, in 2013, Primary Care funding of €20 million, nationally, will be invested to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line primary care team posts and enhance the capacity of the primary care sector.
I issued approval to the HSE on the 27th March 2013 to commence recruitment to Primary Care Teams with immediate effect of the following additional 251 Primary Care posts:
- 70 Public Health Nurses;
- 37 Registered General Nurses;
- 51 Occupational Therapists;
- 46 Physiotherapists; and
- 47 Speech & Language Therapists.
The allocation and distribution of the above posts is based on bringing each Integrated Service Area, where staffing is below the national average, towards the national average. Those Integrated Service Areas, such as Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary, where staffing is already above the national average will not receive additional posts as part of this process.
531. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [28937/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
532. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an operation for a hip replacement will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and the reason for the delay in dealing with this matter [28939/13]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
533. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding Addison's disease to the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28945/13]
View answer537. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason those with spinal cord injuries are not in receipt of the long term illness card, in view of the fact that those with diabetes are entitled to the card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28996/13]
View answer545. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 11 June 2013 if he or officials in his Department have had discussions regarding plans to include Williams Syndrome on the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29050/13]
View answer557. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Lymphangioleiomyomatosis as a long term illness for the purposes of Health Service Executive benefits and associated schemes; the current supports/treatments and services available for persons diagnosed with the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29189/13]
View answer568. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if Addison's disease will be added to the list of illnesses on the long term illness scheme in view of the increase in the cost of essential medication to treat this life-long illness. [29282/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 533, 537, 545, 557 and 568 together.
The conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; Parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, 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. In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
534. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that an implementation plan for the national neurorehabilitation policy will not now be developed by his Department; the reason for this decision; if he will immediately review this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28950/13]
View answerThe aim of neuro-rehabilitation is to enable the person to achieve the highest possible level of independence. Desired outcomes range from a return to full independence in social and work situations to a person requiring long-term support and care but with a higher level of independence than in the absence of neuro-rehabilitation. Current services available include acute hospital services; the National Rehabilitation Hospital; multi-disciplinary community services; long-term assisted living supports; and rehabilitative training services. These services are provided directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and several non-statutory organisations.
The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have developed and published the “National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 - 2015”. In addition, the HSE is developing its Rehabilitation Medicine Programme within the Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate. The Report is the overarching policy on neuro-rehabilitation services and includes proposals for a framework for the future of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland, including key elements such as
- guiding principles;
- implementation structure;
- methodology for implementation; and
- information and communication.
The Report recognises that given the current economic climate, the focus in the short to medium term has to be on re-configuration of services, structures and resources and the enhancement of the skills and competencies required to meet the changing context.
The key priority areas, as identified in the HSE’s National Operational Plan for 2013 are to:
- Map and develop Integrated Service Area level rehabilitation networks;
- Implement the model of care for rehabilitation services within the networks with a focus on community rehabilitation.
The Rehabilitation Medicine Programme has been working in collaboration with the HSE's National Disability Unit as part of an expert Working Group planning for the implementation of the Report. The Rehabilitation Medicine Programme has incorporated key elements of the Report into its own Model of Care and adopted the Strategy’s recommendation of “hub and spoke” model for specialist rehabilitation services and is keen to progress with a comprehensive model for the continuation of such service into the community. This co-operation will continue in 2013.
535. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments made to State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011; the number of positions that have been advertised; the number of applications to the boards; the number of appointments to the boards that were drawn from the applications; the current number of vacancies on each board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28978/13]
View answerFor the period March 2011 to date, I have appointed a total of 252 people to boards under the aegis of my Department. Of these, 153 were appointments where I, as Minister for Health, have full discretion to nominate and appoint under the relevant legislation. The remaining 99 were appointed on foot of nominations by various bodies, again in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions. There has been a total of 29 advertising campaigns undertaken by the Public Appointments Service and my Department with 368 people applying for posts. Of the 153 appointments, where I have discretion to nominate and appoint, 61 were from applications received following the advertising processes.
The current number of vacancies on each board are as follows:
|
Board |
Number of Vacancies |
|
Dietitians Registration Board |
2 |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
2 |
|
Health Research Board |
2 |
|
Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
1 |
|
Medical Council |
1 |
|
National Haemophilia Council |
1 |
|
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
2 |
|
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland |
1 |
|
Social Workers Registration Board |
2 |
|
Speech and Language Therapists Board |
1 |
|
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland |
1 |
|
VHI |
1 |
|
National Cancer Registry |
2 |
|
Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal |
7 |
536. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the supports in place for patients with Huntington's disease; if his attention has been drawn to proposals to develop specialist clinics at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and University Hospital Galway; his plans to develop and implement these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28993/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
538. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding eye cataract surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29007/13]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
539. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the date on which a person (details provided) in County Cork will be transferred from Cork University Hospital to Ballincollig Community Nursing Home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29016/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
540. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on whether his Department has received an application for a National Lottery grant from an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if he will report on when a decision will be made in respect of this application. [29019/13]
View answerMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2013 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number currently being assessed by my Department, and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
