Written Answers Nos. 565 - 583
565. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the proposed general practitioner follow-up care of breast cancer patients, as launched by the national cancer control programme, is not covered by the current GMS contract and that medical card patients may be charged by GPs for that care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40397/13]
View answerBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in Ireland, but outcomes are good and improving. There is a growing body of evidence internationally that long term hospital based clinical follow up of well women with a history of breast cancer is not required and confers no additional benefit to the women.
Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP free of charge. Under this contract, GPs already accept clinical responsibility for their patients who have been discharged from consultant care back into the community. The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has developed a follow-up care plan for women who have been discharged from out patient clinics following their treatment from breast cancer. This follow-up care plan is evidence-based and follows best international practice. The plan is aimed at patients who have completed their treatment, who are well, have had no recurrence after five years and continue to have a good outcome. It is a plan for well women to enable them to remain healthy and is not an active cancer care plan.
566. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the procedure whereby complaints to the Health Service Executive from members of the public are processed; the length of time it is taking to adjudicate on complaints; if any changes are planned in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40419/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct response.
567. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of haemachromatosis sufferers currently on the waiting list for venesection; the timeframe a person joining the list may expect to be waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40421/13]
View answerThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has commenced a new phlebotomy service for people who suffer from hereditary haemochromatosis. At present this involves a two year pilot programme which has been available in Dublin since 19 August 2013. It is expected to be made available in Cork before the end of the year. People who wish to use the service must get a prescription from their GP or hospital clinic on an IBTS form which is available at www.giveblood.ie. The prescription will be valid for one year and will provide for up to four venesections per person per year. There will be no charge for this service irrespective of medical entitlement or health insurance cover. 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.
568. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive was aware of the continued success of England’s national chlamydia screening programme for 15-24 year old sexually active persons; the actions being taken by the HSE to replicate this important public health programme here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40422/13]
View answer573. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive is prepared to create an equivalent programme akin to the English national chlamydia screening programme and in doing so include screening for gonorrhoea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40427/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 573 together.
The Health Service Executive is aware of England’s National Chlamydia Screening Programme. To investigate the feasibility, acceptability and likely uptake of chlamydia screening in various settings, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, supported by the Health Research Board, contracted a team of population health and other specialists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the National University of Ireland Galway and the HSE to conduct a pilot study of chlamydia screening in Ireland. This study, entitled The Chlamydia Screening in Ireland Pilot Study, concluded that a national opportunistic chlamydia screening programme would not be cost-effective in Ireland. It would be difficult to achieve the necessary coverage levels to reduce the reservoir of infection in the Irish population; and recent international evidence has also cast doubt on the effectiveness of population chlamydia screening.
In response to the rising rates of STIs a high level steering group was set up by my Department to oversee the drafting of a National Sexual Health Strategy. The Strategy will formulate a strategic direction for the delivery of sexual health services. The plan will focus on improving sexual health and wellbeing and address the surveillance, testing, treatment and prevention of HIV and STIs, crisis pregnancy, and sexual health education and promotion. The Strategy will be in line with Healthy Ireland and is nearing completion. It will be submitted to Government upon completion.
569. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by the Health Service Executive to ensure that the increase in chlamydia and gonorrhoea rates among# the young adults here is tackled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40423/13]
View answer570. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the Health Service Executive is working with the various stakeholders, general practitioners, hospitals, youth organisations, family planning organisations and industry involved in tacking STIs to agree a plan to stop the increase in these dangerous diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40424/13]
View answer571. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of women tested for chlamydia in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the steps being taken to increase the uptake of chlamydia screening among men and women including ethnic minorities and men having sex with men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40425/13]
View answer572. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if young adults have adequate access to information on sexual health testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40426/13]
View answer574. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment regarding a hearing deficit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40428/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
575. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to reduce the number of hours worked by non-consultant hospital doctors in order to ensure compliance with the EU working time directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40443/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive in relation to non-consultant hospital doctors by the end of 2014. At my request, this year the HSE established a National Group to bring an urgent focus to implementation of the Working Time Directive. This Group has been working closely with hospitals and there has been progress in relation to a number of interim targets, relating to the number of doctors working more than 24 hours in a single shift and instances of doctors working more than 68 hours a week. I am confident that progress will continue to be made towards the objective of full compliance.
Ireland must have sustainable arrangements to train and develop the medical workforce we need in order to provide safe and effective services to our population. I am therefore committed to retaining doctors who are educated and trained in Ireland within our health service, by providing them with clear career pathways and appropriate working conditions. In July this year, I set up a working group chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a strategic review of the medical training and career structure of NCHDs with a view to improving retention of graduates in the public health system. In particular, I want the group to set out a clear pathway for training at every level from Intern to Specialist, and to examine the potential for reducing the length of specialist training. I see this as a modernising initiative which is needed urgently. I have asked Professor MacCraith to provide an interim report to me by end-November 2013 and a final report by end-June 2014.
576. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the air ambulance service operating from Custume Barracks, Athlone; if the service will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40444/13]
View answerThe Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service was established as a joint 12 month pilot project between the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the Air Corps, providing dedicated aeromedical support to the NAS in the west, specifically where land ambulance transit times would not be clinically appropriate. The pilot EAS service, based in Athlone, has been reviewed by the EAS Audit and Evaluation Group, The evaluation included an assessment of a range of data including tasking frequency, mission duration and patient transport times. I have accepted the report and an inter-service group is now being established to examine how best to implement its recommendations. In the meantime, I have agreed with my colleague, the Minister for Defence, to extend aeromedical support by the Air Corps to the EAS until December 2013, pending decisions on how best to proceed following consideration of the report’s recommendations.
577. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no educational psychologist service at Cheeverstown disability service and, in view of the fact that the early intervention speech and language service has ended, if he will act urgently to reinstate these vital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40446/13]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
578. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a primary medical certificate will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [40456/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
579. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Health the services that are provided by the ambulance service in transporting patients from nursing homes to private hospitals in an emergency situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40478/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
580. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that he has previously stated that the Health Service Executive has confirmed that student medical scientists on placement must be paid the monthly training allowance, the reason third-year biomedical science students in DIT have still not been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40483/13]
View answerThe HSE has in the past confirmed to all health sector employers that Student Medical Scientists on placement must be paid the monthly training allowance as set out in my Department's consolidated salary scales. This allowance was approved for continued award to new beneficiaries, following the review of public sector allowances conducted in 2012. The current rate payable is €813.58 per month. The HSE memo dated 6 February 2013 reiterated in clear terms to hospitals that this allowance should be paid to all Student Medical Scientists on work placement. As the payment of this allowance is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
581. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in providing speech and language therapy to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [40491/13]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
582. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the restoration of a full medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40493/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
583. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate speech and language therapy for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 12 as their current teacher is leaving; if he will ensure that there is no break in service provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40533/13]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
