Written Answers Nos. 539-557
539. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when community occupational therapy can be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41943/13]
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.
540. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [41945/13]
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.
542. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health to outline the support available to Irish citizens who have to travel outside the country for testing and treatment of rare conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; and if he will review current policies. [41967/13]
View answerThe HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation 1408/71, as per procedures set out in EU Regulation 574/72 and in accordance with Department of Health and Children Guidelines. Within these governing EU Regulations and the Department of Health and Children’s Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of form E112 (IE).
The TAS allows for an Irish based consultant to refer a patient that is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in another EU member state or Switzerland, where the treatment in question meets the following criteria:
(a) The application to refer a patient abroad has been assessed and a determination given before that patient goes abroad.
(b) Following clinical assessment, the referring consultant certifies the following:
- They recommend the patient be treated in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland;
- The treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient's needs;
- The treatment is a proven form of medical treatment and is not experimental or test treatment;
- The treatment is in a recognised hospital or other institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner;
- The hospital outside the state will accept EU/EEA form E112 (IE).
The presence of a rare illness, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, is not of itself criteria for availing of treatment abroad: most rare diseases are treated without any need for recourse to services in other jurisdictions. Patients in conjunction with their Irish based public referring hospital consultant have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the state through model form E112. Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. Approved applicants/patient's hospital treatment costs are covered through the issue of form E112 (IE) for specific identified episodes of care. The governing Regulations do not provide for the patient's travel or subsistence costs but the HSE in line with its national travel policy provides funding for patient's air or sea fares. Once a patient is discharged from a specific episode of care abroad, their care immediately reverts to their Irish based consultant.
543. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the Bexsero vaccine will be made available to prevent meningitis B; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41975/13]
View answer567. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made regarding the introduction of a new vaccine for meningitis B; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42183/13]
View answer598. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the status of the new vaccination against meningitis B, Bexsero, here; when a decision will be made as to whether this drug will be made available in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42428/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 543, 567 and 598 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice and by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
A Health Technology Assessment which includes a cost benefit analysis is carried out prior to any new vaccine being considered. This has a vital role in ensuring that care technologies, including vaccines, are used in a manner appropriate to their ability to maximise health gain and achieve value for money.
The are currently no plans to introduce Meningococcal group B (Meningitis B) vaccine in Ireland. However should the NIAC advice recommend its inclusion into the primary childhood immunisation programme in Ireland, my Department, in association with the Health Service Executive National Immunisation Office will examine the issue.
544. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a fair deal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41988/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
545. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive funding to Kerry Deaf Resource Centre in Tralee is not cut for the fourth consecutive year as to do so could make this valuable service unfeasible. [41989/13]
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.
546. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an appointment at the rheumatology clinic in Cork University Hospital; the average waiting time for patients in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 for this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41993/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
547. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will remove the cancellation-and-you-are-off-the-list-for-hospital-appointments Health Service Executive policy where it pertains to patients with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41996/13]
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 been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In regard to the detail of the Deputy's query, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him in the matter.
548. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of posts that are currently unfilled at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the length of time each post has been vacant; the timeframe for posts to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42005/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
549. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [42006/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
550. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42007/13]
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.
551. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the progress he is making in creating a new scheme to replace the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; when this will be in effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42008/13]
View answer554. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the pilot scheme being rolled out to replace the mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42017/13]
View answer571. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his plans to announce details of an alternative scheme to replace the motorised transport grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42259/13]
View answer583. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the arrangements that have been put in place regarding a new scheme for the mobility allowance scheme and motorised transport grant; if he is confident that a new scheme will be in place by the end of this month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42376/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 551, 554, 571 and 583 together.
The Government decided in June last that new statutory provisions should be established to provide individual payments to people with severe disabilities who require additional income to address the costs of their mobility needs. An inter-departmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, is working to develop detailed proposals for the operation of a new statutory scheme and is due to report back to Government in October.
The Government also decided in June that payments should temporarily continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to those persons currently in receipt of the Mobility Allowance for a further number of months, pending the commencement of new statutory provisions, on the basis that this would 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 the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant to support their independence and will take all of this into consideration when making a decision on future arrangements.
552. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cataract treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42012/13]
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 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.
553. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card review and award a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42015/13]
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.
556. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will be scheduled for a hip replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42043/13]
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 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.
557. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there are proposals for the regulation of the sale of e-cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42062/13]
View answerThe report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group 'Tobacco Free Ireland' was launched on the 03rd October 2013. The report recommends the establishment of a regulatory framework for nicotine products in the context of discussions at European Union level. Last December, the Commission published a proposal for a new EU Tobacco Products Directive, the ultimate purpose of which is to reduce the numbers of people smoking. The proposal is being discussed in the European Parliament and Council of Ministers and the Commission hope that it will be adopted in 2014. Under the proposal, electronic cigarettes above a certain threshold of nicotine would be regulated under medicines legislation.
