Written Answers Nos 141-160
141. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will take immediate steps to ensure the provision of the necessary funding to open and adequately staff a hospice (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43749/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
142. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43750/13]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
143. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Louth is on the waiting list for a hip replacement; the timeframe they will have to wait; and the average waiting time for patients in 2011, 2012, and 2013 for this procedure [43752/13]
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.
144. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that the 763 children who have been waiting six months or more for an assessment of need under the Disability Act will be assessed as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43757/13]
View answerPart 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced on 1 June 2007 in respect of children aged under 5. In 2008, the then Government decided, in the light of financial circumstances, to defer further implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.
Part 2 of the Disability Act, inter alia, provides for an assessment of the needs of eligible applicants occasioned by their disability to be commenced within three months of receipt of an application and completed within a further three months.
There has been a very significant rise in overall activity around the assessment process in recent years in respect of the children now encompassed by the process. The number of assessment reports received in 2012 was 3,505 which is over 400 applications more than in 2010. It is worth noting that in the period 2010-2012 over 8,200 reports were completed. While the HSE recognises that it faces significant challenges in respect of meeting the statutory time-frames which apply to the assessment of need process given the number and complexity of cases, it is endeavouring to address the issue from available resources.
While any delay in assessment or intervention for any child is not desirable, the assessment process under the Disability Act can take place in parallel with any intervention which is identified as necessary. The HSE has issued guidance to its staff that where there is a delay in the assessment process, this should not affect the delivery of necessary and appropriate interventions identified for a particular child.
In addition, targeted action plans have been put in place since early 2011. Measures have included: prioritising assessments, holding additional clinics, contracting the private sector to conduct assessments and reconfiguring resources to target areas of greatest need. These plans are monitored on a monthly basis by the HSE centrally.
Following the publication of a report commissioned from the National Disability Authority by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, a major emphasis is being placed on reconfiguring disability services for children into geographically-based early-intervention and school-aged teams as part of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme which is underway. The NDA report indicated that where integrated teams were operating, the assessment of need process ran more smoothly. It found that there was no one single solution to remove all of the challenges to operating a statutory assessment of need. Officials from my Department are currently engaging with the HSE and the NDA to further consider the findings contained in this Report.
145. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken by his Department to reduce waiting times for children to be assessed by a primary care occupational therapist (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43758/13]
View answerThe HSE’s National Service Plan 2013 provided for additional funding of €20m to strengthen primary care services (€18.525m for the recruitment of 264.5 primary care posts and €1.475m to support Community Intervention Team development).
Of the additional 264.5 posts allocated, 52.5 whole-time equivalent Occupational Therapy posts were approved. These posts are currently being recruited, with final clearances being processed and it is intended that they will be filled by the end of 2013. It is expected that these additional posts will have a significant impact on the current waiting lists for Occupational Therapy services.
The HSE is also considering measures to reduce situations where significant numbers of patients, particularly in the 0-18 years age group, fail to attend or where their appointments are cancelled at very short notice.
146. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 9 October 2013, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that purinethol costs €6.12 in Spain and the Canary Islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43759/13]
View answerAs I indicated in my previous reply, the prices of drugs vary between countries for a number of reasons, including different prices set by manufacturers, different wholesale and pharmacy mark-ups, different dispensing fees and different rates of VAT. The size of the market can also be a factor in the prices set by manufacturers.
In October 2012, Aspen Pharma Trading Ltd informed the HSE that, following an examination of the viability of a number of product lines, it had decided to increase the price of Purinethol in Ireland and a number of other EU countries (including Germany, UK, Denmark and Finland).
The HSE engaged with the company in an attempt to negotiate a lower price, however, it was unwilling to do so. The HSE was faced with the choice of allowing increased pricing (in line with other international markets) or running the risk that the product would be withdrawn. Having regard to the importance of the product and the fact that Aspen Pharma Trading Ltd is the sole supplier to the Irish market, the HSE considered that a price increase was necessary to maintain supply and agreed to grant a price increase from 1 March 2013. Despite the price increase, no other supplier has chosen to enter the Irish market. Reversal of the price increase in the absence of an alternative supplier could result in the sole supplier exiting the market and patients being left without access to this medicine.
147. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [43760/13]
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.
148. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [43761/13]
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.
149. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons with an intellectual disability and or autism have been hit by a number of accumulated cuts over the past five years; his views on the importance of ensuring that those with an intellectual disability and or autism should be supported by the Government, especially during these difficult economic times (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43762/13]
View answerThe level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the estimates and budgetary process for 2014 which is currently underway. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2014, it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year for the disability sector.
150. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date for an assessment for a hip operation will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [43773/13]
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.
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.
151. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since the ambulance service closed in the Enfield area, County Meath and relocated to Dublin the Baconstown first responders group in the area have not been receiving calls; if he will ensure that they are kept informed by emergency services in the area as they provide an invaluable service and must be respected. [43775/13]
View answerCommunity response in various forms has long been an important support in the delivery of healthcare in Ireland, and in particular in pre-hospital care for people who have been unfortunate enough to suffer serious illness or injury. I acknowledge the enormous voluntary contribution, commitment and assistance offered by community response schemes in responding to emergency calls over the years.
In relation to the 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.
153. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there are no more budget cuts to the intellectual disability budget this year as this sector is simply unable to withstand further cuts and needs to be protected and supported. [43779/13]
View answerThe level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the estimates and budgetary process for 2014 which is currently underway. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2014 it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year for the disability sector.
156. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will define terminal illness in relation to the requirements of the application process for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43784/13]
View answerI am advised by the HSE that, for the purpose of the decision making process for an emergency medical card, in these circumstances, a "Terminal Illness" or a person that is "Terminally Ill", is a person that is certified by a doctor or a consultant as "Terminally Ill". Terminally Ill means that the person is suffering from an illness that will end in death where there is no possibility of recovery and the person is more likely to die of his/her illness in the next six months than not.
157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if special assistance including a medical card may be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43787/13]
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.
158. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals made to a respite centre (details supplied) in County Limerick by Health Service Executive south during the periods 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will provide in tabular form where the referrals were made from; and the number in each case for each year requested. [43788/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
159. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he has established the high level implementation group to oversee the project plan for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products; the number of meetings which have been held to date, the group’s plans for public consultation and hearings with health groups and other interested parties; if he will summarise the viewpoints expressed by his Department to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43789/13]
View answerGovernment approval was received on 28 May 2013 to begin the process of introducing standardised packaging of tobacco products in Ireland. An interdepartmental Steering Group on Standardised Packaging has been established to oversee the implementation of a project plan. The group has met twice to date.
In line with the Regulatory Impact Assessment Guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach, my Department will be undertaking a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the proposed legislation for the introduction of standardised packaging for tobacco products. Consultation with all relevant stakeholders is an integral part of the RIA process, which will also consider the costs, benefits and impacts of this proposal.
The Department of Health’s policy on smoking is to promote and subsequently move toward a tobacco free society. Ireland’s current policy document, Tobacco Free Ireland, which I launched on 3 October 2013, sets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free (i.e. with a prevalence rate of less than 5%) by 2025. The two key themes underpinning the report are protecting children and the denormalisation of smoking.
160. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the stages, indicative dates and any other associated time or submission targets or deadlines by which his Department will conduct the regulatory impact analysis on his proposed legislation on plain packaging of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43790/13]
View answerIn line with the Regulatory Impact Assessment Guidelines (RIA) published by the Department of the Taoiseach, my Department will be undertaking a Regulatory Impact Analysis on the proposed legislation for the introduction of standardised packaging for tobacco products. A final decision has yet to be taken on the timing of the consultation.
