Written Answers Nos. 571-587
571. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the action he will take in 2014 to enhance price transparency in the retail pharmacy market and improve prescribing practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53916/13]
View answerAt present, pharmacists are not required to publish their dispensing and other fees. However, under the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s (PSI) Code of Conduct, pharmacists are required to provide honest, relevant, accurate, current and appropriate information to patients regarding the nature, cost, value and benefit of medicines provided by them. Every pharmacist has an obligation to comply in full with the statutory Code of Conduct.
The PSI advises patients that their pharmacist should be in a position to provide them with whatever information or clarification they require about prescribed medicines, including information about the pricing of those medicines. The Department of Health has asked the PSI to examine how greater price transparency can be achieved. It should also be noted that the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 provides patients with an incentive to seek interchangeable products priced at or below the reference price.
It is the view of the HSE and the Department of Health that there should be total transparency provided when any pharmaceutical service is accessed by a member of the public.
In relation to improved prescribing practises, a Medicines Management Programme (MMP) has been established by the HSE to provide sustained national leadership in this area.
The aims of the MMP include (a) ensuring that patients have access to the essential medicines that they need; (b) facilitating more cost-effective prescribing with initiatives in relation to high-cost medicines; (c) ensuring value for money in relation to medicines; and (d) enhancing evidence based prescribing and optimising patient safety through a reduction in medication related adverse events.
The MMP will focus on drugs and medicines which can be expected to have a significant impact in terms of patient safety and expenditure. In this context, the MMP will monitor drug utilisation and expenditure under the community drug schemes and initiate a health technology assessment for products where there are queries in relation to efficacy and value for money. This process has the potential to produce significant savings in drug expenditure while at the same time enhancing patient safety.
The MMP has also introduced the preferred drugs initiative which facilitates more cost-effective prescribing particularly in relation to high-cost medicines and it has commenced a series of educational meetings with general practitioners to reinforce the message around safe, effective and cost-effective prescribing as well as generic prescribing.
572. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will approve and expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53927/13]
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.
573. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the documents from a person (details supplied) who is seeking an early meeting between the Health Service Executive, Kerry County Council and Killarney Town Council to discuss the future of St. Finian's Hospital, its lands, its redevelopment potential and its future use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53934/13]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
574. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health the current diagnosis and treatment facilities available here for Lyme disease; if there is a national strategy in relation to Lyme disease; if an awareness campaign to highlight symptoms of the disease will be pursued by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53935/13]
View answerThe Health Protection Surveillance Centre is establishing a Lyme Borreliosis Group whose aim will be to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention measures in order to minimise the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland based on best international evidence. The remit of the Group will also include raising awareness amongst both clinicians and the general public and exploring ways in which to improve surveillance of neuroborreliosis in Ireland.
A joint Consensus Statement on the Clinical Management of Lyme Borreliosis was produced in November 2012 by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland, the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists, the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and the Irish College of General Practitioners. This Consensus Statement was produced in order to ensure that the management of Lyme Borreliosis is as consistent and as standardised as possible. The Consensus Statement lays out the optimal conditions on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland.
575. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health when the new primary care centre in (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be operational; the full range of services to be based at the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53936/13]
View answerThe HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care Centres; the operation and maintenance of existing health centres; and the provision of services at such centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
576. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Meath will receive corrective treatment or surgery for their severe Equinus feet condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53953/13]
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 Health Service Executive, 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 HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
577. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the extensive grounds of St. Bridget’s Hospital that have been open and available to the people of Creagh for generations and now that the hospital has by and large ceased to function as an institution of psychiatric care, that the grounds of the hospital have grown in importance for the people of Creagh and the surrounding area; his views that public access to such amenities as may be found within the grounds of St. Bridget’s Hospital has an enormous positive benefit to the mental, physical and social well-being of the local community; if he will ensure that whatever the Health Service Executive may have planned for the grounds, that public access to those grounds will be preserved at all costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53956/13]
View answer578. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that any change of use at St. Bridget's Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, that may be planned by the Health Service Executive will be subject to all due notification and notice as required by law and that a proper programme of consultation will be entered into with the local community before any and all such plans are finalised and executed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53963/13]
View answer580. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the plans the Health Service Executive has for the grounds of St. Bridget’s Hospital in Ballinasloe, County Galway, which is situated in the parish of Creagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53970/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 577, 578 and 580 together.
As these are service issues, these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
579. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card was withdrawn from a severely disabled child (details supplied) in County Clare with Down syndrome, bowel issues, major behavioural problems, sleep issues and many other health problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53968/13]
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.
581. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will outline what offices relevant to his Department are located or have been decentralised outside of Dublin; if he will provide the total number of staff in his Department and the number of staff based outside County Dublin as of 2013; the annual cost incurred in 2012 and 2013, respectively, for decentralised staff travelling to meetings in Dublin; the number of times staff travelled to individual meetings in Dublin in each of those years; the costs those staff will be reimbursed for; if his Department has procedures or mechanisms in place such as video-conferencing to reduce the cost of travelling for each unit based outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53996/13]
View answerThe total number of staff currently in my Department is 374 (or 347 Whole-time equivalents) and these are all based in headquarters at Hawkins House, Dublin.
582. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will have their prostrate operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54011/13]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
583. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list to see each specialty at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the number of persons on each waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54024/13]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
584. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if his Department will be liaising with the Health Information and Quality Authority to ensure that a full and thorough investigation is carried out following complaints made about certain incidents of concern in an organisation (details supplied) working with persons with intellectual disabilities. [54037/13]
View answerThis government announced the commencement of a new scheme of registration and inspection of Residential Services for People with Disabilities by the Health Information and Quality Authority from 1 November 2013. HIQA are now able to set and monitor standards for designated centres which include residential services provided to persons with disabilities. HIQA are also now empowered to undertake investigations as to the safety, quality and standards of these residential services. This has been called for by the disability sector for a number of years. The sector was widely consulted in the drawing up of the new standards. The new standards, with guidance from HIQA, will empower providers to deliver even higher quality services.
In relation to the specific issues raised I have been advised by the HSE that Stewarts Care received reports at the end of November from student nurses expressing concerns around some practices in relation to the delivery of services to service users in their residential services.
In accordance with statutory requirements, Stewarts Care informed the HSE and HIQA of the reports. An investigation team was identified in line with guidance received from HIQA. I understand that following consultation with HIQA a number of staff have been suspended pending the outcome of this process. No one from Stewarts Care is now on the team examining the issues.
As an investigation into the allegations is underway it is not appropriate for me to comment further.
585. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of facilities providing services to persons with intellectual disabilities inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority since the new inspection regime for such facilities became operational in November 2013. [54039/13]
View answerOn 1 November, 2013, I announced the commencement of a new scheme of registration and inspection of residential services for people with disabilities by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). This marked a new era in protecting people with disabilities in residential services and ensured that HIQA are empowered to undertake investigations as to the safety, quality and standards of residential services for people with disabilities. HIQA are now also able to set and monitor standards for these designated centres and the new standards with guidance from HIQA will empower providers to deliver even higher quality services.
I have been informed by HIQA that since the new regime became operational, twelve inspections have taken place at residential services for person with intellectual disabilities.
586. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will receive their appointment for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54041/13]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
587. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if sufficient research has been conducted on the health risks associated with fluoridated water, namely, thyroid disorders; and the action that has been taken to combat such health risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54051/13]
View answerThere have been a great number of primary research papers on various aspects of general health and water fluoridation. No claim associating water fluoridation, at the optimal level, with negative health effects has been substantiated. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, continuously 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, protects the oral health of the population and does not cause any ill effects. It advises that there is no association between water fluoridation and thyroid disorders. The opinion of the Expert Body regarding the absence of ill effects of water fluoridation is supported by major international scientifically validated reviews. The Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation on general health will be conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health in 2014.
