Tuesday, 17 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 622-638

Health Services

Questions (622)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

622. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the reason changes have been communicated on dispensing arrangements at the Health Service Executive dispensary (details supplied) in view of the fact the nearest pharmacy is in Dromcollogher, County Limerick which is more than 3.2 miles away, and the contract to the dispensing doctor states dispensing shall continue in the absence of a pharmacy within three miles of the dispensary in Broadford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54289/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Questions (623)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

623. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a full-time STI clinic will be established at Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54290/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 624 answered with Question No. 540.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (625)

Seán Kyne

Question:

625. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health further to the introduction of insulin pump treatment for diabetes, particularly for children, when such pumps will be made available in view of the fact that some parents and children in the Health Service Executive west area received training on the use of such equipment in May 2013. [54296/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospitals Inspections

Questions (626)

Seán Kyne

Question:

626. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the inspection procedure for health facilities, in particular hospitals; if there is a difference in the inspection procedures between public and private hospitals; if inspections are pre-arranged with facilities receiving prior notification; and if so, if it would be more effective to have on-the-spot, random inspections for all health facilities operating here. [54297/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under Section 8 of the Health Act 2007 the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) may set standards on safety and quality and monitor compliance with these standards. HIQA may also undertake an investigation as to the safety, quality and standards of the services if the Authority believes that there are reasonable grounds for doing so as set out in Section 9 of the Act. HIQA, therefore, uses the powers available under the Health Act 2007 to monitor compliance with the Standards it sets and to undertake investigations in public hospitals. A number of hospital inspections have taken place in recent months as part of HIQA's monitoring of the implementation of the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI). To date HIQA has carried out both announced and unannounced inspections in public hospitals around the country to monitor compliance with the HCAI Standards. It is a matter for HIQA to decide on the operational arrangements used to monitor implementation of Standards and if such monitoring requires unannounced visits to public hospitals. HIQA does not carryout inspections in private hospitals as HIQA does not have a remit in this area.

Departmental Funding

Questions (627)

Joan Collins

Question:

627. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will consider allocating core funding for the Dyspraxia Association as part of the disability health budget. [54298/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government is fully committed, within existing resources, to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion this year to fund its 2013 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities. This represents approximately 11.5% of overall health expenditure this year. The majority of this funding is distributed through non-statutory agencies who deliver over 80% of all disability services. There are in the region of 300 such agencies at present across the country that provide a significant and broad range of services for children and adults with disabilities in partnership with and on behalf of the HSE. It is important to note that many children and adults with a disability can be very effectively supported within mainstream child and adult health services.

The Dyspraxia Association is just one of a range of voluntary organisations around the country at present providing supports to specific diagnostic groups and which do not receive regular HSE funding. Funding of these types of organisation is a matter for the HSE in the first instance and will be considered in 2014 in light of the resources available and the relevant service priorities.

Hospital Services

Questions (628)

Joan Collins

Question:

628. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if funding for Tallaght hospital spinal services has been rectified (details supplied); if the position of the spinal surgeon has been addressed; the number of patients awaiting appointments for spinal services in Tallaght hospital; and the number of patients who have had appointments in the past six months. [54314/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service executive to respond to her directly.

Question No. 629 answered with Question No. 598.

Medical Inquiries

Questions (630)

Tom Fleming

Question:

630. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54347/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I am aware that Court proceedings took place in regard to this issue in 2012 and that evidence was presented in relation to the cause and circumstances of the individual's death.

I do not believe that an inquiry would bring any more substantial information to light in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death of the individual.

National Lottery Funding Applications

Questions (631, 632)

Billy Timmins

Question:

631. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the applications the Department received for national lottery funding for 2013; the funding sought; the amount received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54378/13]

Billy Timmins

Question:

632. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health with respect to the applications the Department received for national lottery funding, the number and which of the applicants he met in the Department of Health or his office; the purpose of such meetings; if an interview was a requirement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54379/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together.

The information requested is currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

National Lottery applications are received by my Department from a range of community and voluntary organisations involved in various health related activities. They are considered having regard to the information provided on the completed application forms. An interview is not a requirement of the scheme.

Estimates Process

Questions (633)

Billy Timmins

Question:

633. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health if the Supplementary Estimate of 12 December 2013 contains any funding to meet payments which are not due until 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54380/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 2013 supplementary estimate is to meet projected deficits and savings shortfalls in the HSE (Vote 39) up to the end of the year. Under public financial procedures any sum not required to meet liabilities in the current year must be surrendered to the exchequer and cannot be carried over into the following year.

There were several factors which contributed to the expenditure pressures in 2013, primarily:

- Deferral of the introduction of legislation to charge private patients in public beds;

- Estimated cash shortfall in pay savings, including under the Haddington Road Agreement;

- PCRS – delay in implementing FEMPI regulations and shortfall in non-FEMPI savings targets;

- Deficit in Childcare Legal Services;

- Procurement savings shortfall;

- Local Schemes savings shortfall;

- Estimate of claims due from State Claims Agency.

Whilst there has been a shortfall in the savings targets, it is important to note that significant savings were achieved, notably in the PCRS with considerable reductions achieved in the cost of drugs and medicines. In addition, many of the 2013 savings targets are expected to be achieved in 2014.

Prescription Charges

Questions (634)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

634. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact he will not reverse the prescription charge of €2.50 with a cap of €25 and in view of difficulties persons with multiple prescriptions have with paying the charge if he will make a statement on the matter. [54381/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As announced in Budget 2014, it has become necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €666 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.

Medical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. These new rates are effective from 1 December 2013. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.

Departmental Funding

Questions (635)

Seamus Kirk

Question:

635. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been provided to Dignity 4 Patients in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he or the Department have had any meetings with the group in 2013; if he will support the inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse of patients in a hospital (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54384/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

On-going funding for any service is a matter for the HSE and I understand that the HSE responded directly to the Deputy concerning funding allocations to Dignity 4 Patientson 13 December 2013 with the following information:

Year	Funding
2011	€4,000 Lottery Grant
2012	€22,500 funding in two instalments
2013	€22,500 funding in two instalments

In addition, Dignity 4 Patients applied to my Department for National Lottery funding in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in respect of once-off funding. A National Lottery grant of €171,890 was awarded to the organisation in 2010 and in 2011 the organisation received a further grant of €69,000. The organisation was unsuccessful in 2012. Unfortunately, its application for funding this year arrived after the cut off time, 12 noon on Friday 30th August, and accordingly it was not eligible for consideration.

I can confirm that neither myself nor my officials have met with Dignity 4 Patients in 2013. However, I have been informed that the HSE met its Director in May 2013.

In October 2009, the then Minister for Health and Children announced the establishment of an independent non statutory review, the “Drogheda Review”, to advise her on whether any additional information or insights were likely to be achieved from a further full investigation into the activities of a certain doctor in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the period 1964 to 1995. This review was carried out by retired High Court Judge T.C. Smyth.

Judge Smyth submitted his report to the Minister in September 2010. The report recommended that a further investigation should not be held and that, in order to avoid prejudicing any civil or criminal cases, the report should not be published. A short summary of the report was, however, prepared and supplied to the patient support groups in January 2011.

I understand that the allegations referred to by the Deputy are the subject of on-going legal proceedings.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (636)

Seán Fleming

Question:

636. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will have hearing aids installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54388/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (637)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

637. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients on waiting lists at each acute hospital at 30 November 2013; if he has achieved his target of having no one on the waiting list for an outpatients appointment for longer than one year as and from 30 November; if outpatients are sent to private hospitals and clinics within and outside the jurisdiction with a view to meeting his target; if so the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54407/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (638)

Seán Kyne

Question:

638. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health while accepting that the income threshold has been exceeded in the case of a family of a girl with a disability (details supplied) if medical evidence has been taken into account and if the high level of care required by the applicant and provided by their parents has been taken into account, especially as their mother does not work in order to deliver the care required for their child who unfortunately experiences associated illnesses alongside the primary one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54408/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.