Written Answers Nos. 902-917
902. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reviewing the list of conditions covered under the long-term illness scheme; if he will provide serious consideration to including chronic conditions such as Crohn's disease under the scheme; the reason Crohn's disease is not currently covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1698/14]
View answerThere are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
903. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health for details on the latest update on the independent review of orthodontic services of orthodontic treatment in Navan hospital, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1705/14]
View answerThe HSE has commissioned an independent national review of orthodontic services; no specific review of orthodontic services provided in Navan Hospital has been commissioned. The HSE has been asked to investigate what progress has been made in resolving the specific difficulties pertinent to Navan Hospital and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
906. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health to set out the average increase to the cost of private health insurance over the past five years, referring specifically to average annual increase each year over the past five years; the steps, he proposes to take to control such increases having regard to the consequent difficulties imposed on families by the ever-increasing cost of private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1719/14]
View answerThe latest data available from the Health Insurance Authority, showing the annual average increase in the average premium paid by insured persons, is as follows:
2008: 8.6%
2009: 11.3%
2010: 7.4%
2011: 7.3%
2012: 12.1%
Full year figures for 2013 are not yet available. In the interim, the increase in the average premium per person insured for the 12 months to end-September 2013 is 10.6%.
I have placed significant emphasis on the need to address the level of costs in the private health insurance market. As part of the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance, earlier this year I appointed Mr Pat McLoughlin as Independent Chair to work with insurance companies and the Department to identify effective cost management strategies to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the private health insurance market. Mr McLoughlin’s first report was published on 26 December 2013, with the second phase to be prepared within a further three months. I will continue to focus on addressing costs to keep private health insurance as affordable as possible for people who wish to avail of it.
The Government's clear objective is for the health insurance market to remain as competitive and affordable as possible, as we move towards a new system of Universal Health Insurance.
907. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the level of income raised from car parking services provided in Beaumont Hospital in the years 2007-2013 broken down per quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1729/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
908. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare may be awarded a discretionary medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1748/14]
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.
911. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a hospital appointment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1789/14]
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.
913. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health to outline the steps being taken to ensure adequate service provision across Irish hospitals for cystic fibrosis patients, both children and adults, including specialist isolated treatment facilities, in view of the fact that Ireland has the highest CF rates in the world, with one in 19 people here carrying the gene. [1809/14]
View answerCystic Fibrosis is Ireland's most common life-threatening inherited disease. This Government is acutely aware of the challenges that people with cystic fibrosis and their families face in managing their condition and fully acknowledges the need for and supports the provision of dedicated accommodation in an environment which allows appropriate isolation for improved infection control. Given the need to avoid the exposure of CF patients to possible sources of infection, the aim is to minimise wherever possible the need to admit such patients to hospital and instead to provide treatment on an ambulatory daycare basis, as close as possible to home.
There has been significant investment in services for people with cystic fibrosis in the past few years including a new dedicated CF unit opened in 2012 at St Vincent's University Hospital, the National Adult Referral Centre; a new purpose-built dedicated Ambulatory Outpatient facility at Beaumont Hospital for patients with CF; a new outpatient facility at CUH which was completed with local philanthropic support from Build4Life as well as Exchequer funding. Other capital projects currently underway include a dedicated paediatric out-patient CF unit at Galway University Hospital which is expected to be completed during 2014; and the development of a CF unit in CUH, for which funding has been raised by Build4Life. As the Deputy will be aware, Build4Life has raised the issue of ringfencing of these beds for patients with CF. I understand that the HSE and Build4Life are now in a process which I hope will bring about a resolution shortly.
A further key initiative in recent years has been the introduction of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in July 2011. This test is included as part of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme. Early identification and care will enhance the outcomes for children with CF. Last year, the new CF drug ivacaftor (Kalydeco) was made available and it is estimated that approximately 120 patients will be suitable for treatment with this new drug.
A Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Programme has now been established as one of the HSE's National Clinical Programmes. Its aim is to provide the framework to ensure that patients with CF receive optimal care to preserve/enhance their quality of life and improve health outcomes and wellbeing within the context of the three key objectives of all of the National Clinical Programmes - to improve the quality of care provided, to improve access to specialist services and to improve cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
914. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the reported transfer of up to 1,200 cataract operations awaited by patients on the Waterford Regional Hospital list to private hospitals; the average cost to the Health Service Executive of outsourcing such surgery per patient; if there was any consultation with the salaried consultants at WRH who are both contracted and keen to carry out these procedures; and if he is concerned that this effectively represents a double payment by the State. [1810/14]
View answerIn 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.
915. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health to outline the level of services that will be provided by the eye unit at Waterford Regional Hospital in future in the context of the rearrangement of hospital services. [1811/14]
View answerLast May, I published the Government's plan to reorganise public hospitals into more efficient and accountable Hospital Groups which will harness the benefits of increased independence and greater control at local level. The establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will, I believe, provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high-quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner. The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of hospital groups was committed to in ‘Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform’ and is a key building block in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to fundamentally reform our health service.
Hospital Groups will be required, within one year, to develop a strategic plan which will outline how they will provide more efficient and effective patient services; how they will reorganise these services to provide optimal care to the populations they serve; and how they will achieve maximum integration and synergy with other Groups and health services, particularly primary care and community based services. The role of individual hospitals within each group will be considered in detail in the context of this strategic plan.
Waterford Regional Hospital is part of the South/South West Group along with Cork University Hospital/CUMH; Mercy University Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; Kerry General Hospital, Bantry General Hospital; Mallow General Hospital, and Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene. It will therefore be a matter for the South/South West Group to determine where services, including ophthalmology, will be located within the Group, taking into account the health needs of the population as well as Government policy.
916. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the application and renewal of driver licences was withdrawn from local authorities and awarded to the Road Safety Authority; the criteria under which the RSA obtained this contract; the reason the offer by An Post to deliver the service was rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55223/13]
View answerThe Government decided in May 2011 to centralise the driver licence service, under the Road Safety Authority (RSA), following an examination of the options which found that a centralised system would offer enhanced security and consistency, and be more efficient and cost-effective. The requirement for all EU Member States to introduce a plastic card licence in January 2013 was another deciding factor. The RSA was established as the national driver licensing authority following the enactment of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012. The RSA designed the new centralised driver licensing system around a central unit within the Authority and three outsourced contracts. Three separate competitive procurement processes were conducted by the RSA before contracts were awarded to SGS (Ireland) for the front-office customer interface, Abtran for the back-office application processing and CCS (Credit Card Systems) for plastic card licence production. Neither I nor my Department had any involvement in the procurement or contract award processes. I understand that An Post submitted a tender for the front-office service but was not successful.
917. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if legislation will be introduced to criminalise the act of clocking cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55499/13]
View answerThe Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013 is currently proceeding through the Dáil, and is scheduled for Report stage on 15 January. There are two amendments proposed, one of which I have submitted, to outlaw interference with the odometers of vehicles. I look forward to the discussion of this issue when Report stage is heard in the Dáil.
