Written Answers Nos. 662-686
662. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the average waiting time for young persons to receive a psychological assessment from the Health Service Executive in the following areas for each year from 2009 to 2013, Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. [9189/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
663. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card renewal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [9202/14]
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.
664. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his Department will, on a temporary basis, supply a mobile public health facility for the King's Island area of Limerick city to deal with public health concerns following the recent severe flooding in the area. [9217/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
665. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to utilise the €50 million savings on the temporary risk equalisation scheme; if he will allocate some of these savings to mental health services to make up the deficit in funding for these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9235/14]
View answerThe Interim Scheme of Age-Related Tax Credits and Health Insurance Levy was in operation from 2009-2012. Under the scheme age related tax credits were provided at source in respect of qualifying members. These credits were funded by a community rating levy paid by insurers on all health insurance contracts effected or renewed until the scheme ended on 31 December 2012. The final levy payment was paid in January 2013 and tax credits continued to be paid out until the end of December 2013, in respect of insurance premia paid by instalments. The issue of any surplus arising from the scheme has been raised by officials in my Department with the Department of Finance. Final figures will be to hand in the next few weeks and I will consider the most appropriate use of any available surplus at that stage.
666. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the facilitation of better access to medical cards for patients with primary immunodeficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9249/14]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and family qualify for a medical card. The HSE can only award medical cards in accordance with the Act and, therefore, it must assess applicants on the overall financial situation of the applicant and his or her dependants. The HSE gives effect to this legislation through its Medical Card National Assessment Guidelines.
While there is no legal basis for the HSE to award medical cards on the basis of a specific medical condition, the HSE has, however, discretion to grant a medical card in certain circumstances. If an applicant’s means are above the financial thresholds, set out in the national guidelines, the HSE examines for any indication of circumstances (medical or social), which might result in undue financial hardship in the arranging of medical services. Eligibility may be granted on a discretionary basis if these circumstances are such that a person cannot arrange GP services for themselves and their family without undue financial hardship.
Discretion must be exercised by the HSE but the fundamental provision in the 1970 Act is that a person is assessed on the basis of undue hardship in arranging a GP service, having regard to his or her means. The HSE must, of course, operate within the legal parameters as set out in the Act, while also responding to the variety of circumstances and complexities faced by individuals who apply for a medical card. Medical card applicants or their dependants, affected with primary immunodeficiency conditions, who submit supporting medical reports with an application for a medical card and who do not qualify for a medical card on an assessment of means, have the management of their medical condition considered during the assessment process to determine if the refusal of eligibility would result in undue financial hardship for the applicant or any dependants.
PCRS management has recently advised me that they have met with a number of health care professionals from Crumlin Children's Hospital who have specific responsibility for the treatment of children with significant primary immune deficiency disorders. PRCS management clarified the process by which the assessment of medical card applications is undertaken and the granting of eligibility under the Medical Card Scheme. The health care professionals were briefed on primary care services, available locally, to this cohort of patients under the auspices of other community health schemes and the pathways to access such services.
667. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the position regarding enabling the self-possession of emergency medications to patients with C1 inhibitor deficiency hereditary angioedema, as is common practice in most European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9250/14]
View answerPatients with hereditary angioedema have attacks of swelling that can occur anywhere in the body, such as in the face or limbs, or around the gut, causing discomfort and pain. The condition occurs because of a deficiency of the C1 inhibitor protein required to control the systems in the blood that fight against infection and cause inflammation. Patients with low levels of this protein have excessive activity of these two systems, which leads to the symptoms of angioedema.
There are authorised medicines for emergency treatment of acute attacks and for the prevention of attacks. These are Cinryze (C1 inhibitor, a protein extracted from human blood), authorised in 2011, Ruconest (conestat alfa) authorised in 2010, and Firazyr (icatibant) authorised in 2008. These products are centrally authorised by the European Medicines Agency and the same summary of product characteristics (SmPC) applies in all member states.
As these products are centrally-authorised, the method of sale and supply via prescription is the same throughout Europe. The information for the healthcare professional for Cinryze and Firazyr allows for patients to be trained to give themselves an injection when needed. They can also obtain emergency supplies from a pharmacist under the relevant legislation.
668. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the access and equity of access to immunoglobin for patients with primary immunodeficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9251/14]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
669. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision for primary immunodeficiencies in the national plan for rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9252/14]
View answerMy Department is finalising a national plan on rare diseases which is set in the context of the Council recommendation of 8th June 2009. While no specific rare disease is mentioned, the Council decision declared that it is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 8,000 rare diseases; and hence it states that the specificities of rare diseases are:
- A limited number of patients and;
- A scarcity of relevant knowledge and expertise.
The council's decision recognised these specificities when it recommended that member states adopt a plan to guide actions in the general field of rare diseases. It is with this in mind that my Department is finalising a generic plan to apply to the 8,000 rare diseases estimated to exist.
The HSE has established a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases (NCPRD); a National Clinical Lead has been appointed and a programme manager is in place. Part of this work will address care pathways for patients with rare diseases.
670. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of money paid by the Health Service Executive to a company (details supplied) in each of the following years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. [9260/14]
View answerAs this is an operational issue, I have requested the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy
671. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of communications staff that are employed directly by each of the new hospital groupings and the Health Service Executive separately; the individual salaries paid to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9261/14]
View answer672. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of communications staff positions that have been created as new positions within the new hospital groupings; the date on which they were filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9262/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
673. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of money that has been paid to health consultants known as Health Partnership by the Health Service Executive and-or hospital groupings in each of 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the purpose for which these payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9263/14]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
674. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will 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. [9269/14]
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.
675. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Carlow will have a decision on their medical card review. [9282/14]
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.
676. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 29 January 2014, if he will indicate from where Northgate Arinso Ireland processes payroll for the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9295/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
677. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will name the various anti-malaria medications the Irish Medicines Board would consider suitable for sub-Saharan Africa, in the knowledge that the final choice of most appropriate drug would be made by the patient in consultation with their doctor and depending on individual circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9298/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the prescribing of medications is solely a matter for the individual's medical practitioner to determine based upon their expert knowledge.
678. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to provide for the urgent care needs of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9314/14]
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.
679. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the anomalous situation which results in medical card holders on mixed dosage medication being charged for each mililitre size as an individual item (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9317/14]
View answerMedical 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. 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.
Where a drug or medicine is required to be dispensed in different strengths and different containers, a prescription charge applies to each claimed strength of the product.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
Section 59 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended by Section 1 of the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010) provides that a person with full eligibility supplied with prescribed drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances by a community pharmacy contractor shall be charged an amount of €0.50, or such other amounts as may be determined by regulations made by the Minister, per item supplied to that person. The Health Services (Prescription Charges) Regulations 2013 provided that for the purposes of Section 59(1A) a prescription charge of €2.50 would apply from the 1st December 2013.
When a medicine is required to be dispensed in different strengths/different containers, each strength/container is regarded as a separate item and each attracts a separate prescription charge. In the type of case raised by the Deputy, as warfarin was dispensed in three different strengths, three separate prescription charges were duly chargeable by the community pharmacy contractor.
However, this case does raise policy issues surrounding the implementation of prescription charges which I will consider further.
680. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a person (details supplied) in County Galway regarding surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9324/14]
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.
681. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide treatment for cataracts to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9330/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
682. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in detail, any changes in prescription charges for medical card holders, specifically in relation to charges pertaining to generic, non-generic drugs since budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9331/14]
View answerThere has been no change to prescription charges for medical card holders since the announcement in Budget 2014 that an increased rate of €2.50 charge per item would apply from 1 December 2013 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.
683. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding appointments in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9334/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
684. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on waiting lists for migraine clinics in counties Galway, Cork and Dublin; and the number of persons who were on these waiting lists at the beginning of 2013. [9351/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
685. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is ill and who urgently requires cataract treatment has to wait for a preliminary appointment until April 2015, despite the fact that substantial medical-psychiatric evidence has been submitted by their doctors. [9360/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to her directly.
686. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will deal with the following matter (details supplied) regarding medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9376/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
