Written Answers Nos. 415 - 429
415. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health his plans to ban the use of e-cigarettes indoors and in public places due to the untested short and long-term health effects of the emitted vapour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10518/14]
View answerTobacco Free Ireland, Ireland’s tobacco control policy, states that the general consensus at European level is that there is a lack of research in relation to the long term health effects of e-cigarettes and a lack of sufficient evidence that they aid with smoking cessation. In order to harmonise regulation of e-cigarettes across EU Member States, the new Tobacco Products Directive, which still has to be formally adopted at European level will, inter alia, provide for the regulation of e-cigarettes. The Tobacco Directive will:
- set mandatory safety and quality requirements e.g. on nicotine content, ingredients and devices, as well as refill mechanisms etc., for e-cigarettes,
- make health warnings and information leaflets obligatory,
- introduce notification requirements for manufacturers and importers of e-cigarettes,
- impose stricter rules on advertising and monitoring of market developments.
As e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco the smoking of e-cigarettes is not prohibited in indoor work places under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 to 2013. Agencies can, however, on a voluntary basis have policies in relation to e-cigarettes if they so wish. My Department is currently reviewing the potential harms and potential benefits of e-cigarettes before deciding the best approach to their wider regulation.
416. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the reason for the demolition of several buildings on the campus of the old Meath hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10519/14]
View answerDelivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
417. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health his or the Health Service Executive's plans for Baggot Street hospital; if he will confirm that it is not suitable for use as a primary care centre; his plans to dispose of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10520/14]
View answerDelivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
418. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health when he expects planning and then construction work respectively to begin on the new National Maternity Hospital building at the Elm Park campus of St. Vincent's; the amount of money he has budgeted for this project in 2014 in the Health Service Executive service plan; and if he will arrange for quarterly updates to local Deputies on project progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10521/14]
View answerIn May last year I announced that the National Maternity Hospital would be relocated to the campus of St Vincent's University Hospital. This is consistent with the recommendations of the 2008 KPMG Review of Maternity and Gynaecological Services in the Greater Dublin Area. An indicative sum of €150m has been approved in the HSE Capital Plan to enable this project to proceed. A Project Team has been established involving representation from the National Maternity Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital, HSE Estates, HSE Acute Hospitals Directorate, the National Clinical Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and my Department, which has been meeting regularly since July 2013.
At this stage of the project, overall timelines are indicative only. Currently, the tender process for the procurement of the design team services for the project has been undertaken is underway and a design team is expected to be appointed in the near future. Once the design team has been appointed, design development will commence with the aim of submitting a planning application as early as possible in 2015. It is the intention of the Project Team to engage with all local stakeholders and interested parties in regard to the project as it progresses further.
419. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plans for primary care centres at locations (details supplied); the specific location address for each; if a lease has been entered into; how advanced the proposals are for each and the amount of money his Department has made available for each in capital costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10522/14]
View answerDelivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
420. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health the position regarding dental treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [10525/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
421. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois who is trying to live independently and is working has been refused a medical card. [10528/14]
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.
422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a surgical procedure will be provided at Tallaght hospital in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10532/14]
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.
423. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment date at Tallaght hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10540/14]
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.
424. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied). [10546/14]
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.
425. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with spinal injuries that have been transferred from Tallaght hospital to the Mater Private Hospital for treatment; and if this transfer was under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [10547/14]
View answerI have been advised by the HSE that Tallaght Hospital has entered into a Service Level Agreement with the Mater Private Hospital, approved by the HSE, for the provision of spinal surgery. Under this agreement, 630 patients who had been awaiting an outpatient spinal appointment for greater than 12 months were transferred to the Mater Private and will be reviewed by specialist surgeons there. In addition, 31 non-complex deformity spinal patients who were waiting longer than eight months for surgery have had their procedure carried out in the Mater Private under this agreement, while a further 42 complex deformity spinal patients are being reviewed by the Mater Private to assess their surgical requirements.
Tallaght Hospital is working with the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the HSE to explore solutions that can address spinal service needs across both hospitals and this process will be informed by the ongoing work of the National Clinical Care Programme for Orthopaedics in developing a national model of care for spinal patients.
426. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if there have been two spinal surgeon consultants appointed recently in Tallaght hospital to deal with the waiting lists. [10548/14]
View answerI am advised that Tallaght Hospital has not appointed two spinal surgeons in the recent past. Rather, Tallaght Hospital is working with the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the HSE to explore solutions that can address spinal service needs across both hospitals and this process will be informed by the ongoing work of the National Clinical Care Programme for Orthopaedics in developing a national model of care for spinal patients. Tallaght Hospital has, however, recently appointed a second consultant orthopaedic surgeon, who specialises in pelvic acetabular trauma. In addition a new upper limb orthopaedic surgeon has been recruited and is due to take up post in a number of weeks.
427. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to correspondence (details supplied), if a standard guideline for staff working in neonatal/maternity units has been developed; if it makes specific reference to informing parents of potential risks of sudden infant death syndrome; if it makes specific reference to possible preventative/precautionary measures in relation to sudden infant death syndrome including the use of sleep monitors; if he will detail same; the extent of the roll-out of this guideline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10552/14]
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.
428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the eligibility for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10579/14]
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.
429. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason a one month prescription of medication is taken to mean a 28 day supply; if there has been any change towards this manner of dispensation in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10591/14]
View answerThere is no legislation or agreement that deals with the quantity of prescription tablets to be included in a monthly pack. This is at the discretion of the marketing authorisation holders. The standard industry practice across Europe is for prescription tablets to be packaged in sizes of 28, as this number has been found to be convenient for patients. Where the quantity of a preparation prescribed does not correspond with an original pack size and it is not feasible to supply the exact amount prescribed, the pharmacist may, in the exercise of his or her professional judgement and bearing in mind the nature of the product and his or her statutory obligations, supply the nearest pack size to the quantity prescribed.
