Written Answers Nos. 607-629
607. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds being occupied by persons who are waiting on home care packages to be passed; the financial cost of one of these beds being occupied unnecessarily; the average cost of a home care package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16302/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
608. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent on home care packages for adults and minors by the Health Service Executive over the past three years; if he will provide a breakdown of local regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16317/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
609. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1109 of 25 March 2014, when the audit referred to will take place; the reason for the delay in carrying out this audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16318/14]
View answerI am advised that the HSE National Clinical Programme for Stroke is currently developing the methodology for the National Stroke Audit. It is intended to start data collection in the latter half of 2014 and that the analysis will be completed in the first half of 2015.
610. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in relation to children who suffer from intestinal failure if he will take action on the lengthy delay for the completion of home care packages in view of the fact that total parenteral nutrition is standard practice in care giving of such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16319/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
611. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not been referred for orthodontic services; the procedure during a routine appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16325/14]
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.
612. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated by Government bodies annually for the purposes of research for childhood leukaemia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16348/14]
View answerSince 2007 the Health Research Board, which is the lead agency in health research in Ireland, has invested over €42m in cancer research across the full spectrum of cancers that afflict people of all ages. Of this investment, almost €3.4m has been specific to research into understanding the causes of leukaemia, and improving the diagnosis and treatment of that disease (which impacts on both children and adults), and to managing the palliative care needs of children with life-limiting conditions such as leukaemia.
Some of the research work of the National Cancer Registry of Ireland on childhood cancer over recent years also incorporated elements on leukaemia.
613. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if an eye operation will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16349/14]
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.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
614. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the conditions for providing defibrillators in public premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/14]
View answer615. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of defibrillators currently available nationwide for use by the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16355/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together.
There is currently no structured public access defibrillation programme in operation in Ireland that specifies the conditions for providing defibrillators in public places. The Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013 that is currently at Committee stage outlines a scheme that would require the owners of particular types of premises or venues to install and maintain defibrillators so that they would be available for public use. The health technology assessment of public access defibrillation currently being conducted by HIQA will examine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of different configurations of any potential public access defibrillation programme. The results of this assessment will be used to inform decision making on issues related to the bill. This project is scheduled for completion in late 2014.
No information is available on the exact numbers of AEDs that are currently in use in Ireland. Based on data from a number of suppliers, it is estimated that in excess of 17,000 units have been sold in this country since 1998. However no information is currently available on the locations of these devices, what proportion are maintained and functional, and how many are available for use by the public. Analysis of the existing availability of automatic external defibrillators will form part of the HIQA health technology assessment that is due to be completed in late 2014.
616. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health in view of the severe and often tragic outcome of anaphylactic shock, if he plans to make the necessary provisions of EpiPens in public premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16356/14]
View answerAdrenaline pens, as injectable medicines, may only be supplied on foot of a valid prescription. However, there is provision in the current Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (as amended) which permits pharmacists, in emergency circumstances, to supply certain prescription only medicines without a prescription.
My Department is currently examining the possibility of amending the regulations to facilitate the wider availability of adrenaline pens without prescription in emergency situations, by persons trained in the administration of these pens.
617. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of suicide prevention resource officers who are appointed to their positions on a permanent basis. [16360/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
618. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, has closed the living kidney donor list to new patients, while a theatre that was opened to facilitate more transplants is not being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16361/14]
View answerI am particularly committed to progressing organ donation and transplantation and this is borne out by the record number of transplantations achieved in 2013 and by the increased funding being made available in 2014.
A total of 294 transplants were performed in 2013 - including 38 living kidney transplants. Both of these are record numbers.
The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2014 provides an additional €2.92m for organ donation and transplantation services. The €2.92m will facilitate the appointment of 19 wholetime equivalent staff dedicated to organ donation and transplantation - including consultants, network link nurses, organ procurement officers and quality officers. These staff will comprise a key element of the organ donation effort in each of the hospital groups around the country. They will work to foster a strong culture of organ donation, optimise conversion rates and champion educational strategies and training programmes that promote organ donation to health care professionals across each hospital group.
The Government’s commitment to increasing organ donation and transplantation rates is further underlined by the re-commissioning of a theatre in Beaumont Hospital for transplantation use at a cost of €1.2m. Beaumont Hospital has completed the recruitment of nurses for this facility and these nurses are now being trained to take on the specialised work involved. The theatre will be in use for kidney transplants from May 2014 and I expect the rate of transplants will increase incrementally over subsequent months.
The National Renal Transplant Programme at Beaumont progresses the ‘work-up’ (clinical assessment and a range of diagnostic procedures) of donors and recipients on the live donor programme in an organised way to facilitate the smooth running of the overall service. Preparing patients and their donors too far in advance would render some of the clinical assessments and diagnostics invalid, thus requiring some repeat procedures. The management of this process involves the holding back of some donors and recipients so that they will not be worked up too far in advance of their procedure.
Already 10 living donor transplants have been completed in 2014 and I am confident, with the new theatre coming on stream in May, that the 2013 record will be exceeded this year.
619. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if electronic cigarettes will be banned from all educational campuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16362/14]
View answerIn order to harmonise regulation of e-cigarettes across EU Member States, the new Tobacco Products Directive, not as yet in force 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.
The Tobacco Products Directive does not cover rules on smoke free environments in relation to e-cigarettes. As e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco their use is not prohibited in workplaces as is the case with tobacco products under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 to 2011. Agencies can, however, on a voluntary basis have policies in this regard.
In view of the lack of sufficient research and information regarding e-cigarettes, my Department will continue to monitor existing and emerging evidence on the potential harm and the potential benefits of e-cigarettes. However it is my intention to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to those under the age of 18 years.
620. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the annual wages of the chief executive officer of Cheeverstown as a section 38 voluntary service. [16368/14]
View answerAs this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
621. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card appeal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16378/14]
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.
622. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn a direction issued to all staff in the Dublin Dental Hospital by their human resources department requesting all staff to stop taking work experience placement students, if he will outline if this is now policy in teaching hospitals; if he will direct the hospital to reverse this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16380/14]
View answer623. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if the board of the Dublin Dental Hospital discussed and agreed the new policy from their human resources department requesting all staff to stop taking work experience students; if his representatives on the board agreed to this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16381/14]
View answer624. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all examples and correspondence related to and from the Dublin Dental Hospital where work experience students interfered with the smooth running of clinics and other activities; if he will detail any complaints from practising staff about work experience students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16382/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 622 to 624, inclusive, together.
The Dublin Dental University Hospital has advised that it will cease approving transition year or similar student placements from the beginning of the new academic year. I understand that the presence of additional observers impacts significantly on space in clinics as well as potentially diverting the attention of supervisors from their own students. As this was deemed to be an operational matter, the decision was taken by the Executive Team, not the Board and does not concern other teaching hospitals. The Department of Health has no correspondence from Hospital staff on this matter and has no plans to issue any direction to the Hospital on this issue.
625. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that serve on the board of the Dublin Dental Hospital; when was each appointed; the vacancies that exist; when the next vacancy will arise; what stipend or expenses is paid to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16383/14]
View answerThe Board consists of a Chairperson and 13 Board members. The current Board was appointed in January 2011 for a 4-year term of office. Two Board members resigned and were replaced in 2011 and 2012. There are no current vacancies. An annual allowance of approximately €12,500 is paid to the Chairperson. No stipends or expenses are paid to other members of the Board.
626. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the funding from his Department the Dublin Dental Hospital received in each year from 2008 to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16384/14]
View answerThe Dublin Dental University Hospital is funded by the Department of Education and Skills (50%) and the HSE (25%). The remaining 25% of income is self generated. It has received the following allocations from the HSE:
|
Year |
Amount (millions) |
|
2008 |
€7.51 |
|
2009 |
€7.35 |
|
2010 |
€6.88 |
|
2011 |
€6.09 |
|
2012 |
€5.98 |
|
2013 |
€5.80 |
|
2014 |
€5.63 |
627. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Longford will receive an appointment for a hip replacement procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16395/14]
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.
628. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will receive an appointment at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore to have a hip replacement carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16396/14]
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.
629. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite and award a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16402/14]
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.
