Written Answers Nos. 151-171
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Written Answers Nos. 151-171
151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a review of eligibility for medical card, previously refused on the grounds of income will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27452/14]
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.
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 890 of 27 May 2014, if he will further examine the case in view of the concern of the parents and recognising the need to ensure early attention in meeting the patient's needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27454/14]
View answerI understand that the HSE replied to the Deputy in relation to this matter on 10 June this year. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this further question.
153. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance-AP shifts that have been dropped at each ambulance base nationwide in each of the past six months; the implications of these dropped shifts on response times and patient outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27456/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
154. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the latest available ambulance response time figures and first responder figures and corresponding year to date figures; the total number of calls in each category for each of the nine regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27457/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
155. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has given consideration to a rapid, reliable and cost-effective HIV test (details supplied) which has been available in the UK since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27460/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, the HSE has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy.
156. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare in view of the decision of 17 June regarding discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27461/14]
View answerIn the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments. If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.
The HSE has commenced the process of identifying and contacting persons to advise them that their medical cards and GP visit cards will issue. It is estimated that this process will take 3 weeks. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised 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.
157. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if an epidural injection is covered under the medical card scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/14]
View answerAll in-patient public hospital services and out-patient public hospital services are provided free of charge for persons who hold a medical card.
158. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway cannot avail of macushield under the GMS scheme in their area when it is available under the medical card scheme in other Health Service Executive areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/14]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
159. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health in relation to the provision of dedicated beds in Beaumont Hospital for cystic fibrosis sufferers, when additional beds will be provided; his views of a previous promise to provide three additional beds; the reason these have not yet been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27473/14]
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.
160. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the continued use of Fampyra within the community drugs scheme to treat multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27476/14]
View answer198. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will include Fampyra in the GMS and DPS schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 198 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine (Fampyra®) in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie).
The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment in which the Government targeted additional savings in health expenditure of €619 million in 2014, which must be achieved while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible, the HSE decided it was not in a position to add the drug to the List of Reimbursable Items supplied under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
It is open to the supplier, at any time, to submit a new application to the HSE incorporating new evidence which demonstrates the cost effectiveness of Fampridine. The HSE will then re-consider the application to add this product to the List of Reimbursable Items, in line with the agreed procedures and timescales for the assessment of new medicines. In this context, I understand the manufacturer has indicated to the HSE that it intends to submit a revised application for Fampridine. The HSE will consider the application on receipt in line with the agreed procedures and timescales for the assessment of new medicines.
161. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the various illnesses included on the long-term illness list; if chronic kidney disease will be included on the long-term list under any circumstances; the extra documentation that is necessary to support a case for inclusion of this illness under the current scheme; if there is an appeal process; the way a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5, who suffers with chronic kidney disease, can avail of the long-term illness scheme in circumstances where they do not qualify for a medical card as they reside with their parents but cannot afford the €144 per month for necessary medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27481/14]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered under the LTI 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 HSE 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.
162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the plans being made to prevent a future nursing home crisis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27483/14]
View answerThe funding that is available for services for older people must be balanced across all of the various service areas in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritises areas of greatest need as far as possible. I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is acutely aware of the implications for service requirements of the projected demographic trends, and all relevant information will be taken account of in future decisions.
The priority for 2014 is the development of an integrated model of care with a strong emphasis on home care and other community services. This is seen as a first step in aligning the model of care more towards the community, in line with Government policy and the expressed wishes of older people. In this regard, €23m was transferred from the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) budget to community services. However, the budget for the NHSS remains significant with €939m available this year. The €23m which was transferred from the NHSS budget to community services is being used to deliver a greater range of care options, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, avoid undue delays in discharges from acute hospitals and provide rehabilitation to support older people to return home.
The Deputy will be aware that the NHSS is currently being reviewed. The review is considering the long term sustainability of the Scheme as well as looking at how well the current model of provision is currently balancing residential care with care in the community, and whether this needs to be adjusted to better reflect what older people want. Work on the Review is advanced. It is expected that it will be completed in the coming months and the Report will then be made publicly available.
163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27484/14]
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.
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms he will put in place to reimburse families who were forced to cover the cost of their medical care following the withdrawal of their medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27485/14]
View answerThe current eligibility system for health services, which has been in place since 1970, is based primarily on financial criteria. Therefore, the Government has decided to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services to take account of medical conditions, including new legislation as appropriate and a HSE clinical expert group is to examine the range of conditions that should be considered as part of this process. The group has been asked to make an early report to the Minister for Health in the autumn.
The Government was very concerned about the potential impacts on the health of persons with serious illnesses whose discretionary medical cards and GP visit cards were refused renewals since the centralisation of medical card assessment in 2011. Therefore, in the context of the above eligibility policy development, the Government has decided to issue medical cards and GP visit cards to these people. The Government recently approved the method by which medical cards and GP visit cards, awarded by way of discretion, can issue to persons with serious medical conditions where renewal was refused having completed an eligibility review. These cards are issuing in the context of government decisions in relation to future eligibility policy.
The eligibility reviews conducted during that period were in accordance with legislation as it stands. The Government did not decide to retrospectively compensate persons for expenditure during the period January 2011 - May 2014 when the person did not qualify for a medical card. The Deputy may be aware that persons with certain prescribed conditions qualify for the Long Term illness (LTI) scheme, irrespective of income or means. Under the LTI scheme, persons suffering from prescribed conditions can get drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of that condition free of charge.
It should also be noted that under the Drugs Payment Scheme, a household only has to pay a maximum of €144 each month for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances. This scheme is aimed at those who do not have a medical card and who normally have to pay the full cost of their medication. It also applies to those who have a GP visit card. Anyone ordinarily resident in the State can apply to join the scheme, regardless of family, financial circumstances or nationality. Anyone who has incurred costs higher than that in a month can apply for a refund, going back to March 2011.
165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding surgery in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27487/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly.
166. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27501/14]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.
167. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the posts which were sanctioned but not filled in child and adolescent mental health services as of 12 March 2014, which were expected to be filled by the second quarter of this year. [27503/14]
View answer168. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of all specialist staff in child and adolescent mental health services by the Health Service Executive area according to the most recent data available. [27504/14]
View answer169. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will delineate the catchment areas for child and adolescent mental health service teams in Dublin and bordering counties. [27505/14]
View answer170. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if redeployment of staff from the child and adolescent mental health services to other services within the Health Service Executive, or from one CAMHS unit to another, has been taking place since 2011. [27506/14]
View answer171. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the way staffing for child and adolescent mental health services is calculated under A Vision for Change; and the way population data are obtained to determine staffing. [27507/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 171, inclusive, together.
As these matters are service issues these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
