Written Answers Nos. 813-839
813. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if arrangements will be made to have a catheter removed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33138/14]
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.
814. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment date for a MRI scan at Tallaght general hospital, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33140/14]
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.
815. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Irish Wheelchair Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33144/14]
View answerThe Irish Wheelchair Association receives funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE) under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004. The HSE has a service level agreement with the Irish Wheelchair Association to provide services to people with a disability. The agreement covers the nature and levels of services to be provided by the Irish Wheelchair Association for people with a disability within the funding provided on an annual basis.
The issues raised in the correspondence attached to this parliamentary question, including attendance at the Irish Wheelchair Association's recent Annual General Meeting, are issues more appropriate to the Board of the Irish Wheelchair Association and are not within the ambit of the Minster for Health or the HSE.
816. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33145/14]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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.
818. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason home help staff had their wages cut from €15 per hour to €12 and only receive €5 travel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33152/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
820. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding asthma. [33156/14]
View answerThe National Clinical Programme for Asthma (NCPA) Model of Care was recently approved by the HSE and is now planned for implementation in accordance with the HSE's National Service Plan 2014 and work is currently ongoing by NCPA on an implementation plan for the Model of Care.
The Model of Care details how physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals will work with engaged patients to make the clinical decisions most appropriate to their circumstances; and to collaborate with specialist colleagues in providing a safe, seamless patient experience within the health system in Ireland. Recommendations, such as the use of guidelines and asthma education training, are already underway.
Asthma management involves a partnership between the patient and the relevant health care professional, with frequent revision and reinforcement. The aim is to give patients (and parents/caregivers), where possible, the ability to control their own (or their child’s) asthma condition, with guidance from health care professionals. For this reason, education of patients to ensure self-management and patient empowerment is an integral and fundamental part of the Model of Care and at all points of contact with the health services.
The role of the health care professional is key to the education and empowerment of patients, so that patients are well informed, guided by the professional and confident in self-management of their asthma. The role of GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals in encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own care needs to be clearly articulated, in both education and practice.
Like adults, children with asthma (and their parents) need to know how to self-manage their own condition. Guided self-management education, including self-monitoring of peak expiratory flow and/or symptoms, with regular medical review, supported by a written asthma management plan has been found to improve health outcomes.
Up-to-date information is available for patients and their families and carers. There are easily accessible patient asthma education supports which have been implemented in conjunction with the NCPA's key stakeholder, the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI), to assist guided self-management for this chronic condition. These are available on both the HSE and ASI websites ( http://www.hseland.ie and www.asthmasociety.ie ).
A self-learning asthma E-Learning 6 modular theoretical programme based on the national asthma evidenced based guidelines and developed by NCPA in conjunction with ASI is freely available on http://www.hseland.ie and www.asthmasociety.ie for any health care professional who wishes to update their knowledge. This will enable health care professionals to underpin their skill sets with theory. There is also a similar programme available for GPs on the ICGP website.
In addition, a practical workshop is also being delivered for staff in primary and secondary care by Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists. This education programme will continue throughout 2014-2015.
821. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding an association (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33159/14]
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.
822. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the options available to a parent of a sick child (details supplied) in County Mayo who needs financial assistance to bring the sick child to hospital in view of Health Service Executive patient transport policy which will not assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33163/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
824. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support the extension of BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33168/14]
View answer828. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck to 65 to 70 year olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33181/14]
View answer866. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he supports an extension of BreastCheck, the national free screening programme, to women aged 65 to 69 years of age in line with the programme for Government, and if so, when this extension will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33303/14]
View answer900. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33416/14]
View answer932. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of extending the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged between 65 and 70 years of age; when he intends to extend the screening programme to this age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33542/14]
View answer1002. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend BreastCheck cover to women aged from 65 to 69 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33881/14]
View answer1062. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will extend BreastCheck to women aged 65 to 69 years as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34170/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 824, 828, 866, 900, 932, 1002 and 1062 together.
The BreastCheck Programme provides free mammograms to all women aged 50-64. A priority of the BreastCheck Programme at present is to maximise national uptake in the 50-64 year age cohort.
It is my intention to extend the upper age range to include the 65-69 age cohort as soon as possible in line with available resources.
825. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding bed availability in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33169/14]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
826. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the reason the vaccination for chickenpox is not part of the routine childhood vaccination programme; his plans for it to be included in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33175/14]
View answer978. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the reason the vaccination for chickenpox is not part of the routine childhood vaccination programme; his plans for same to be included in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33786/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 978 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice and by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The current guidelines on chickenpox (varicella) recommend that this vaccine is given to specific at risk groups. NIAC is currently considering current scientific evidence whether to recommend the inclusion of varicella vaccine into the childhood immunisation schedule.
Should NIAC advice recommend the inclusion of a new vaccine into the primary childhood immunisation programme in Ireland, my Department, in association with the Health Service Executive's National Immunisation Office will examine the issue.
829. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a proper early intervention team for north city Dublin as a matter of urgency. [33185/14]
View answerThe Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with a disability, including early intervention services, within available resources. While these services are in the process of being reconfigured under the HSE’s National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years), it is important to note that all HSE areas have early intervention services in place for children with disabilities aged up to eighteen years. These are provided directly by the HSE or by voluntary service providers funded by the HSE.
The aim of the Progressing Disability Services Programme is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services so that there is a clear pathway to services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. An additional €4m has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts. The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and, importantly, includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, such as service users and their families.
As the specific issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the HSE, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be referred to the Executive for direct reply to him.
830. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if his Department has plans to roll out a vaccine for meningococcal B; if negotiations have taken place with pharmaceutical suppliers for the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33189/14]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health.
The NIAC has not made any recommendation in relation to the use of Meningitis B vaccine in the primary childhood immunisation programme in Ireland. However NIAC has issued guidance in relation to the use of the Meningitis B vaccine in the control of clusters or outbreaks of Meningococcal B disease. Deliberation regarding the introduction of Meningococcal B into the primary immunisation schedule continues. New parameters as used by the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are being included.
831. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois. [33190/14]
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.
832. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive have plans to expand the provision of long-term care to a greater number of patients in St. Columbanus' Hospital, Killarney, County Kerry. [33192/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
833. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the duration of agreed contracts between the National Treatment Purchase Fund and a private nursing home in relation to the nursing home's approval for the provision of the nursing home support scheme. [33193/14]
View answerThe legislation underpinning the Nursing Homes Support Scheme requires each private nursing home to negotiate and agree a price for long-term residential care services with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme. This is a necessary feature of the scheme due to the commitment by the State to meet the full balance of the cost of care over and above a person's contribution.
The NTPF is independent in the performance of this function and, in carrying it out, it must ensure value for money for both the individual and the State. It negotiates with each nursing home individually and may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process. The duration of Pricing Contracts is a matter for agreement between the NTPF and the nursing home in question.
834. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons residing in County Mayo that have been treated for skin cancer in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33195/14]
View answerThe National Cancer Registry of Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the collection and analysis of information relating to the incidence of cancer in Ireland, advises that the total cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Mayo from 2008 - 2012 (the most recent five year time period for which complete data is available) is as follows:
|
Melanoma |
non- Melanoma |
|||||
|
Year of diagnosis |
Females |
Males |
Total |
Females |
Males |
Total |
|
2008 |
11 |
13 |
24 |
86 |
136 |
222 |
|
2009 |
10 |
7 |
17 |
79 |
130 |
209 |
|
2010 |
13 |
13 |
26 |
137 |
160 |
297 |
|
2011 |
11 |
17 |
28 |
140 |
166 |
306 |
|
2012 |
15 |
18 |
33 |
115 |
171 |
286 |
|
Annual average |
12 |
14 |
26 |
111 |
153 |
264 |
835. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who retired, left or otherwise departed from their employment from 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013, and the expected annual savings arising therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2014, and the annual expected savings therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2015, and the annual savings therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2016, and the annual savings therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33206/14]
View answerDuring the period 01 July 2013 to 31 December 2013 one civil servant retired from my Department. To date in 2014, ten civil servants (8.8 Wholetime equivalents) have retired from my Department. Two staff members will reach age 65 in 2015 and four staff members will reach 65 in 2016 and will have to retire on age grounds in those years. One other staff member has also signalled his intention to retire in June 2015.
There is no mechanism to predict how many retirements there may be in 2015 as a result of the grace period for pension purposes under the Haddington Road Agreement or how many will retire in 2016.
As my Department is a non-delegated Department in respect of the administration of pensions, the superannuation entitlements of staff of my Department are determined, awarded and administered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this Department has no mechanism for calculating the expected savings from retirements.
836. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who retired, left or otherwise departed from the Health Service Executive from 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013 and the expected annual savings arising therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2014 and the annual expected savings therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2015 and the annual savings therefrom; the number of staff expected to leave in 2016 and the annual savings therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33212/14]
View answer838. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of new staff employed in the Health Service Executive since 1 July 2013 up to 31 December 2013 and the expected annual costs arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2014 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2015 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2016 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33234/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 836 and 838 together.
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
837. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of new staff employed since 1 July 2013 up to 31 December 2013 and the expected annual costs arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2014 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2015 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2016 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33223/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed as follows.
|
No. of new staff employed 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013 |
Annual cost arising |
|
Special Advisor |
€81,676 |
|
Chief Nursing Officer |
€124,917 |
|
Ministerial Driver x 2 |
€65,930 |
|
Expected no. of staff to be employed in 2014 |
Expected annual cost arising |
|
Personal Secretary x 2 |
€68,390 |
|
Personal Assistant |
€48,520 |
|
Special Advisor |
€99,370 |
|
Special Advisor (Press) |
€81,676 |
|
Driver x 2 |
€65,930 |
|
Secretary General |
€176,350 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
€131,385 |
|
Technical / Professional staff at PO equivalent level x 2 |
€171,500 |
|
Technical / Professional staff at AP equivalent level x 11 |
€726,440 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
€51,653 |
|
Administrative Officer x 6 |
€239,802 |
My Department is not in a position to estimate the number of new staff likely to be employed in 2015 and 2016 at this stage.
839. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the number of those aged over 70 who have lost their medical cards on review since 1 July 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33235/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
