Written Answers Nos. 899-926
899. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding a Government levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33409/14]
View answerSimilar to other non-life insurance contracts, health insurance contracts generally have a duration of twelve months. I understand that current market practice for the health insurers is to apply a cancellation charge equal to the stamp duty levy to customers who cancel policies or opt to change provider mid-contract. An administration fee may also be charged.
It is a matter for the insurance companies as to the extent, if any, they pass this levy on to their customers. Provisions for the payment of the levy are contained in Section 125A of the Stamp Duty Consolidation Act 1999, and are administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners has issued guidelines to insurers which in addition to setting out the payment verification procedures agreed with insurers, also highlight that only one levy is payable in any twelve month period for each insured person.
901. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a prostate cancer screening programme similar to the BreastCheck programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33417/14]
View answerThe HSE's National Screening Service does not recommend prostate cancer screening for asymptomatic men. Also, international evidence does not support the introduction of a population based screening programme for prostate cancer. I do not propose to introduce such a programme at this time.
902. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a hospital appointment for back pain screening will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33420/14]
View answerThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. 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 case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
903. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33430/14]
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.
904. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33432/14]
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.
905. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 213 of 12 June 2014 and 874 of 30 April 2014, when the last mini-competition, as opposed to a panel under a framework agreement, was held by the Health Service Executive for the awarding of an actual contract for the provision of taxi services in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33433/14]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter the question was forwarded to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
906. Deputy Joe O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health in respect of a private consultant who works in a public hospital, the percentage of their patients that can be private; the percentage of the income that they earn from private patient consultations that is given back to the hospital in which they work; the overall percentage of moneys owing by private consultants that has been collected by the general hospital sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33435/14]
View answerThe percentage of private patients that can be seen by a consultant in a public hospital depends on the type of consultant contract held. Type A contract holders have no access to private practice. For those consultants with access to private practice within public hospitals, the volume of private practice may not exceed 20% of the Consultants clinical workload in any of his or her clinical activities, including in-patient, day-patient and out-patient. I have referred the Deputy's other queries to the HSE for direct reply.
907. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the budget of the health service appliance department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33436/14]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
908. Deputy Joe O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details and the total cost of the action plan seeking funding for inpatient and day surgery which was forwarded from Cavan General Hospital to his private office; the number of patients; the exact speciality that would benefit from this funding; and if funding is approved, how quickly can this plan be implemented; the access targets for inpatients-day cases and outpatients for the end of 2014; if Cavan-Monaghan Hospital Group is on course to achieve targets across all specialties; if this is not the case, has an alternative action plan been put in place; if it will require additional funding; if this was submitted to the Office of the National Director of Acute Hospitals; if Cavan-Monaghan Hospital Group has the necessary resources required to achieve-maintain access targets for inpatients and outpatients across all specialties on an ongoing basis in 2015; if not, the resources that are required to achieve and maintain said targets and are these additional resources factored into the budget for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33440/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
909. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to undertake an audit of respite services to identify gaps in existing service levels and to assess current and future need for these services; his plans to provide increased access to planned respite breaks for dependents of full time carers; his plans for development of flexible in home respite services for carers and dependents with no access to residential respite services; his plans to provide additional emergency respite beds when carers are unable to carry out their duties on a short time basis, for example when a carer takes ill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33452/14]
View answerThe vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Service Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
910. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his views on the feasibility of developing a national discharge summary and care plan for all people leaving hospital care to share with their respective carers. [33453/14]
View answerIn relation to acute care, the HSE National Integrated Care Guidance (2014) has been developed by the National Integrated Care Advisory Group under the auspices of the Quality and Patient Safety Division. The guidance is based on feedback received following extensive national and targeted consultation with service providers in both the acute and community healthcare settings, and on review of the HSE Integrated Discharge Planning Code of Practice (2008). This practical guide to integrated care is designed to support healthcare providers to improve their discharge and transfer processes from the acute hospital setting back into the community. This guide will support service providers in demonstrating how they are meeting the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, and outlines nine key steps in effective discharge and transfer of care which will facilitate faster, safer discharges for patients. As the arrangements for patients being discharged from acute hospitals are service matters, I have also asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
911. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there are no cuts to home help services given the severe difficulties this will cause service users and their families; that steps will be taken to ensure sufficient levels of home help are made available to support carers including the provision for more flexibility for weekend and night cover; and that the number of home help packages are sustained in an equitable divide countrywide. [33454/14]
View answerA HSE priority in 2014 is the development of an integrated model of care, with a strong emphasis on home and community care. The Budget and target levels for service provision for both the home help service (€185m) and home care packages (€130m) remain at 2013 levels. In addition, €23m has been redirected from the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to augment community services. The question of funding available for these services next year is being considered as part of the Estimates Process 2015, which is currently underway.
912. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his view on providing a training plan or courses for family carers similar to those provided to health care professionals in the practicalities of care such as patient moving and handling, the use of aids and appliances, nutrition and personal care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33455/14]
View answerThe National Carers’ Strategy, which was published in July 2012, is a cross-departmental strategy that sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers.
It is an objective of this Strategy to provide relevant and accessible carer training opportunities for carers. The operational delivery of this objective falls within the remit of the HSE and the more specific issues raised by the Deputy have accordingly been referred to the Executive for direct reply to him.
913. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the National Carers' Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33463/14]
View answerThe National Carers’ Strategy was published in July 2012 and sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers.
It sets out a vision to work towards and an ambitious set of National Goals and Objectives to guide policy development and service delivery to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring.
The Strategy also contains a Roadmap for Implementation with a suite of actions and associated timelines, and identifies the Government Department responsible for their implementation. It is important to note that the actions in the Roadmap for Implementation are those that can be achieved on a cost neutral basis.
The National Carers' Strategy committed to the production of an Annual Report on progress which would be published on the websites of relevant Departments. The first Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy was published in November 2013 and is available on my Department's website. The Annual Report will provide the Deputy with a list of actions that were identified in the Strategy and what progress has been made on each one since the Strategy’s publication.
A number of Government Departments responsible for implementation of aspects of the Strategy have met with The Carers' Association in recent months to discuss how implementation can be brought forward and an ongoing dialogue has been established.
Work on the second Annual Report is advancing and it is my intention that this be completed as soon as possible with a view to publication in the coming months.
914. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce the drug Fampyra in the near future under any Health Service Executive drug payment or reimbursement scheme for people suffering from multiple sclerosis; if not, if he will outline the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33465/14]
View answer937. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the life-changing treatment drug Fampyra for multiple sclerosis patients here; if he will make this a priority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33556/14]
View answer965. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will include the multiple sclerosis drug, Fampyra, in the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33749/14]
View answer966. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his views on the exclusion of the multiple sclerosis drug, fampyra, from the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33750/14]
View answer979. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will make Fampyra available to MS patients under the medical card or long-term illness schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33787/14]
View answer982. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a trial drug called Fampyra for treatment of MS continues to be covered by the Health Service Executive after November 2014. [33792/14]
View answer1032. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health his plans to licence the drug Fampyra, Fampridine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34014/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 914, 937, 965, 966, 979, 982 and 1032 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 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 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. Biogen Idec's Irish management indicated to the HSE in November 2013 that it intended to re-submit an application in April 2014. The HSE has advised it received a revised application from Biogen Idec on Friday 25th July. This application is currently being assessed in line with the agreed procedures and timescales. No further comment is possible at this time as the HSE decision making process is ongoing.
915. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a renewal of medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33470/14]
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.
916. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33473/14]
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.
917. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33474/14]
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.
918. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of an application for financial assistance under the lottery grant scheme in the case of a community centre (details supplied) in County Kildare who recently applied for a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33477/14]
View answerMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2014 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The organisation will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
920. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the changes that are proposed either to legislation and-or guidelines to ensure that a clear pathway of referral for an assessment for a pregnancy termination is established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33496/14]
View answerThe Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 was enacted in July 2013 and commenced in January 2014. The purpose of this Act is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment in the European Court of Human Right in the A, B and C v Ireland case.
The Act also creates procedures which apply to the lawful termination of pregnancy. The objectives of these procedures are to ensure that, where lawful termination of pregnancy is under consideration, the right to life of the unborn is respected where practicable, and, secondly, to ensure that a woman can ascertain by means of a clear process whether she requires this medical procedure or not.
There are no proposals to amend the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. The Guidance Document to assist health professional in the implementation of this Act is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. This document includes identifying referral pathways to fulfil the requirements of the Act and other relevant operational matters.
921. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that adequate communication and liaison exists between the Health Service Executive and the Department of Justice and Equality direct provision service to ensure that vulnerable women receive the advice and services they are entitled to under constitutional provision 40.3.3° and subsequent legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33497/14]
View answerArticle 40.3.3° of the Irish Constitution states that ‘The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.’
The interpretation of Article 40.3.3° was considered by the Supreme Court in Attorney General v X (the X case [1992] 2 IR 1.). The Supreme Court held that if it were established as a matter of probability that there was a real and substantial risk to the life, as distinct from the health, of the mother and that the real and substantial risk could only be averted by the termination of the pregnancy, such a termination is lawful.
Further, in December 2009, the European Court of Human Rights heard a case brought by three women in respect of the alleged breach of their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights in regard to abortion in Ireland (the A, B and C v Ireland case [2010] ECHR 2032.).
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 was enacted in July 2013 and commenced in January 2014. The purpose of this Act is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment in the European Court of Human Right in the A, B and C v Ireland case.
The implementation of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
922. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the decision to not offer orthodontic treatment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be reconsidered in view of the fact that it was stated that treatment would be required at initial assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33498/14]
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.
923. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [33506/14]
View answerOur Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin is an acute paediatric hospital and is one of the three children’s hospitals that form the Children’s Hospital Group. It is responsible for providing tertiary care services for children all over Ireland. The hospital also serves a large urban catchment area to which it delivers primary and secondary care.
The hospital specialties include cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, genetic disorders, oncology, haematology, complex airways diseases, rheumatology, burns and gastroenterology. The HSE has invested in developments at the hospital in recent years including: rheumatology, cardiac services, intensive and critical care, anaesthesia, dermatology, child health and emergency medicine. In addition, the hospital was supported financially by the Special Delivery Unit to manage its waiting lists.
The hospital has a 2014 Health Service Executive Budget Allocation of €113.255m. It has not received any specific additional funding in 2014 from the HSE and received its share of relevant budget measures in line with all other acute hospitals. The HSE regularly meets with the hospital to monitor its performance in terms of managing its allocation and service provision.
The HSE has advised the Department of Health that it is working with the Children's Hospital Group to identify key service development issues and will progress these as part of the Estimates process in the development of the National Service Plan for 2015. This will then be considered in the context of competing demands for the overall resources available in 2015 and beyond.
924. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a cataracts operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [33508/14]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
926. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [33513/14]
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.
