Written Answers Nos. 362-379
362. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of people waiting in the accident and emergency department of Beaumont Hospital; the way this number compares with the same number in recent months and years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35349/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
363. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to combat the waiting time at accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35350/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information sought by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
364. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, is not included on the list of long-term critical illnesses meaning that those affected are not entitled to medical cards based on medical needs; if he will reconsider the decision not to include COPD as a long-term critical illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35476/14]
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, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by 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.
Eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE) are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to persons and themselves and their dependants without undue hardship. There is a provision for discretion to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded.
The Government decided, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Expenditure, that the Minister for Health would revert to Government with options for providing eligibility for a range of health services on the basis of specific and defined medical conditions. The Director-General of the Health Service Executive established an Expert Panel to examine and recommend the range of medical conditions that should be considered as a basis of eligibility. The Expert Panel is chaired by Professor Frank Keane, past-president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and clinical lead of the National Clinical Programme for Surgery. The panel includes a range of 23 clinical experts from primary care, specialist services and therapies. The panel also includes a patient representative to ensure that the views of patients are central to the process. The Expert Panel is to report to the Director General of the HSE, who will then advise the Minister of the outcome of the deliberations of the Expert Panel.
366. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his views on the current waiting list for approval of funding for the fair deal nursing home scheme which is running at approximately 15 weeks; the action he will take through his Department’s budget for 2015 to reduce this. [35543/14]
View answerThe HSE operates a national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to enable it to operate within budget. All applicants who are approved for funding are put on the placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application. Funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. Funding is released by the HSE on a weekly basis to ensure those on the placement list receive funding as soon as possible. Currently, the average waiting time on the placement list following funding approval is 14 weeks. As of the 4th of September (latest figures available), there are 1,753 on the placement list awaiting funding release.
Funding for these services will be considered in the context of the Estimates Process 2015, which is currently underway. The funding that does become available 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.
367. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed capital funding for improvements at St Mary's Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth; the proposed works; the cost and time scale for delivery of same. [35544/14]
View answer368. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed capital funding for improvements at St. Joseph's Hospital Ardee, County Louth; the proposed works; the cost and time scale for delivery. [35545/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together.
Given that demand for capital investment far exceeds the funding available investment must be allocated as objectively as possible based on the HSE's assessment of priorities. Currently the funding for the Services for Older People programme focuses on the upgrade and refurbishment of existing facilities to achieve HIQA compliance. Work is underway on the next multi-annual capital plan for the period 2015-2019. The needs and priorities in relation to the CNU programme will be considered again in this context.
369. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate a complaint by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly regarding the information provided relating to his medical card application. [35574/14]
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.
370. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health the number of Parkinson's disease nurse specialists who are currently employed in the midlands Health Service Executive area; his plans to address the ongoing needs of Parkinson's disease patients in the midlands. [35576/14]
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.
371. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the criteria used by HIQA for the evaluation of residential care centres for people with disabilities. [35604/14]
View answer372. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the number of HIQA inspections that have been carried out on residential care centres for people with disabilities over the past twelve months; and where these inspections have taken place. [35606/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), under the Health Act 2007 (as amended) is responsible for the regulation of designated centres. HIQA has advised my Department that it refers to Section 2 (1) of the Act when evaluating whether a residential service is a designated centre. This states that a designated centre is:
“an institution
(a) at which residential services are provided by the [Health Service] Executive, a service provider or a person that is not a service provider but who receives assistance under section 39 of the Health Act 2004 or under section 10 of the Child Care Act 1991 –
I. in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991,
II. to persons with disabilities, in relation to their disabilities, or
III. to other dependent persons, in relation to their dependencies, or
(b) that is a nursing home as defined in Section 2 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990”
Where residential services for people with disabilities meet the definition as set out above, they are deemed to be designated centres under the Act and HIQA is then responsible for the regulation of these centres.
The regulation of designated centres includes inspections of the centres by HIQA inspectors. These inspections evaluate compliance with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and with the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities 2013. A report of the findings of each inspection is published on the HIQA website after each inspection, which includes the identification of areas of non compliance and an action plan from the provider to address those areas of non compliance.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) began to regulate residential services for people with disabilities on 1 November 2013, pursuant to Statutory Instruments 366 (2013) and Statutory Instrument 367 (2013), which assign responsibility to HIQA for registering and inspecting residential services for children and adults with disabilities, including respite services.
I am informed by HIQA that it has conducted 667 inspections in the period 1 November 2013 – 19 September 2014.
I will arrange to forward the Deputy a detailed geographical list of the inspections that have been carried out to date.
373. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures provided for in each hospital under the HSE service plan for 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the outturn for 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 in each hospital concerned; the current annual capacity for such procedures in each hospital [35611/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
374. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health whether the forthcoming human tissue Bill will provide a consent exception for research in specific circumstances. [35616/14]
View answerMy Department is drafting the Heads of a Human Tissue Bill which will put in place a legal framework in relation to the donation of tissue for research.
The general principle that will be enshrined in the legislation is that human tissue may not be used in research without consent having been given for such use.
Some provision may be made for the use for research of tissue held before the legislation comes into effect, subject to specific conditions.
375. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the reissuing of a medical card to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 whose medical card was withdrawn because of a clerical error on the part of the HSE. [35622/14]
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.
376. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a resident general practitioner (details supplied) in County Mayo is retiring and that no replacement GP is taking over; if he will request the Health Service Executive to examine the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35679/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
377. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress being made on the delivery of orthodontic care through orthodontic therapists; if he will extend the remit of the Heath Information and Quality Authority to cover those practitioners delivering orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35680/14]
View answerThe HSE Dublin North East (DNE) Orthodontic Service has been chosen as the pilot area for this new training programme. One member of the dental hygienist staff and one member of the dental nursing staff have commenced training in September 2014. In the course of training these students will work under the direct supervision of specialist orthodontists currently working in HSE units in the treatment of a number of children eligible for HSE-funded orthodontic treatment. This course is being accredited by Dublin Dental Hospital, Trinity College and is one year in duration.
Practitioners delivering orthodontic treatment are required to be registered by the Dental Council. The Council has power, subject in some instances to confirmation by the High Court to advise, admonish, censure, suspend, attach conditions to registration or erase a dentist's name from the Register. Extension of the remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority in the manner suggested by the Deputy is not considered necessary or appropriate.
378. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 730 of 17 June, 2014 his plans to reduce orthodontic waiting times in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to a case where a family is waiting years to be treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35689/14]
View answerThe HSE is aware of the need to address orthodontic waiting times and commissioned an independent national review of orthodontic services to give guidance as to what changes will be desirable. The key issue highlighted by the review, which assessed services nationally, is that the Orthodontic Service should be fully integrated within the Primary Care Service. This is under consideration by the HSE to be implemented as part of the HSE's reform programme. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding the individuals referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 730 of 17 June, 2014.
379. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date will be agreed for a hip operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has been deemed urgent by his GP and the consultant orthopaedic surgeon. [35693/14]
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.
