Written Answers Nos. 398-415
398. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have died while in the care of psychiatric inpatient facilities in the State in each of the years 2009 to 2013, inclusive; the number of these who had absconded at the time of their deaths. [35820/14]
View answerThe Mental Health Commission collects demographic and clinical data in relation to the death of any resident in an approved centre and any sudden unexplained death of a person attending a day hospital, day centre or 24 hour staffed residence. Under the Mental Health Commission Code of Practice for Mental Health Services on Notification of Deaths and Incident Reporting, approved centres are required to report all deaths to the Commission within 48 hours, in accordance with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006, S. I. no. 551 of 2006.
The number of deaths of patients, who have died while in the care of psychiatric in-patient facilities in the State, notified to the Commission are as follows:
Number of Deaths in Approved Centres 2009 – 2013
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Total |
172 |
162 |
141 |
174 |
156 |
The Commission does not have information on the number of patients who had absconded at the time of their death. Therefore, I have referred this part of the question to the HSE for attention direct reply to the Deputy.
399. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of instances recorded of patients having absconded from psychiatric inpatient facilities in the State in each of the years 2009 to 2013, inclusive. [35821/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
401. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35823/14]
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.
402. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on a waiting list for insulin pump therapy in the western region; and the number of these children who have been on the waiting list for longer than 24 months, 12 months, nine months, six months and three months. [35828/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
403. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position on the new south Kildare network disability team; if all the medical positions for the team have been filled at this stage; the number of applicants awaiting referrals; the number who have being referred to the team; if the Health Service Executive is satisfied the team in place can meet all of the applications of referral within an acceptable period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35830/14]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
404. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of a new emergency department at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35834/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
405. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35840/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
406. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) [35841/14]
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.
407. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason there was an increase of 158 persons waiting on hospital trolleys in August this year; his views on whether it is possible to meet the demand of providing more care to sicker persons with fewer staff and less money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35845/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
408. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35846/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
409. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will appoint a senior clinical nurse to the purpose-built mental health facility in Kenmare, County Kerry as this facility remains unused 15 months after it was built because the Health Service Executive has been unable to employ a specialist senior clinical nurse to manage the much needed amenity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35850/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
410. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 578 of 15 April 2014, if negotiations pertaining to a lease of a property owned by the Health Service Executive West (details supplied) have concluded; the terms of that lease regarding rent and service arrangements. [35858/14]
View answerManagement of the healthcare property estate is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
411. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assurances that the Health Service Executive will receive adequate funding so that progress can be made at a location (details supplied) in County Galway on a facility to serve the primary health care needs of a community. [35883/14]
View answerThe HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care Centres and the operation and maintenance of existing health centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
412. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health when funding will be made available to ensure the continuation of services at locations (details supplied) in County Longford. [35888/14]
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.
413. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will consider initiating discussions with a company (details supplied) in relation to ensuring the drug Fampyra be provided as an available drug on the drugs payment scheme. [35889/14]
View answerThe 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.
414. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place for applying for an emergency medical card; the way the application procedure and the application processing procedure differs from the standard medical card application. [35890/14]
View answerMedical cards are provided to persons who, under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, are, in the opinion of the HSE unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Standard medical card scheme applications and those for persons aged 70 and older generally require supporting financial and/or medical documentation to be furnished in order for the application to be assessed in line with the HSE’s Medical Card and GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines and application forms can be accessed online/by post or at local health offices.
However, this process differs in the case of persons seeking emergency medical cards. The HSE has an effective system in place for the provision of emergency medical cards for patients who are terminally ill, or who are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford. Medical cards that are applied for in an emergency situation are issued within twenty-four hours of receipt of the required patient details and the letter of confirmation of the condition from a doctor or a medical consultant. Such an application can be initiated through the Local Health office and details of this procedure are available to all GPs and Social Workers.
With the exception of terminally ill patients, the HSE issues all emergency cards on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card on the basis of means or undue hardship, and that the applicant will follow up with a full application within a number of weeks of receiving the emergency card. As a result, emergency medical cards are issued to a named individual, with a limited eligibility period of six months.
For persons with a terminal illness, a means test does not apply. Once the terminal illness is verified by a GP or Consultant, patients are given an emergency medical card for six months. Given the nature and urgency of the issue, the HSE has appropriate escalation routes to ensure that the person gets the card as quickly as possible. For the purpose of the decision making process for an emergency medical card, in these circumstances, a "terminal illness", or a person who is "terminally ill, is a person who is certified by a Doctor or a Consultant as "terminally ill" and is in a palliative care situation. Terminally ill means that the person is suffering from an illness that will end in death, where there is no possibility of recovery and the person is more likely to die of their illness in the next six months than not.
415. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the total spend by his Department on agency staff in each year from 2010 to 2013, inclusive; and the projected spend for this year. [35897/14]
View answerAs I have no direct role in this matter, I have forwarded your question to the HSE for direct reply.
