Written Answers Nos. 184-195
184. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36196/14]
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.
185. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the reason for the delay. [36197/14]
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.
186. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36201/14]
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.
187. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will be assessed by the early intervention services; when a full assessment of the need will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36208/14]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
188. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36210/14]
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 him on this matter.
189. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an appointment for an MRI scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36211/14]
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.
190. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the availability of Fampyra; if a new application in respect of the drug has been submitted to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36212/14]
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.
191. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when orthodontic work will be carried out in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the current waiting time in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36213/14]
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.
192. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the current status of the Government’s plans to establish an ex gratia scheme for women who underwent the procedure of symphysiotomy; if the scheme will be open to all women who underwent the procedure; the way all potential applicants will be made aware of the application process for the scheme [36217/14]
View answerIn July this year the Government announced a comprehensive response to the long standing and sensitive issue for around 350 women who have undergone surgical symphysiotomy. The key response is the establishment of an ex-gratia payment scheme, which will cost around €34 million. In addition, there is a commitment to the continued provision of medical services, including medical cards for the women.
This followed Government's examination of a report carried out by Professor Oonagh Walsh, on Practice of Symphysiotomy in Ireland, between 1944 and 1984; and an Independent Review of Issues relating to Symphysiotomy by Judge Yvonne Murphy which advised Government, inter alia, on the relative liabilities of insurers, indemnifiers and/or other parties in relation to symphysiotomy and on the merits and costs of proceeding with an ex gratia scheme relative to allowing the court process to proceed.
Judge Murphy outlined the case for a scheme in her report and her recommendations on levels of awards were accepted by Government. Subsequently, I asked Judge Murphy to draw up a detailed draft scheme. I have consulted through the summer with the Judge and have also been speaking to relevant parties about the proposed scheme. Judge Murphy submitted her more detailed proposal to me on 11 September, setting out how the scheme should operate. In this context I met the support groups representing women who have undergone symphysiotomy last Friday. I wanted to hear from the support groups how they hope the scheme will operate, and to confirm to them that the scheme will be established as quickly as possible.
Key aspects of the proposed scheme include:
- Women who had a surgical symphysiotomy in the State between the years 1940 and 1990 may apply in accordance with, and subject to the terms of the scheme.
- The scheme will be run by an independent Assessor. If women have questions on any aspect of the scheme, the Assessor or secretariat, will be available to assist.
- The scheme will be simple, straightforward and non-adversarial. It will allow women to have legal and other advice available to them in preparing to submit an application. It will result in awards of between €50,000 and €150,000 for the women.
- Women who have had a surgical symphysiotomy and have medical evidence to prove it may accept an award of €50,000 without further assessment. If no medical records are available a medical assessment will be carried out.
- For those who wish to apply for higher awards (€100,000 or €150,000) a medical assessment may be necessary if up to date medical records are not available, or if the Assessor decides this is needed for final determination of the award.
- Women will not waive their rights to take their cases to court as a pre-condition to participating in the scheme. Women may opt out at any stage in application and assessment process, up to the time of accepting their awards. However, on accepting the offer of the award under the Scheme, women will have to agree to discontinue their legal proceedings against any party arising out of their symphysiotomy.
I intend to finalise the details of the scheme shortly and will bring a Memorandum to Government requesting approval to appoint an Assessor for the scheme instead of it being administered by the State Claims Agency and to a small number of other amendments to the Government decision of last July. The details concerning the scheme and its commencement date will be advertised in national and other media, as decided by the Assessor. I hope that when the women see the details of the scheme and the efforts made to ensure it is person-centred, simple and non-adversarial many of them will opt to join the scheme.
In agreeing to the ex gratia scheme, the Government has demonstrated its commitment to trying to bring a resolution for the women concerned. The Government has acknowledged the pain and suffering which the procedure caused to many of the women and is aware also of the uphill battle many of them will face in the courts with uncertainty about the outcome of that process.
193. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of community mental health posts sanctioned in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the number of these posts which have been filled to date and the number of outstanding vacancies which remain to be filled. [36218/14]
View answerSince 2012, an additional €90 million and some 1,150 posts have been funded comprising €35 m for 414 posts in 2012, €35 m for up to 477 posts in 2013, and €20 m for approximately 250 posts in 2014. The funding is being used to continue to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children, to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness, forensic mental health services, and to enhance access to counselling and psychotherapy in primary care, and investment in suicide prevention measures.
Of the 414 posts allocated in 2012, 396 or 95% were in post at the end of June. The remainder are at various stages in the recruitment process. Of the 477 posts allocated in 2013, as at the end of June, 332 or 70% of the posts had been filled, with a further 12 posts or 3% with agreed start dates after 30th June 2014. The remainder are at various stages in the recruitment process. In summary, of the 891 posts approved over 2012/2013, approximately 740 (83%) have taken up duty.
In relation to the 250 posts approved for 2014, the HSE Mental Health Management Team, having considered the priorities identified, has agreed the initial tranche of posts to be filled. An initial list of 170 posts has been allocated to service areas, to enable the next cycle of recruitment to begin. The remaining posts from the 2014 allocation are currently being identified in the context of specific service improvement needs.
194. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the current target for waiting times for patients to be treated in the accident and emergency unit of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the waiting times for treatment in the emergency department for the months of July, August and the first three weeks of September 2014. [36219/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
195. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 8 July 2014, the current status of the review of the Mental Health Act 2001 and if the expert group has finished its deliberations and has provided its report to him. [36220/14]
View answerA final meeting of the Expert Group which I appointed to review the Mental Health Act 2001 has recently taken place and work is continuing on finalising the report of the Group following deliberations and decisions made at this meeting. I expect to receive the final report of the Expert Group in the near future.
