Written Answers Nos. 334-51
334. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36452/14]
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.
335. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the plans being put in place by the Health Service Executive for the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, County Roscommon, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, County Roscommon, Áras Mháthair Phóil, Castlerea, County Roscommon, and St. Patrick's, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon, in view of community nursing units having to comply with new Health Information and Quality Authority recommendations coming into effect in 2015. [36457/14]
View answer336. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the funding plans being put in place by the Health Service Executive for the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, County Roscommon, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, County Roscommon, Áras Mháthair Phóil, Castlerea, County Roscommon, and St. Patrick's, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon, in view of community nursing units having to comply with new Health Information and Quality Authority recommendations coming into effect in 2015. [36458/14]
View answer337. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health when discussions will take place regarding funding and plans between the Health Service Executive and stakeholders involved with the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, County Roscommon, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, County Roscommon, Áras Mháthair Phóil, Castlerea, County Roscommon, and St. Patrick's, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon, in view of community nursing units having to comply with new Health Information and Quality Authority recommendations coming into effect in 2015. [36459/14]
View answer338. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the criteria used by the Health Service Executive in terms of allocating 2014 capital funding for Health Information and Quality Authority compliance works for community nursing units, including the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, County Roscommon, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, County Roscommon, Áras Mháthair Phóil, Castlerea, County Roscommon, and St. Patrick's, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon. [36460/14]
View answer339. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has costed the Health Information and Quality Authority compliance works required to upgrade the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, County Roscommon, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, County Roscommon, Áras Mháthair Phóil, Castlerea, County Roscommon and St. Patrick's, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon. [36461/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335 to 339, inclusive, together.
All nursing homes are subject to the same core standards and regulations in relation to quality and safety in order to ensure the well-being of their residents.
All public nursing homes are currently registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority. However given the age of public facilities (25% are over 100 years) a significant number of public facilities face particular challenges in relation to their physical structure. 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 and the needs and priorities in relation to the CNU programme will be considered again in this context. However there is limited funding available for new projects given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place.
340. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36465/14]
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.
341. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the reported costs of €110,000 every 13 weeks to recruit agency consultants to Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, were taken from the hospital's annual budget; and the action he proposes to take to avoid this additional cost in the future. [36549/14]
View answerIn certain instances it is not possible to fill vacant posts through recruitment and it is necessary, in order to support service delivery, to employ locums as an alternative. In Letterkenny, there are currently 7.5 WTE consultant posts being filled by agency (hourly rate of pay consultants). The costs associated with agency usage are part of a hospital's annual budget. It must be stressed however that consultants are only employed via agency when all other opportunities to recruit on payroll have been exhausted. The HSE has advised that every attempt has been made to fill these posts on a permanent basis and steps are continually being taken both nationally and locally to recruit and fill these posts with consultants willing to come on HSE payroll on either a temporary or permanent basis.
Measures are in train to support consultant recruitment and retention. In July 2013 Minister Reilly established a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The Group submitted its final report in June. My Department, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, is pursuing implementation of the recommendations made by the MacCraith Group to support NCHD and consultant retention. One of the recommendations from the MacCraith report was that the relevant parties commence a timetabled IR engagement of short duration to address the barrier caused by the variation in rates of remuneration that have emerged since 2012 between new entrant consultants and their established peers. A number of meetings between the management (HSE, Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform) and the IMO on this recommendation were facilitated by the LRC. Management presented a paper setting out a new career and pay structure for consultants. The LRC has made related recommendations, involving enhanced pay scales for new entrant consultants, and these are currently being considered by the IMO.
342. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders aged 69 years and younger registered with the primary care reimbursement service-Health Service Executive as resident in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36553/14]
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.
343. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of holders of general practitioner visit cards aged 69 years and younger registered with the primary care reimbursement service-Health Service Executive as resident in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36554/14]
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.
344. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans to utilise the new facility purchased at Mount Carmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36570/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
345. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the process used to recruit and appoint the interim board for the University of Limerick Hospital; the process to be used to appoint the final board; the number of positions; the terms of appointment; the remuneration of each position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36573/14]
View answerIn May 2012, Professor Niall O'Higgins was appointed as chair of the Mid Western Regional Hospital Group, now the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG). In January and February 2013, a further six members were appointed to the Board. The term of each appointment is three years.
The HIQA Tallaght Report recommended that boards should be of a sufficient size (up to a maximum of 12), and expertise to effectively govern the organisation. Following the publication of the Hospitals Group Report in May 2013, my Department, in consultation with the HSE and HIQA, developed a competency framework for hospital group boards. An assessment of the ULHG Board, against the competency framework, identified two areas which could be strengthened, in legal compliance/due diligence and corporate risk. This matter will be addressed through additional appointments to the Board. The Public Appointments Service advertised earlier this year for applicants with specific expertise in these areas and applications are currently being considered.
There is no remuneration for acting as a member of the Board. Travel and subsistence allowances, however, are paid in line with Government guidelines.
346. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that Fampyra (details supplied) is made available to those with multiple sclerosis here; if he will review the decision made by the Health Service Executive not to fund Fampyra; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36580/14]
View answer393. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health if and when he will include the drug Fampyra on the medical list which is used to help mobility for sufferers of multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36840/14]
View answer422. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the drug Fampyra and its benefits to sufferers of multiple sclerosis; if the Health Service Executive plans to license the drug here; if the HSE will provide for Fampyra on the medical card or serious illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36951/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 393 and 422 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.
347. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an ophthalmology appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36581/14]
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.
348. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the criteria that are used for evaluation for funding under the Tusla programme for residential care centres for people with disability. [36592/14]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency provides a range of universal and targeted children's services including child protection and welfare services. Tusla is funded by the Department of Children and questions in relation to funding programmes operated by Tusla should be directed to my colleague the Minister for Children.
The Health Service Executive provides specialist health and social care services to people with a disability including residential services. In the main residential services for people with a disability are provided by voluntary agencies under an agreement with the HSE. The Health Information and Quality Authority register and inspect specialist residential services for children and adults with disabilities. I am not aware of criteria or a funding programme operated by the HSE in respect of the provision of residential services for people with a disability. However, specific queries in relation to the provision of residential services for people with a disability should be made directly with the HSE.
349. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health his views on reviewing the pay for graduate nurses and restoring pay parity to all nurses on the new graduate nurses scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36594/14]
View answerUnder the Haddington Road Agreement, nurses participating in the Graduate Nurse Initiative are paid 85% of the starting pay of a Staff Nurse in the first year and 90% in the second year. In addition these nurses would also be in receipt of allowances and other premium payments. There are no plans to review these rates of pay. It is noted that the Agreement specifies that any subsequent appointment following completion of the Graduate Nurse Initiative will be to the third point of the staff nurse salary scales and that, under the Agreement, the January 2011 new entrant salary scales have now been assimilated with the scales applicable to those who were in the Public Service prior to January 2011.
A major objective of the Graduate Nurse Initiative is to put in place more cost-effective service delivery arrangements, having regard to the high rates of expenditure on agency staffing and overtime. The Initiative enables the health services to offer 1,000 graduate nurse positions for two years, at a time when job opportunities in the public service are very limited. Therefore it supports the retention of recently qualified graduate nurses and midwives within the Irish health system and enables them to gain valuable work experience and development opportunities post-graduation.
350. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the crisis in speech and language services. [36600/14]
View answer446. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that children with speech and language difficulties do not continue to wait over a year for access to speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37110/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 446 together.
Health related therapy supports and interventions for children such as speech and language therapy can be accessed both through HSE Primary Care and Disability Services, depending on the level of need of the person. It is estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social service needs can be met within a primary care setting. The Government is committed to the development of both Primary Care and Disability Services and to improve access to therapy services.
In that context, an additional €20m in funding was allocated in 2013 to strengthen primary care services and to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line posts and enhance the capacity of the Primary Care services. This will help to significantly address waiting times for services. As part of this initiative, the HSE commenced recruitment last year of over 260 additional posts for Primary Care Teams including 52 Speech and Language Therapy posts. The HSE has confirmed that all but one of these speech and language posts has been filled to date.
In addition, the HSE has introduced a number of initiatives specifically in relation to speech and language therapy such as therapists increasing clinic based work instead of domiciliary work and providing family centred interventions in a group as opposed to a one-to-one setting, whenever possible. This will also help to address the issue of waiting lists and ensure that services are delivered in as equitable a manner as possible, within available resources.
The HSE has recognised that there is a need to standardise early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities. A major reconfiguration of therapy resources for children with disabilities aged up to 18 years is currently underway under the HSE’s National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18years). This Programme aims to achieve a national unified approach to delivering disability health services, so that there is greater equity of access to services, based on need, and clearer referral pathways to these services and improved collaboration between sectors. An additional €4million euro has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts, which have now been allocated across the HSE. Of these, speech and language therapy posts accounted for 31 of the 80 posts assigned, which was the largest proportion of the posts allocated.
351. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the Health Service Executive's commitments to allocate €750,000 in capital investment to upgrade a hospital (details supplied) in County Louth to meet Health Information and Quality Authority standards; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this work was to be completed by 2015; if he will provide a progress update on this refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36603/14]
View answerAs with all capital projects the CNU infrastructure programme must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the next multi-annual period 2015-2019 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place. The HSE is concentrating on applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet needs now and in the future.
