Written Answers Nos. 772-789
772. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the average processing time for a medical card application in Primary Care Reimbursement Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41981/14]
View answerThe Primary Care Reimbursement Service has a target to have 90% of properly completed medical/GP visit card applications processed within 15 days of the application having been received by the HSE. The current turnaround is 97% within 15 days. This refers to applications, again properly completed, that enable an assessor to make a determination on eligibility under the scheme.
The length of time that it takes for applicants to receive a decision on their medical card applications where a fully completed application form was not submitted, depends on how quickly the applicants respond to the subsequent request for additional information. Applications that remain in process outside of the 15 day period due to incomplete applications, and where the applicant is engaging with the process, are facilitated so that eligibility may be retained in the interim. Once the documentation is received, their assessment is prioritised without delay. This process applies to renewal applications also.
Each week the HSE publishes the turnaround time for medical card processing and the Deputy can source this information on the Primary Care Reimbursement Services website at https://www.sspcrs.ie/portal/medapp/turnaround.jsp
773. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a knee replacement operation will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [41983/14]
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with them.
774. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the traffic assessment carried out in the site selection process in respect of a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41985/14]
View answerThe Dolphin Review Group was appointed in March 2012 to advise the Minister for Health on the options for the new children's hospital, following the refusal by An Bord Pleanala of planning permission for the hospital at the Mater campus. The Group was not asked to select a site. In carrying out its work, the Group considered submissions from a number of adult hospitals in Dublin. St James's included a traffic report as part of its overall submission.
The Group's report was completed in June 2012 and submitted to the Minister for Health. In identifying the site for the new children's hospital, the Government carefully considered the Dolphin Group's report, along with detailed supplementary information on cost, time and planning which was subsequently sought from members of the Group with the relevant technical expertise. Ease of access was one of the issues considered in the planning analysis.
The Government decided in November 2012 that the new children's hospital should be co-located with St James's on its campus. While cost, time and access were all considered, the decision was led by clinical considerations. It is essential that the new children's hospital can deliver best clinical outcomes for children. Co-location with St James's and, ultimately, tri-location with a maternity hospital on the St James's campus, will provide the excellence in clinical care that our children deserve. The submissions from the Dublin adult hospitals referred to above, the Dolphin report, and the supplementary planning analysis were all published on the website of the Department of Health following the Government's decision.
The design team for the project, which is now in place, includes traffic consultancy services as a key component. The role of these services within the overall design team will include modelling of access routes and development of a mobility management plan to address traffic peaks. Design development is underway with the aim of submitting a planning application next June. Subject to planning, it is intended that site clearance and enabling works will begin in January 2016.
776. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the total number of people receiving methadone broken down by Health Service Executive areas; the number of doctors prescribing methadone broken down by HSE areas; the cost of methadone to include prescription and pharmacy costs; the total number of pharmacies audited for methadone during 2012-2013; the results of these audits; the total number of doctors dedicated to methadone care; and the number of clients in opioid substitution treatment in 2011, 2012 and 2013 broken down between those using methadone and those using buprenorphine. [41990/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to cost and provision of methadone treatment services is not readily available to my Department. I have asked the Health Service Executive to compile the information requested and to reply to him directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 (S.I. No 328 of 1988) requires pharmacies to maintain a controlled drugs (CD) Register in respect of all drugs listed in Schedule 2, including methadone. All entries must be recorded in a chronological sequence and in a manner which shows a running balance.
Inspections are carried out by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland under Section 67 of the Pharmacy Act 2007 to review compliance with the Act, regulations made thereunder and medicines legislation. The sale and supply of all Schedule 2 controlled drugs and the manner in which the CD Register is maintained are checked as part of these inspections.
As part of the registration process for retail pharmacy businesses, pharmacy owners and Superintendent Pharmacists are required to notify the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland if the pharmacy concerned is engaged in the sale or supply of methadone.
As at the 30 November 2012, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland records indicate that 751 retail pharmacy businesses were engaged in the sale and supply of methadone. As at 7 November 2013, records indicate that 753 pharmacies were engaged in the sale and supply of methadone.
In 2012, 75 pharmacy systems inspections were carried out by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, of which 59 were recorded in their inspection database. The results show that four pharmacies failed to record or properly record in the CD Register the running balance in respect of one or more Schedule 2 controlled drugs. In eight cases the physical inventory did not agree with the balance specified in the Registers. The data obtained during the remaining inspections in 2012 was not recorded on a computer database, and accordingly detailed information regarding regulatory compliance with the requirement to maintain the CD Register is not readily available for the remaining pharmacies.
At the 31 December 2013, 387 systems inspections were recorded in the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland inspection database. These show that 39 pharmacies failed to record or properly record in the CD Register the running balance in respect of one or more Schedule 2 controlled drugs. In 105 cases the physical inventory did not agree with the balance specified in the register.
These figures relate to breaches of all schedule 2 controlled drugs legislation. They do not relate exclusively to methadone.
777. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his views on reports that seriously ill children are being put at risk by being transported abroad for treatment on extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machines which are already available in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41993/14]
View answer778. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a fully funded single national cardiac and respiratory ECMO centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41994/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 778 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with them.
779. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on cutbacks to respite services at a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42001/14]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. I have requested that the HSE respond specifically on the respite query from this individual and the request for a meeting with the HSE to discuss the position.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
780. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the Health Service Executive North East's long-standing failure to investigate the properly lodged complaints of eight nursing staff regarding alleged historic failures of management at a unit (details supplied) in County Cavan, including allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation of staff; his view on the departure of a number of experienced nursing staff due to alleged management behaviour and the stated concerns of said nurses regarding patient care and the failure of the HSE to adhere to its own policies and procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42008/14]
View answerAs the Deputy's question appears to relate to specific employment issues, I have asked the HSE to respond directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
781. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42009/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
782. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the sequence of events surrounding the response of the ambulance service to an incident (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42010/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
783. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the numbers in County Donegal waiting for financial approval for the fair deal programme. [42018/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
785. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his views on the vital work undertaken by Teenline with particular reference to children and teenagers suffering from depression or a tendency to self-harm; if he will favourably consider an application for funding in the order required as already set out by the organisation which relies heavily on voluntary effort for their important work; if grant aid from the national lottery or direct funding might be considered as an early option to provide support for the continuation of this essential support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42029/14]
View answerMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund which provides once-off grants to organisations providing a range of health related services to specific clients groups e.g. disability, elderly, mental health. My Department has not received an application for National Lottery funding in 2014 from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. If the organisation wishes to make an application for funding in 2015 it should submit a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form will be available in January 2015 on my Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.
786. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress of extending the remit of HIQA to cover all private health care facilities including privately owned facilities given the important remit of HIQA in maintaining high standards of care throughout the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42073/14]
View answerMy Department continues to develop a Licensing of Healthcare Bill. It is intended that licensing of healthcare facilities will extend across both public and private healthcare providers, with an initial focus on hospitals and high risk health services in settings other than hospitals. HIQA will be the licensing authority with responsibility for granting and revoking licences, for inspecting against core standards and for imposing sanctions as necessary. I expect to be in a position to submit the Heads of the Bill to Government for approval in the New Year and the draft Heads will be published thereafter.
At the same time my Department is examining the possibility of amending the Health Act 2007 to extend HIQA's remit for standard setting and monitoring to the private healthcare sector in the shorter term. Any such legislative proposals would require Government approval before proceeding.
787. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if house calls by a patient's general practitioner are covered under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42079/14]
View answerUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs must be available to provide services in their practice premises or by way of domiciliary visits, as appropriate, for their medical card and GP visit card patients, for 40 hours each week.
They must also make arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for emergencies outside of these hours. It is a matter for the GP to decide whether it is appropriate to see the patient in his/her surgery or in the patient's home based on the clinical need, social and other circumstances in any particular case.
GP out-of-hours co-operatives allow general practitioners to put in place arrangements to provide services to their patients outside normal surgery hours in the evening, on weekends and bank holidays. GP out-of-hours co-operatives are now in place in all HSE areas, providing coverage in all or in part of all counties.
Persons who contact GP out-of-hours co-operatives are prioritised as either emergency, urgent or routine. In emergency cases, a triage nurse will organise the appropriate care for the patient and will generally arrange for the dispatch of an ambulance and/or duty doctor. For non-emergency calls a triage nurse carries out a structured assessment by telephone of the patient's symptoms, after which home care advice may be provided or the nurse may make an appointment for the patient to be seen by the duty doctor at a treatment centre or, if necessary, a home visit may be arranged.
788. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the reason for the ongoing delay in reviewing the medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if it can be expedited due to the financial hardship the person is under. [42080/14]
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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
789. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners are allowed to charge medical card patients for medical letters they require; if there is a difference depending on the reason for the letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42082/14]
View answerThe contract between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and general practitioners under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme stipulates that fees are not paid to General Practitioners (GPs) by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".
Consultation fees charged by general practitioners to private patients and to GMS patients outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.
