Written Answers Nos 409-423
409. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Health Service Executive’s consideration in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 of adoption of a standard definition and national protocol concerning waiting times for opiate treatment with a view to ensuring a comprehensive data system is in place to monitor the progress of opiate treatment service provision. [43176/14]
View answer410. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the plans by the Health Service Executive, as outlined in the National Drugs Strategy 2009 - 2016, to review the issue of data collection and analysis with a view to developing a more comprehensive data system for management and research purposes to address the particular difficulty with a lack of available data on the length of time people are remaining on methadone. [43177/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
In September 2013, the HSE developed Guidelines and Procedures for the National Waiting List for Treatment of Opiate Addiction. The purpose of these guidelines and procedures is to provide a standardised methodology for the collection and recording of data on the national waiting list for treatment of opiate addiction. The HSE has advised that the Guidelines can be used for performance indicator recording into the future. The criteria includes validation between the different waiting lists and the Central Treatment List. The Central Treatment List provides data on retention rates and on the length of time people are remaining on methadone. My Department will forward a copy of the National Waiting List Guidelines and Procedures document to the Deputy for his information.
411. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 21 October 2014, if he will provide details of the proposed programme of work to be carried out by his Department in developing the national drugs strategy to meet future challenges relating to the problem of substance misuse. [43178/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department has commenced work on the development of the National Drugs Strategy in order to meet new emerging trends and patterns in problem drug use. The overall approach to the development of the new Strategy will be considered at the next meeting of the Oversight Forum on Drugs in January 2015. Progress in relation to the implementation and roll-out of the current Strategy will also be considered at the next meeting of the Forum.
412. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 591, 639, 641, 649, 659 to 661, inclusive, and 721 of 4 November 2014, the reason the symphysiotomy payment scheme will be open to women who had a surgical symphysiotomy between the years 1940 and 1990 only (details supplied); if women affected by this practice in the years 1991 and 1992 will also be eligible. [43192/14]
View answerGovernment based its assessment of symphysiotomy on the research report by Professor Oonagh Walsh “Report on Symphysiotomy in Ireland, 1944-1984” and Judge Yvonne Murphy’s “Independent Review of Issues relating to Symphysiotomy”. In her report Prof Walsh refers to the publication by Ms Marie O'Connor, Bodily Harm: Symphysiotomy and Pubiotomy in Ireland 1944 -1992. Prof Walsh noted in her report that symphysiotomy was an exceptional intervention in Irish hospitals and rates began to decline from the late 1950s. However, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda continued to use the procedure until 1984, almost twenty years after it had largely ceased elsewhere in Ireland.
Spontaneous symphysiotomy may occur during childbirth at any time, but this is not covered under the terms of this Scheme as it is not a deliberate surgical intervention. The reference to 1992 may relate to such cases.
Government's advice, based on the evidence available, is that the procedure of surgical symphyiotomy ceased around 1984. The time period for the Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme was extended to 1990 in order to be certain to catch any case that may have occurred after 1984. If the Deputy is aware of a surgical symphysiotomy case in 1991 or 1992, I would welcome the details.
414. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 633 of 24 June 2014, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive has not issued a direct reply; if he will undertake to investigate; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43199/14]
View answerThe delay in providing a response to the Deputy is regretted. The HSE has now advised that it is finalising arrangements for the refund of prescription charges paid by those persons registered under the Long Term Illness (LTI) scheme during the period October 2010 - November 2013.
The Primary Care Reimbursement Service is also liaising with local health offices to identify persons with Medical Card eligibility, who applied for eligibility to the LTI scheme, in the period October 2010 - November 2013, as such persons may be reimbursed for prescription charges incurred under the Medical Card scheme.
Persons seeking eligibility to the LTI scheme, who are not listed on the LTI register, should contact their local health office.
415. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the re-issuing of the discretionary medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43200/14]
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.
416. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43201/14]
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.
417. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43202/14]
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.
418. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a timeframe as to when a medical card that was previously awarded on discretionary medical grounds will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43206/14]
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.
419. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív 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. [43217/14]
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.
420. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin has not had their medical card reinstated following the Minister's announcement in June in respect of discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43220/14]
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.
422. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the proposals there are to move emergency services for heart attack patients from St Vincent's Hospital to St James's or the Mater Hospital, Dublin; and if there are plans to do so that he immediately halt them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43248/14]
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.
423. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the policy decisions he has taken and is taking to stop the growing obesity problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43251/14]
View answer431. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his proposals to address the issue of child obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43260/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 431 together.
The Special Action Group on Obesity has been established, comprising representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Education and Skills, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and safefood to examine and progress a number of issues to address the problem of obesity, in both adults and children.
The Special Action Group on Obesity has progressed a range of measures to tackle the problem of Childhood Obesity, including the Childhood Obesity Media Campaign, which is a Safe food/Healthy Ireland/HSE three year Childhood Obesity Campaign entitled "Let’s take it on – one small step at a time" and which is designed to communicate practical solutions for parents to adopt in order to tackle the everyday habits that are associated with excess weight in childhood. The latest phase on ‘treats’ launched on 19th September 2014. Other measures include a choice of healthy foods and drinks in vending machines in post primary schools; Treatment Algorithms for adults and children and opportunistic screening and monitoring for earlier detection of overweight and obesity in children. The Department of Health has worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with regard to the marketing of food and drink to children for the revised "Children’s Code to Restrict Marketing of High Fat, High Salt and High Sugar Foods and Drinks."
Ireland has been involved in the World Health Organisation European Region Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative since Round 1 in 2008 and we are encourages by recent results of Round 3 which show a plateau in high levels of obesity in 7 year olds.
Progress has also been made with the publication of Healthy Eating Guidelines, the calories on menus initiative and the Report on the Recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid. As part of our EU Presidency in 2013, Ireland led on the development of an EU Childhood Obesity Action Plan which is now in the implementation phase. We are also leading a Work Package in the forthcoming EU Joint Action on Nutrition and Physical Activity. We are gathering evidence across the European Union on the cost and the impact of childhood obesity and forecasting the social and economic burden for 2020 and 2025.
My Department is also in the process of developing an Obesity Policy which will include measures to tackle overweight and obesity in adults, with special emphasis on children, as prevention is a primary objective in tackling obesity.
