Written Answers Nos. 373-386
373. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the refurbishment of the psychiatric wards at a hospital (details supplied) can be expected; if his attention has been drawn to the recent damning report published on the condition of the wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43902/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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.
374. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health in view of community nursing units having to comply with new Health Information and Quality Authority recommendations coming into effect in 2015, the way community nursing units in need of substantial capital funding can do so if limited funding is available for new projects. [43911/14]
View answer375. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the way Health Information and Quality Authority will treat community nursing units which do not meet the new HIQA recommendations in 2015 because of capital funding issues. [43912/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together.
Under the Health Act 2007, statutory responsibility is given to the Health Information and Quality Authority for the independent inspection and registration of certain categories of designated centres including residential care settings for older people. The functions of the Minister for Health in relation to HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services are prescribed in the Act and the Chief Inspector is independent in this context.
All public units are currently registered with HIQA and the HSE is applying the limited funding available for capital works in the most effective way possible to meet residential need now and in the future. My Department is in consultation with the HSE on an ongoing basis and the position will be kept under review.
376. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health if there is a home care package in place to assist persons (details supplied) in County Roscommon where the person is approved for nursing home care but is demanding their right to be cared for at home. [43913/14]
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.
377. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the enhanced home care services tendering process that divides the country up into nine regional lots, losing the local knowledge base and community aspect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43914/14]
View answer378. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to replace the additional services provided by not-for-profit groups which have lost their contracts under the new enhanced home care services tendering process such as transportation and resource centres that will no longer be able to operate resulting in the loss of a social outlet for the disabled and vulnerable in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43915/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
379. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind doctor-only referrals to child and mental health services; and if he will give consideration to schools being able to refer directly. [43920/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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.
380. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the supports and treatments that are available to support methadone users here; the initiatives under way to help citizens combat their methadone addiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43939/14]
View answer390. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health in view of the addictive properties of methadone which give rise to its own set of addiction problems, if the Health Service Executive is considering alternatives to methadone as a treatment for heroin addiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44033/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 390 together.
Government policy in relation to drugs emphasises the need to provide opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use to a drug-free life, where that is achievable. However, different people in various circumstances may require different approaches to treatment and support.
Methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that enables the people involved to counter their problem drug use and to rebuild their lives. In conjunction with other services and supports such as counselling, after-care and training, methadone maintenance treatment provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use. The National Drugs Rehabilitation Implementation Committee, which is chaired by the HSE, oversees the national implementation of an integrated inter-agency model of care in order to ensure that a person can access the range of services required to support their own recovery.
An Expert Group was set up by my Department in 2006 to examine the regulatory framework which would be required to facilitate the prescribing, dispensing and supply of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. The Group recommended that a feasibility study should be conducted in Ireland on the use of these products to assess:
- if a regulatory regime, similar to that which applies under the Methadone Treatment Protocol would be necessary for these products, and
- which cohorts of patients would be suitable for treatment with these products.
The Feasibility Study commenced in June 2009 in a number of drug treatment clinics and community settings. An external consultant engaged to conduct an evaluation of the Study reported its findings to the Expert Group in 2011. The Expert Group recommended that regulations and guidelines similar to those which apply to the prescribing and dispensing of methadone, should also apply to the prescribing and dispensing of products containing buprenorphine/naloxone or buprenorphine-only for the treatment of opioid dependence. The Expert Group concluded that methadone is the drug of first choice in the treatment of opioid dependency, but that buprenorphine/naloxone may be more appropriate for particular cohorts of patients.
The HSE has established an Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to develop a plan for facilitating the wider availability of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. The Group comprises representations from the HSE and my Department, including medical professionals with specific interest in addiction. I understand that the HSE is currently in discussions with the supplier company in relation to the pricing structure relating to the product. The outcome of these discussions will inform the recommendations of the Group.
381. 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. [43940/14]
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.
382. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if services in the accident and emergency department in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, are to have their opening hours reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or 12 hour accident and emergency in the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/14]
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 my officials will follow the matter up.
383. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views regarding qualified medical doctors leaving the country following qualification; the incentives in place to encourage doctors to remain here on completion of their training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43949/14]
View answerIt is important that newly qualified doctors can be retained and measures are in train to support NCHD and consultant recruitment and retention. A Working Group was established and chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith of DCU, to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures last year. Under its terms of reference the Group made recommendations earlier this year aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and planning for future service needs. In April 2014 the Group submitted a report dealing with medical career structures and pathways following completion of specialist training. The Group submitted its final report in June and this dealt with workforce planning. My Department, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, is pursuing implementation of the recommendations made by the Group to support retention of doctors following qualification.
One of the key recommendations 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. My Department in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is giving consideration to the result of the IMO ballot rejecting recent LRC pay proposals.
384. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views regarding qualified nurses leaving the country following qualification; the incentives in place to encourage nurses to remain here on completion of their training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43950/14]
View answerOn average each year, undergraduate nurse programmes in Ireland produce circa 1,500 graduate nurses. Nurses intending to practice outside the jurisdiction of Ireland must seek registration verification from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. In the period 2011 to 2013, the following numbers of new graduate Nurses have requested verification in each respective year; 216, 234 and 264. The number of verification requests for the September 2014 Nursing graduates to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland currently stands at 105.
There are a number of strategies in place to encourage the retention of nurses that include:
- the Nurse and Midwife Graduate Education Programme which offers a structured two-year programme of further education and development to new graduate Nurses, with the further option more recently of a 2 year contract of employment on full salary for those nurses and midwives currently participating in the programme. Additionally there are other contractual options available to nursing and midwifery graduates through the normal recruitment processes;
- financial support for education programmes including clinical Higher Diplomas and Masters, by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director;
- support for leadership and management development by the Nursing and Midwifery Planning Development Units and the Leadership and Innovation Centre;
- educational opportunities to support continuous professional development at local level provided by the Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Education;
- regularisation of nursing and midwifery acting positions is currently underway to stabilise and retain nursing and midwifery leadership in accordance with the Haddington Road Agreement; and finally
- the HSE is currently undertaking a national HSE Employee Survey, to determine employee's attitudes to their employers, work practices, culture and communications across the health services. The survey results will be used to improve the working lives of staff, leading to better care for patients.
385. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the efforts his Department is making to investigate the health implications of aspartame in our drinks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44003/14]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has advised me that the safety of aspartame has been comprehensively evaluated by international scientific experts including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EU Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These expert committees consider that aspartame is safe for use and have established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for aspartame of 40-50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. This ADI is applicable to both adults and children over the age of 12 weeks.
In 2013, following renewed concerns regarding the safety of aspartame raised by several members of the European Parliament and the publication of several new studies on aspartame, the EFSA undertook a full re-evaluation of the safety of the sweetener. The EFSA’s experts concluded that aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure and reconfirmed the ADI for aspartame of 40 mg/kg/bw/day.
Based on current information available, the FSAI considers that aspartame is safe for use.
386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the axing of the primary care facility at the student clinic at the Dublin Dental University Hospital; his plans to restore this service and when. [44011/14]
View answerThere have been no changes to the Dublin Dental Hospital's patient acceptance procedures for student clinics. Patients can self-refer to such clinics and are assessed by a senior clinician for suitability for treatment by a student. Student waiting lists are temporarily closed from time to time if the clinics have sufficient patient numbers to meet the needs of students. All lists are currently open.
