Written Answers Nos. 401-414
401. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths as a result of choking each year in the past five years; the number in each year that related to children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44102/14]
View answerInformation on cause of death is not routinely collected by my Department. However, the data in the following table has been provided by the Central Statistics Office. The number of deaths with an underlying cause of death of choking over the last five years relating to adults and children is set out in the table. The Deputy should note that the number of deaths refer to those due to inhalation of gastric contents, inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract, or inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract.
A Child Injury Prevention Network was established this year, bringing together the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the HSE, the Institute of Public Health and other key stakeholders to promote a more co-ordinated response to child injury prevention, and this group has been looking at the current information on child injury with the aim of looking to spread good practice in terms of prevention.
Table - Number of deaths in Ireland from choking in adults and children, 2009 to 2013
|
Year |
Number of Deaths |
Number of Deaths |
Number of Deaths |
|
- |
Children aged 0-17 |
Adults aged 18 and over |
Total - All ages |
|
2009 |
0 |
40 |
40 |
|
2010 |
2 |
48 |
50 |
|
2011 |
1 |
32 |
33 |
|
2012 (p) |
1 |
28 |
29 |
|
2013 (p) |
1 |
32 |
33 |
Source: Central Statistics Office
Notes:
(i) p - data for 2012 and 2013 are provisional.
(ii) refers to deaths from inhalation of gastric contents, inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract, or inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract. The relevant International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are W78, W79, W80.
402. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance calls that have related to choking incidents each year in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44103/14]
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.
403. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who are drawing down retirement pensions from the public sector or Civil Service and who have been brought back on contract work or temporary contracts to work in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44118/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of retired civil and public servants who are currently employed in my Department on a fixed term contract basis is detailed in the following table.
|
GRADE |
NUMBER |
NATURE OF APPOINTMENT |
|
Civilian Driver |
2 |
Ministerial Appointment |
405. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 21 October 2014, if he will take action in respect of new employees and, specifically, those who worked for a service (details supplied) for a number of years; the reason wages are paid on a lower point of the pay scale while claiming moneys from the Health Service Executive at the top end of agreed pay scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44135/14]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy 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.
406. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if a premises (details supplied) in County Louth has been rented by the Health Service Executive; if this premises is being used to provide residential services to young offenders; if planning permission is in place for this change of use; if this premises adheres to fire regulations; the community consultation that has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44136/14]
View answerAs management of the HSE's property portfolio is a service matter, your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
407. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44140/14]
View answerThe proposed amendment to the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 to which the Deputy refers was declared lost at the Bill's Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann on 12th November 2014. The Bill was subsequently passed by Seanad Éireann on the same date, having been passed by Dáil Éireann on 4th November 2014.
408. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug Roflumilast has been removed from the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44158/14]
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, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
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.
409. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a response to a community group (details supplied) in County Kilkenny which applied to the Health Service Executive for use of the dispensary - now closed - at a location for ongoing community use. [44163/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets. As management of the health care property estate is a service matter your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
410. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when physeptone-methadone was introduced as a treatment for opioid addiction here; the number of patients in receipt of physeptone-methadone who have since died; the number of patients in receipt of physeptone-methadone who have achieved a drug-free lifestyle; when clinical guidelines were introduced for physeptone-methadone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44181/14]
View answerMethadone was introduced in Ireland during the 1970s as a standardised therapeutic approach for the treatment of those dependent on opiates and synthetic opiates. As responsibility for the provision of methadone maintenance treatment rests with the Health Service Executive, I have referred the Deputy's query to the HSE for direct reply.
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.
411. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a Health Service Executive-funded organisation. [44184/14]
View answerThe National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) funds Turn2Me, an innovative, new and developing on-line service for adults experiencing anxiety and/or depression. It is a national, free and confidential service and offers an alternative for individuals reluctant to engage in mainstream services.
Turn2me is available to the entire population, however NOSP funding is being earmarked to target males aged 25 to 60 and to increase the number of men availing of its services through building partnerships with organisations such as Irish Men’s Sheds Association.
Turn2Me is one of many organisations and services funded by the HSE to support the population around mental health issues. Specific information regarding local service provision, in the Midlands area, can be found by contacting Josephine Rigney, Suicide Prevention Officer, HSE Midlands at telephone 057 9327909 or by email at Josephine.rigney@hse.ie. Alternatively, the recently launched website www.yourmentalhealth.ie gives a full listing of services available nationally and locally.
412. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an orthodontic appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44186/14]
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.
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.
413. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44188/14]
View answerAssessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. In order for the HSE to assess the medical card eligibility for the persons concerned, a new application, reflecting the current situation will be required to be submitted.
414. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a home help contract with the Health Service Executive in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; the reason for the delay in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44189/14]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy 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.
