Written Answers Nos. 379 - 395
379. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health within the Galway hospital group the average waiting time for attendance at a pain clinic from first referral; if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons waiting for more than three months, six months, nine months, one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45812/14]
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.
380. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland has increased the retention fee from €100 to €150 for 2015; if his Department was consulted or offered a view on the increase now being demanded; his views that a 50% increase is unjustified in view of inflation running at 2.2%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45819/14]
View answerA new Nurses and Midwives Act was passed into legislation in 2011. The Act provides, inter alia, for the protection of the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and the enhancement of their high standards of professional education and competencies. The Department of Health is responsible for oversight of the governance of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The Department has no role in setting or approving registration fees.
The Board is an independent body, answerable to the Oireachtas, with the responsibility to ensure that it has the financial capacity to undertake all its legal obligations. The cost of enacting the additional requirements under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 was set out in the Regulatory Impact Analysis that was carried out prior to the enactment of the legislation. These costs include an enhanced regulatory process with supporting systems for continued professional development and certain education and training requirements for the professions.
It was also made clear at the time of the legislation that the Board would continue to be self-funding and needed to plan and cost how it would fulfil its legal obligations. Following detailed negotiations with the Executive and Board members in 2013 it was agreed in October 2013 that an initial once-off sum of €1.6m would be granted by the Department to the Board to cover 2013/2014 costs, but that the Board would have to increase its income in 2015 to undertake its commitments in the legislation. The Board of the NMBI made the decision to increase the annual registration fee at its meeting on 17th September, 2014.
The Minister for Health continues to monitor the situation closely and has asked NMBI and the staff associations to continue these discussions in order to seek a satisfactory resolution in the interests of patient safety and continuity of care.
381. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the population served by each Health Service Executive region. [45822/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy 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.
382. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a dental procedure will be carried out in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45831/14]
View answerDental services to children up to 16 years are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE. The service is targeted at children at key stages in their development. Children are given dental examinations and any follow-up treatment required at these stages. When required, emergency dental treatment is available to all children up to 16 years. 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.
383. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45840/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised, 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 my officials will follow the matter up.
384. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for 1 November 2013 and 1 November 2014 for the Limerick health area, the number of medical cards in circulation; the number of which are issued on the basis of the exercise of discretion; the number of which are allocated to over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45849/14]
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.
385. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for CT scans in Mayo General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45875/14]
View answer387. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the plans he and the Health Service Executive have to address the current waiting list for CT scans in Mayo General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45891/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 387 together.
In relation to the queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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 matters up.
386. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the reason a hip replacement was cancelled in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois in view of the fact that the person was ready for theatre; when the next appointment will be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45881/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised, 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 my officials will follow the matter up.
388. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the reason supplementary criteria for persons with dementia drawn up in the previous iteration of the Health Information and Quality Authority residential care standards are not mentioned in the new draft standards; if this results in these supplementary criteria being discontinued; if HIQA will meet with interest groups to discuss this urgent issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45974/14]
View answerPursuant to the Health Act 2007, all residential and residential respite centres are registered as designated centres. The Health Act 2007 does not provide for the registration of a specific function (dementia care) for any centre.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland in 2009. HIQA commenced the revision of these Standards in 2013 after the first three-year cycle of registering and inspecting designated centres for older people. The revised draft National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People incorporates the learning from HIQA’s inspection and registration of designated centres for older people since 2009.
It is estimated that over 80% of residents in designated centres have some degree of cognitive impairment and all designated centres should therefore meet standards appropriate for people with dementia in a way that meets the assessed needs of each individual. Supplementary criteria to cater for people with dementia are thus not necessary.
HIQA convened a Standards Advisory Group for Older People during the revision of the standards, which had representation from advocacy groups for older people, service providers, academia and Government agencies.
HIQA also undertook a five-week targeted consultation with members of the Standards Advisory Group and their representative organisations. Further opportunities were provided to all stake-holders and interest groups to provide feedback during an eight-week public consultation that HIQA conducted on the revised draft National Standards. Focus groups were carried out with residents living in designated centres (including those with cognitive impairments and dementia) during the revision process, with relatives of residents living in designated centres and with staff working in designated centres.
In 2015, HIQA will carry out a programme of thematic inspections which will focus on dementia. The thematic inspections in dementia care will aim to provide assurance that the centres inspected are continually improving the level of dementia care provided to residents. HIQA will provide service providers with further guidance as part of the improvement focus following these thematic inspections.
HIQA already engages with stake-holders including the general public, persons who use services, service providers and advocacy groups about matters relating to its statutory remit. Individuals or organisations who may wish to discuss matters pertaining to the Authority’s remit should contact HIQA directly.
389. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the deadline for application to the redress scheme for symphysiotomy survivors beyond 20 days, and the further 20 days that the assessor can accept at his or her own discretion, and to include a right to appeal mechanism, to ensure that as many survivors of symphysiotomy can access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45977/14]
View answerThe Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme commenced on 10th November 2014. Government has agreed that the Scheme will also include payments for the small number of women who have had a pubiotomy. The Scheme is designed to be simple, straightforward and non-adversarial, and aims to minimise the stress for the women concerned. Many are elderly and may not want to experience the delay, publicity and financial risks that sometimes come with a court case. I met the three support groups representing the women last September and their views have helped to shape the Scheme. The Scheme is supported by two of the three groups.
Judge Maureen Harding Clark, retired High Court Judge has been appointed as independent Assessor to the Scheme. Judge Clark, from her previous work on the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme, brings valuable experience to the role of determining the appropriate level of award for each individual.
The Symphysiotomy Scheme is open to women who are still living and who underwent a surgical symphysiotomy or pubiotomy in the State between the years 1940 and 1990. Awards of €50,000, €100,000 and €150,000 will be offered. Details of the Terms of the Scheme and how to access application forms have been widely advertised.
Awards will be exempt from tax and legislation is being put in place as a matter of urgency to ensure they are also exempt from being taken into consideration for means tested welfare schemes and for the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
It is not a requirement for a woman to retain a Solicitor to make an application. However, the Scheme makes provision for applicants to have legal and other advice available to them in preparing to submit an application if they wish.
Applications must be made within 20 working days of the Commencement Date, which was 10 November, 2014. The Closing Date for receipt of applications is therefore Friday 5 December 2014. In exceptional circumstances, Judge Clark has discretion to extend the time for receipt of applications by an additional 20 working days, that is, to Wednesday, 14 January 2015. It is important to note that in the event of a delay arising in the compilation of a woman's supporting documentation due to difficulty in obtaining medical records, the application should be submitted within the time period set out in the Scheme with a written explanation of the reasons for the absence of the documentation. The details of this provision are set out in the terms and conditions of the Scheme, which are available on the Scheme’s website.
Judge Clark reported that by last Friday, 28 November more than 140 women had applied for awards under the Scheme and to date conditional offers have been made totalling €1,450,000. There are 4 working days left to apply, including today and I would urge every eligible woman or her representative to submit her application within the appointed timeframe. My Department will be making payments in the case of 7 women shortly and others should have payments before Christmas.
The Scheme is voluntary and I would like to emphasise that women will not waive their rights to take their cases to court as a precondition to participating in the Scheme. Women may opt out of the Scheme at any stage in the process, up to the time of accepting their award. It is only on accepting the offer of an award that a woman must agree to discontinue her legal proceedings against any party arising out of a symphysiotomy or pubiotomy.
Government hopes the implementation of this Scheme will help to bring closure on this issue for the women concerned and their families.
390. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding access to treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45990/14]
View answerDecisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer, are not political or ministerial decisions. These are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and often on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Eculizumab in the community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed in 2012 by my Department and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association.
In accordance with these procedures, the NCPE conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Eculizumab and concluded that, at a total cost per patient per year of €437,247 and a cumulative gross budget impact over 5 years estimated at €33 million, the therapy did not represent value for money for the treatment of patients in the Irish healthcare setting. In addition, the manufacturer did not include an economic model as part of their submission and failed to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of this therapy. Consequently, the NCPE was unable to recommend reimbursement of the product under the community drug schemes. The report is available on the NCPE's website.
Many countries have struggled to accept the pricing point put forward by the pharmaceutical company, Alexion Pharma. The HSE has been engaging with Alexion for some time to arrive at a pricing point that would assist it in its efforts to fund this medicine for as many patients as possible. The HSE met the company again in November and is currently considering the outcome of that engagement. It is worth noting that the current Irish list price of €4,557.50 per vial substantially exceeds the list price in the UK (£3,150 sterling).
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Department, and the HSE, fully understand the concerns of patients regarding the availability of this drug. While I appreciate that some may take the view that the taxpayer should re-imburse every licensed medicine for whatever price the drug company demands, I hope the Deputy will appreciate that the better interests of the health service require that we re-imburse only the most effective medicines and only at a fair price.
391. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in respect of the processing of a medical card renewal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has submitted all requested documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46009/14]
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.
392. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hearing aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46034/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy 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.
393. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the reason the primary care reimbursement service can ask a person with spina bifida to complete a review to ascertain if they are still eligible for a medical card; his views that this person's medical circumstances could have changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46035/14]
View answerUnder the Health Act, 1970, eligibility for a medical card is founded primarily on the undue financial hardship test and every application must be assessed on that basis. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with specific illnesses, or with a disability.
As financial circumstances may alter, all medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. Where an applicant indicates on their review application that medical evidence has been previously submitted relating to a life-long medical condition, and this has been confirmed by the HSE, the HSE will not request further medical evidence in this regard. The applicant will, however, be required to submit all other up-to-date information, e.g. financial, material to a review assessment.
Following on from the Keane Report and the recommendations of the Expert Panel, the HSE will shortly be establishing a clinical advisory group to develop guidance on assessing applications involving significant medical conditions so as to take account of the burden involved and the needs arising from the condition and to ensure that appropriate services are provided to people who need them.
Minister Varadkar and I have also asked the HSE to examine, with the Department of Health, the best way to meet the needs of people with significant medical conditions who need the support of the public health system, with regard to medical aids and appliances and who do not hold a medical card.
394. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the range of supports which are available for sufferers of fibromyalgia; if his Department is monitoring reported rates; the cases which have been reported in each of the past five years; if there is a strategy in place to try and tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46038/14]
View answerPeople with fibromyalgia have access to the broad range of primary, community and hospital based services for the diagnosis and treatment of their condition. Individuals may also be entitled to a medical card depending on their circumstances. Like many other conditions, there is no formal monitoring of occurrence outside of existing Health Service Executive (HSE) information systems - such as the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry scheme, the principal source of national data on discharges from acute hospitals.
395. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of Health Service Executive ambulances and rapid response vehicles aged between zero and two years, aged between two and four years, aged between four and six years and aged older than six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46052/14]
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.
