Written Answers Nos. 413-429
413. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46147/14]
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.
414. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of mental health and counselling services available in Athlone, County Westmeath; the waiting lists for these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46153/14]
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.
415. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in respect of medical expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46164/14]
View answerAs the query raised 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.
416. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health further to the announcement in budget 2015 of the targeted ending of the public sector recruitment moratorium, the number of additional front-line health care staff expected to be recruited in 2015; the impact recruitment will have on the amount spent on agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46178/14]
View answerThe Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in the budget that he intended to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. From 2015 Departments and Agencies will have discretion over staffing levels within the overall framework of their pay budget. This policy change will give HSE management greater autonomy to manage their own staffing profile. The change from a rigid employment control framework with a moratorium on recruitment to a focus on achieving the most cost-effective staffing profile within an allocated pay framework will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery, such as through the replacement of agency staff by staff on fixed term contracts of employment.
There is an identified need to achieve savings on agency expenditure within the HSE. Management of health spending within available resources next year will require an exceptional management focus with strict adherence by all services and budget holders to their allocations. The HSE has issued a memorandum to management on measures to reduce agency usage and costs across the HSE and HSE funded acute hospital services. It provides for the replacement of NCHD and Consultant agency with fixed term contracts of employment, and limits reliance on doctors employed on an agency basis. It also provides for the identification of nursing posts currently filled by agency staff which could be directly replaced by two year contracts of employment.
417. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the progress in ensuring that MS sufferers who require the Fampyra drug are able to avail of it under the drug treatment scheme. [46188/14]
View answer433. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the manufacturer of the drug Fampyra has submitted a revised application to the Health Service Executive for its inclusion in the GMS and community drugs scheme; if so, the date on which it was received; and when a decision will be made by the Health Service Executive [46292/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 433 together.
The decisions 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) on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The 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.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association for the assessment of new medicines.
In accordance with these procedures, the NCPE conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness and a fair price for Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie ).
On foot of this, the HSE decided that it was not in a position to add the drug to the List of Reimbursable Items supplied under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
It is open to the supplier, at any time, to submit a new application to the HSE for the inclusion of Fampridine on the community drugs schemes incorporating new evidence which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of the drug, by offering a reduced price or both. A revised application was received by the HSE on 25th July 2014. The HSE's Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit has since been engaging with the company seeking improved commercial offering. These engagements have been completed and the HSE is now considering the outcome of those commercial engagements. Fampridine will be assessed along with a range of other applications for reimbursement of medicines for multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
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 reimburse every licensed medicine for whatever the price the drug company demands, I hope the Deputy will appreciate that the better interests of the health service require that we reimburse only the most effective medicines and only at a fair price.
418. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of other EU member states which raised concerns, under the EU transparency directive, regarding his Department's proposal to introduce plain packaging on a legal consumer product; and if he will seek the input of IDA Ireland and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he is preparing his response to the concerns raised as they relate to the weakening of Ireland's intellectual property rights regime. [46191/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Government approval was received on 19th November 2013 to proceed with drafting the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013. The legislation has now been passed by the Seanad and Second Stage of the Bill concluded in the Dáil on 2nd October 2014.
The Bill was formally notified to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 17th June 2014. The Commission and Member States had until 18th September to comment or provide detailed opinions on the proposed measures. As the Deputy has noted, eight detailed opinions on the proposed measures and one comment have been received from a number of Member States. For this reason, the standstill period has increased by three months, i.e. until 18th December 2014. The legislative process cannot continue until after this standstill period.
The detailed opinion documents are currently being considered by officials in my Department, and a response is being drafted in consultation with the relevant Government Departments.
419. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for specially fitted shoes in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46205/14]
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. 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.
420. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health where the principal residence of a person on the nursing home support scheme is let before the three-year cap ends, if both the letting income and the value of the house will be included in the financial assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46206/14]
View answer421. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health where the principal residence of a person on the nursing home support scheme is let before the three-year cap expires, if it will be excluded from the financial assessment at the end of the first three years in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46207/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services in nursing homes. Under the Scheme, nursing home residents contribute towards the cost of their nursing home care based on their means, and the HSE pays the balance. In 2014 a total amount of €938m is available for the Scheme. As of the end of September 2014 (latest figures available) 21,961 people were being supported by the Scheme.
Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income (which includes any rental income) and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held. The first €36,000 of an individual's assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual's principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care.
In the circumstances outlined, the capital value of the principal private residence would be included for assessment purposes, but for a maximum of three years only, and any rental income received would also be assessed. This would apply whether letting commenced during the first three years or after that, and the three year limit that applies to the capital value of the property would not apply to rental income received.
422. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of weight management clinics in Loughlinstown hospital, including numbers attending and waiting lists for the clinic and for surgery; his plans to increase funding for these services in view of the increasing weight problems among the adult population in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46208/14]
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.
423. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo had their training allowance reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46218/14]
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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
424. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assistance for a terminally ill person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46239/14]
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.
425. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in an ambulance responding to a call (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46247/14]
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.
426. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in respect of the cost of setting up the special delivery unit while it operated within his Department, with a breakdown of each person recruited to the unit and his or her salary, as well as additional costs for existing staff who were redeployed to the unit; and his views on the value for money of this exercise. [46252/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available within my Department. The information is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide all details in respect of the cost of the special delivery unit from the time it transferred from his Department to the Health Service Executive to date in 2014, with a breakdown of each person recruited to the unit and his or her salary, as well as additional costs for existing staff who were redeployed to the unit; and his views on the value for money of this exercise. [46253/14]
View answerThe SDU was brought under the governance of the HSE on 1 January 2013. As such, the details sought are a matter for the HSE and I have asked them 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.
428. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who has been waiting more than ten months for cataract surgery; if hospitals may send individuals for treatment abroad in circumstances where they have been waiting in excess of the eight-month maximum wait time target; if this person may be considered for such action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46254/14]
View answerThe Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), operated by the HSE, provides for the referral of patients to another EU/EEA country or Switzerland for a treatment that is either not available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of his/her current state of health and the probable course of the disease.
There are strict qualifying criteria to access this Scheme which are set out in EU Regulations and Department of Health Guidelines (please see http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/treatmentabroad/). Referral for care under the TAS is restricted to referral by an Irish based consultant who is treating the patient in a public capacity. Authorisation for treatment under the TAS must be sought and granted prior to availing of the treatment; otherwise the patient will be liable for the costs.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, 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 my officials will follow the matter up.
429. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of staff currently employed in the primary care reimbursement service's Oireachtas Members – medical card inquiries section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46266/14]
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.
