Written Answers Nos. 200-209
200. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as all relevant details, including medical, have been submitted to the primary care reimbursement service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9694/15]
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.
201. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on the significant drop in the amount of respite beds available, particularly in the past two years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9710/15]
View answer202. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the action that is being taken to address the problem of no respite beds being available for persons under 65 years of age since the start of January 2015 in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9711/15]
View answer203. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the length of time it takes for respite care to be allocated, once a person has applied to the Health Service Executive for a respite bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9712/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 203, inclusive, together.
The vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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 up the matter with the HSE.
204. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the lack of respite beds at an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9713/15]
View answerThe vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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 up the matter with the HSE.
205. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the differential in price which arose in the case of a drug (details supplied) since it stopped being a prescription-only medicine and became widely available over the counter; if the cost of this medicine can be included in the discussions between the Health Service Executive and the pharmaceutical company involved, with a view to reducing its cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9716/15]
View answerDona Glucosamine Sulfate is not available under the GMS or community drugs schemes. Neither the Minister for Health nor the HSE has any power to set the prices of drugs and medicines purchased by private patients.
The transfer of a drug from 'prescription only' to 'over the counter' may lead to a price increase due to the increased risks and costs associated with this transfer for the marketing authorisation holder or distributor. The price set for over the counter drugs is a purely private matter for the manufacturers and pharmacists involved and the HSE nor the Department has any remit to intervene.
206. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding methadone use and children. [9721/15]
View answerMethadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that enables the people involved to counter their drug problem use and to rebuild their lives. The latest figures from the Central Treatment List at the end of January 2015 indicate that over 9,900 clients were receiving methadone maintenance treatment, of which 14 people were in the age range 16 to 19.
In relation to the issue of hidden harm which concerns children living with and affected by substance misuse, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol has commissioned a study to estimate the prevalence of children living with parental substance misuse. The results of this study are expected later this year.
The latest annual figures from the National Drug-Related Deaths indicate that 350 people died in 2012 due to the toxic effects of drugs, a decrease from 387 in 2011. There were 86 deaths involving methadone in 2012 as compared with 118 in 2011. In many of these deaths methadone was mixed with another drug.
Many drug-related deaths are avoidable, particularly those involving methadone or heroin overdoses. For this reason, I have authorised the HSE to undertake a demonstration study for the use of naloxone in the prevention of opioid overdose. Naloxone reverses the effects of drugs like heroin, morphone and methadone if someone overdoses. The study, which is now underway, aims to increase access to naloxone for non-medical staff, such as the families or friends of a drug user. The HSE budget for 2015 also includes an extra €2.1m to support this project and other measures targeting vulnerable drug users, including the provision of enhanced residential detoxification and rehabilitation facilities.
An Expert Group, set up by my Department in 2006, examined the regulatory framework required to facilitate the prescribing, dispensing and supply of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. In 2011, this 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 clients. 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 is expected to report to me shortly.
207. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason the island health care committee of the Health Service Executive has not yet met members of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann; the reason for the delay in holding this meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9734/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for 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.
208. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the increase in the reported use of heroin in the Galway area in the past four years; the steps being taken to deal with this problem; the social programmes being run focusing on the cause of heroin use, particularly among the young; the increase in resources granted to the local drugs task force in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/15]
View answerThe HSE has noted a recent increase in referrals to the Methadone Treatment Clinic in Galway, but has not seen any evidence of an increase in heroin use among young people. The HSE has approved additional clinic hours to cater for the increase in client numbers.
Over €500,000 has been allocated by the HSE this year to the Jigsaw programme in the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area. This programme is designed to identify substance misuse issues at an early age and provide targeted health and psychosocial supports to young people affected by problem substance misuse. Other workers in the area, funded by the HSE, deliver education and prevention programmes to service providers who work with young people, communities and families. The HSE Drugs Counselling Service also caters for young people from the age of 16 upwards.
The budget allocation for the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force for each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the table hereunder. The reduction in my Department's allocation in 2014 reflects the fact that over €524,000 in funding relating to Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force projects was transferred from the Vote of my Department to the HSE on 1 January 2014.
|
- |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Western RDATF Allocation from Dept. Health |
€702,677 |
€681,597 |
€136,994 |
€136,994 |
|
Western RDATF Allocation from HSE |
€0 |
€0 |
€524,155 |
€524,155 |
|
Total |
€702,677 |
€681,597 |
€661,149 |
€661,149 |
209. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the circumstances under which an investigation was set up into a termination of pregnancy under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, on either 30 or 31 October 2014; the persons who were to carry out the investigation; the progress made to date with the investigation; when the report will be completed; his plans to publish the report; the persons who have been involved in it to date; if he will confirm that the case related to a case of suicidal ideation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9739/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has advised that there is no investigation being carried out under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
