Joe Carey
Question:552. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the reintroduction of a motorised transportation grant or similar type scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12240/15]
View answerMotorised Transport Grant Eligibility
Questions (552, 647)
James Bannon
Question:647. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on information relating to the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11607/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 647 together.
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance Scheme, in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. The Government decided that the preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the costs of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns. In the meantime, the Motorised Transport Grant remains closed and monthly payments have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time that the scheme was closed.
Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. Once policy proposals have been finalised and approved by Government, the time frame for the introduction of a new scheme will become clearer.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (553)
Willie Penrose
Question:553. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who was initially seen approximately two and a half years ago for cataract problems in both eyes and who was recently seen in October 2014, will be admitted for the surgical procedure required, especially for the right eye, as this person is also severely incapacitated from a mobility perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11057/15]
View answerWritten answers
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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.
In relation to the particular 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (554)
Seán Kenny
Question:554. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, will not prescribe the drug Lemtrada to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 despite support from a consultant neurologist and a general practitioner and in view of the fact this drug has been approved for use by the Health Products Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11109/15]
View answerWritten answers
The prescribing of medications for patients is a matter for the relevant treating clinician. 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (555)
Pat Deering
Question:555. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the location a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is a patient of University Hospital Waterford will receive treatment for psoriasis; and if he will provide an update on the dermatologist situation at the hospital. [11120/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (556)
Billy Kelleher
Question:556. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the concerns raised by Irish Vaccination Awareness in respect of the human papilloma virus vaccine (details supplied). [11123/15]
View answerWritten answers
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best practice.
Immunisation is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of health care interventions. International studies and scientific assessments suggest that the best way to prevent most disease due to human papillomavirus (HPV) is to vaccinate as many girls and women as possible.
In Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the regulatory authority for medicines in Ireland. Gardasil vaccine is a medicinal product authorised by the European Commission on 20 September 2006 following a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA). With this authorisation, the vaccine can be marketed in all EU Member States. Since first authorisation the HPRA has continuously monitored the safety of Gardasil. This monitoring includes a review of global safety data in addition to national experience with use of the vaccine. The EMA is responsible for the scientific evaluation of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the European Union.
The HPRA continues to ensure that the quality, safety & efficacy of all vaccinations licensed in Ireland including HPV meet the required standards. Internationally, the WHO monitors and reviews the safety of HPV vaccines.
Health Services
Questions (557)
Paul Connaughton
Question:557. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when the eye clinic for children will be restored in County Galway; the steps being taken to address the eye clinic waiting lists that exist for children in the County Galway region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11140/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Health Services Expenditure
Questions (558)
Niall Collins
Question:558. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the amounts paid in tabular form to each service provider per client on average using their day services and their residential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11141/15]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (559)
Billy Kelleher
Question:559. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans for Portiuncula Hospital in County Galway; if there will be a reduction in services; if so, if he will provide details of same; if there is any proposed investment in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11178/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (560)
John McGuinness
Question:560. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will explain the decision taken to move all elective orthopaedic surgery from Kilcreene Hospital in County Kilkenny to Waterford Regional Hospital; the consultation the Health Service Executive undertook with staff members, consultants and service users; if the decision will be reversed, based on the fact that Kilcreene Hospital carries out the highest number of operations and elective orthopaedics in the country for a hospital of its size, is providing value-for-money and is cost-effective; the reason the Parliamentary Question asked by this Deputy on the 9 December 2014 was not answered by the executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11188/15]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that discussions have commenced in relation to the reorganisation of elective orthopaedics within the South South West Hospitals Group. As part of these discussions, the option of centralising elective orthopaedic surgery in University Hospital Waterford is being examined. I have therefore asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to the detailed queries you have raised. 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.
I am informed that the HSE responded to your earlier question on this issue on 19 March last.
Hospital Mortality Rates
Questions (561)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:561. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the average in-hospital mortality rates for persons who experience strokes which are higher than the average in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11191/15]
View answerWritten answers
The first annual report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System reported that the age sex standardised in-hospital mortality rate within 30 days of admission for haemorrhagic stroke has remained almost unchanged over the ten year period from 2004 to 2013, with 24.4 deaths per 100 cases in 2004 compared to 24.6 in 2013; however, it also reported that the age sex standardised in-hospital mortality rate within 30 days of admission for ischaemic stroke has decreased from 11.2 deaths per 100 cases in 2004 to 9.7 in 2013, a reduction of 13.6%. This reduction is indeed welcomed.
A National Clinical Care Programme for Stroke was started in 2010; its aim is to improve patient healthcare and outcomes and it can point to some very positive achievements. Emergency clot-busting thrombolysis therapy is provided now to patients in all regions of the country by improved hospital and ambulance protocols, health professional training and the appointment of new physicians. There is National 24/7 access to safe stroke thrombolysis, the rate of which has increased from 1% in 2006 to a current rate of 11%. This exceeds the national target of 9% and is amongst the best in national rates worldwide.
Access to stroke unit care has been shown to improve stroke patient outcomes through reduced rates of death, dependency and shorter lengths of stay. Since the commencement of the National Clinical Programme for Stroke, nine new stroke units have been opened. This brings the total number of stroke units in acute hospitals to twenty-four. It is a major improvement from the first national stroke care audit report in 2006 which reported one stroke unit in the country.
Meanwhile, less stroke patients are dying in hospital; the rate has dropped from 16.1% in 2009 to 15.1% in 2013; this represents an average of three fewer deaths per month in 2012. There are less stroke patients being discharged to nursing homes – an indication of improved disability outcomes; more stroke patients are being discharged home directly from acute hospitals; and the average acute hospital length of stay for stroke has fallen from 10 days in 2009 to 9 days in 2013.
Of course the risk factors for stroke and other diseases are smoking, alcohol, poor diet leading to overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity. Prevention of stroke is therefore key. The work of my Department's Special Action Group on Obesity and Healthy Ireland on, among other priorities, its physical activity strategy this year, along with legislation on smoking and reducing alcohol consumption, are all intended to help prevent disease - including stroke.
Hospital Beds Data
Questions (562)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:562. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the shortage of neurological intensive care beds for patients who suffer brain haemorrhages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11192/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Beds Data
Questions (563)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:563. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of respite care beds available by county; the number of persons who are eligible to avail of respite care in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/15]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Health Insurance
Questions (564)
Robert Dowds
Question:564. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reason he is encouraging persons under 35 years of age who can afford private health insurance to do so before 30 April 2015. [11203/15]
View answerWritten answers
Community rating, reflecting the principle of intergenerational solidarity, is a fundamental cornerstone of the Irish health insurance market. Under community rating, everybody is charged the same premium for a particular health insurance plan, irrespective of age, gender and the current or likely future state of their health. This means that the level of risk that a particular consumer poses to an insurer does not directly affect the premium paid. It also means that premiums for younger or healthier lives are typically higher than their expected claims would require, whereas for older or less healthy lives, premiums are typically lower than the expected claims would require.
The policy objective of introducing Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) is to encourage people to purchase health insurance at a younger age, as community-rated markets depend on a continuing influx of younger people to keeps premiums down for everybody. LCR, which is being introduced from 1 May 2015, modifies community rating so that the premium that individuals pay for health insurance increases with the age at which they enter the private health insurance market. The premium does not vary in relation to their current age. For example, under LCR a 50 year old who has held insurance since he or she was 30 will continue to pay the same as a 30 year old, but a 50 year old who purchases insurance for the first time will pay more than a 30 year old. If you take out private health insurance earlier in life, and retain it, you will pay lower premiums compared to someone who joins when they are older.
The introduction of LCR will encourage more people to join the market at younger ages, thus helping to spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market and helping to support affordable community-rated premiums for everyone.