Written Answers Nos. 671-685
671. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health if an appliance in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Galway, which costs €90 per month, is covered under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11778/15]
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.
672. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since the start of 2014 in which the secretary general of his Department has been involved in the clearing or approval of material for release under freedom of information legislation. [11801/15]
View answerDecisions in relation to FOI requests received by my Department, are made at the appropriate level, within the Unit who hold the relevant records.
The Secretary General has no role in the decision-making process. In certain circumstances, he is advised of records which are to be released under FOI.
673. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of the medication Regorafenib (Stivarga); the cost for treatment, per year, per patient; the number of patients who require the medication; his plans to include the medication under the general medical services scheme-high-tech drugs scheme; the cost to fund this medication for all who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/15]
View answerThe 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 decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or Ministerial decisions.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Regorafenib in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being 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 National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Regorafenib. The HSE is currently considering the results of that assessment and a subsequent commercial negotiation with the pharmaceutical company Bayer to seek to address some of the concerns raised in the assessment. The number of people with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours that may require this drug is expected to be low. As the assessment process is still ongoing it is not possible at this time to provide any further details regarding the cost of this drug.
674. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the charges for phlebotomy by general practitioners under the general medical scheme; if this will be covered by the new contracts for general practitioners; the status of charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/15]
View answerSection 11 of the General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) Capitation Contract, which was introduced in 1989, provides that the medical practitioner shall provide for eligible persons, on behalf of the Health Service Executive, all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a GP and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which GPs cannot reasonably be expected to possess.
In circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) assist in the process of diagnosing a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge that patient if they are eligible for free GMS services under the Health Act, 1970, as amended.
Under paragraph 27 of the GMS contract a GP shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever from a GMS patient in reward for services provided by him/her under this contract, or for travelling or for other expenses incurred by him/her or for the use of any premises; equipment or instruments in making the services available.
GPs are private contractors and issues relating to payment of fees outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinician and the patient.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February 2015 commits the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO to substantive negotiations on a new comprehensive GP contract commencing no later than 31 March with a view to concluding within 12 months. A priority of these discussions will be the inclusion of chronic disease management for patients. The appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services will also be considered as part of these discussions.
675. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be provided with travelling expenses for travelling to and from Cork University Hospital and Tralee General Hospital for dialysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11816/15]
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.
676. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons waiting for colonoscopies in each hospital for the months of January and February, separately in the following categories; less than three months; between three and six months; between six and nine months; between nine and 12 months, and greater than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11821/15]
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.
677. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a determination will be made in an application for an over 70 medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11824/15]
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.
678. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason for a price discrepancy of 176% between the purchase of a drug (details supplied) privately compared to its purchase through the drugs payment scheme; if this is the case for all drugs; his plans to tackle this variance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11828/15]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, including the Drugs Payment Scheme, therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
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.
679. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11834/15]
View answerThe 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.
680. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11835/15]
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.
681. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a timed and costed plan will be completed for the development required to bring Raheen Community Hospital into compliance with Health Information and Quality Authority standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11836/15]
View answerAll public residential units providing long term residential care are currently registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority. The majority of these units are due to be re-registered during 2015. The Health Service Executive is working with HIQA around ensuring all units will be in a position to re-register.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
Between 2006 and 2014 about €550m exchequer capital funding has been provided for community nursing units and other accommodation for Services for Older People. Currently HSE is concentrating on refurbishment and upgrading of facilities.
It is important to recognise that publicly-run facilities provide bed capacity which is critically needed by older people, particularly by those with high or complex care needs for whom public facilities are often the only place that can meet their needs.
The HSE has been working with HIQA over the past number of months to meet the re-registration requirements of these units. These discussions are ongoing and there is adequate flexibility available within the terms of existing legislative provisions, and through ongoing discussions between the HSE and HIQA, for solutions to be found. My Department is also in regular contact with the HSE on this issue.
Raheen Community Hospital, which currently registered to accommodate a maximum of 25 residents in 15 long stay and 10 short stay beds, will be due for re-registration in May 2015. The HSE intends to make the necessary renovations to achieve compliance with HIQA environmental standards. The investment will be spent over the coming years and detailed plans are being finalised at present. When these plans are finalised the position will be discussed with HIQA.
682. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake a full audit of brain injury services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11843/15]
View answerThere are no proposals to undertake a full audit of brain injury services in Ireland. Brain injury health services are provided across a range of settings, by different organisations and by many health professionals and carers. The Health Service Executive provides for the health needs of those affected by brain injury through a range of measures. The HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate have a number of clinical programmes that are working in the area of neurology, including Neurology, Epilepsy, Stroke and Rehabilitation Medicine. The clinical programmes are focusing on reducing waiting times/lists, addressing disease specific pathways and models of care with a view to developing a national framework for the management of long-term neurological conditions. The HSE also provide services for those with brain injury through Primary Care Teams with community based therapy services and personal social services, often funded through partner agencies in the non-statutory sector. The National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy made a number of recommendations for services for people with rehabilitation needs. An implementation framework for the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy is being developed by both the HSE Rehabilitation Medicine Clinical Programme and the HSE Disability Services Division. The HSE also provides substantial funding to a number of organisations such as Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Headway Ireland, Enable Ireland, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland among others, to provide supports and services to people with a neurological condition.
The Government recognises that neurological illness or injury has significant implications for the individual and their family and impacts on their health, social, educational, vocational and recreational participation. It is important that the continuum of services and supports required are made available by the health system and by those other State agencies to provide specific services, consistent with their statutory remit. On the health side, waiting times, access, treatment and quality of care are priorities for reform for this Government, despite budgetary constraints.
683. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the shortage of beds in specialist neurosurgical centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11844/15]
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.
684. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 25 February 2015, the reason the patient was informed that they would be called for surgery within four to eight weeks; if this information is wrongly being provided to all patients attending for pre-assessment; if the patient will need to be assessed again prior to surgery, due to the subsequent lapse in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11848/15]
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.
685. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a specific mandatory standard to require the National Referral Centre for Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, to collect and publish each quarter, data on the outcome, morbidity and mortality, for patients who suffer aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, who are brought to hospitals where neurosurgery and endovascular treatment is not available, and who are not transferred to Beaumont Hospital for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/15]
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.
