Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Written Answers Nos. 441-57

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Questions (441)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

441. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the social workers in counties Galway and Roscommon are going to receive their back pay of €7.5 million for twilight premium time; if the Health Service Executive has provided money to the Health Service Executive west to pay for the money owed; if the executive made any payments to an organisation (details supplied); if former employes are included in the back pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18158/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has advised that following a national engagement with staff representatives, agreement was reached to make unsocial hours payments to designated staff. This payment commenced on 1 January 2015 and no agreement was made in relation to arrears.

There remains a continuing issue of retrospective payment which is being pursued by staff representative organisations and was the subject of a Labour Relations Commission engagement on March 3.

The HSE indicated that it was not in a position to consider any retrospective payments as it was engaged in a broader national process to determine the overall extent of issues relating to the non-application of “Twilight Premiums” in section 38 and 39 agencies throughout the country.

It is expected that this process will be finalised shortly and the HSE, together with the employers directly involved in Galway and Roscommon, have indicated a willingness to return to the LRC at that stage.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (442)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

442. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment at Cork University Hospital, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18166/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.

Home Care Packages

Questions (443)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

443. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when an adequate home care package, as recommended by medical teams in Cork University Hospital and Temple Street Hospital, will be provided in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18167/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (444)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

444. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will provide more home help hours to persons (detail supplied) in Dublin 9. [18168/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Health Services

Questions (445)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

445. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has not honoured its commitment to return the premises on Drogheda Street, Monasterevin, County Kildare to Monasterevin Care of the Aged Committee, for continued use as a day care centre; if he is aware of the difficulties that have arisen in respect of day care provision, since the providers were located out of premises; if the matter will receive urgent attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18170/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (446)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

446. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 440 of 20 January 2015, the additional services that are now being provided in respect of this child with special needs, in view of the time that has elapsed since the Health Service Executive was first asked to prioritise this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18171/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE 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.

Medical Card Administration

Questions (447)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

447. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the community lifetime rating regime in order that medical cards are considered equivalent to health insurance for the purposes of determining if a person has to pay an age-related levy, and that such a measure would ensure that persons who have medical cards, based on financial circumstances, and therefore neither require nor can afford health insurance, will not be penalised by the age-related levy, should their financial circumstances improve, and should they subsequently take out private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18177/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility or limited eligibility for health services. Persons with full eligibility (medical card holders) are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and maternity and infant care services. People with limited eligibility (non-medical card holders) are entitled, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services and out-patient public hospital services including consultant services.

Separate to the public health system, my Department oversees the maintenance of a competitive and sustainable private health insurance market, under the provisions of the Health Insurance Acts 1994 to 2014, and monitors developments on an ongoing basis to ensure that the market is regulated appropriately. The policy objective of introducing Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) to the health insurance market 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 help spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market and helping to support affordable community-rated premiums for everyone who wishes to purchase insurance.

It is important to note that the purchase of private health insurance is optional. The regulatory framework governing health insurance, such as late entry loadings under LCR, applies to all persons choosing to purchase health insurance and is not related to a person's eligibility, or previous eligibility, for public health services. People who do not take out health insurance continue to have the same entitlement to services in the public hospital system.

Health Care Professionals

Questions (448, 467, 475, 503)

Finian McGrath

Question:

448. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views regarding regulation of the psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18181/15]

Michael Creed

Question:

467. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Government proposals to regulate the counselling and psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/15]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

475. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the counselling and psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18449/15]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

503. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress, to date, in determining the course to be taken regarding regulation of the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist; his plans for further consultation; if said consultation process will be time-limited and, if so, when he expects to be able to proceed with registration through the Health and Social Care Professional Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 467, 475 and 503 together.

Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.

My predecessor, Minister James Reilly T.D, wrote to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council last year seeking advice on the question of specifically designating counsellors and psychotherapists under the 2005 Act.

A number of issues require clarification and there are varying views among the professional bodies representing counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland. The main questions to be resolved include whether counselling and psychotherapy should be treated as one or two professions for the purposes of regulation, the title or titles of the profession(s) to be protected, and the minimum qualifications that would be required of applicants for registration. The readiness and compatibility of the professions for designation under the 2005 Act also need to be determined.

The Council's detailed report on the matter has been received in recent weeks and is being examined carefully in the Department with a view to deciding the next steps which, I envisage, will include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies and other interested parties.

Hospital Services

Questions (449)

Billy Timmins

Question:

449. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health his plans for the development and future of Kilcreene Hospital in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18186/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 Appointments Status

Questions (450)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

450. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal may receive an appointment in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18193/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.

Public Health Policy

Questions (451)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

451. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if his Department was consulted on the revision of the wind energy guidelines, which are due to be published shortly; if his Department made a submission, or if his officials had any input into the review; if so, if he will provide the details of his Department's involvement; if the advice given, or submissions made, are publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18197/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Policy responsibility with regard to planning and the legislative framework in relation to wind turbines rests with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer in my Department has provided advice, which is publicly available, to that Department in the past on the possible effects of noise from wind turbines on human health.

I hope this answers the Deputy's question and clarifies the matter.

Orthodontic Services Provision

Questions (452)

Jack Wall

Question:

452. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18217/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (453)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

453. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant general practitioner positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18222/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. 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.

Medicinal Products Licensing

Questions (454)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

454. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a new medication for multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18234/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

On the 18 of July 2014 the Health Products Regulatory Authority granted a marketing authorisation for cannabis based medicinal product Sativex® to be marketed in Ireland. The remaining timeframe for making the product available for prescribing in Ireland is the responsibility of the holder of the product authorisation, GW Pharmaceuticals PLC and its European partner Almirall.

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the GMS and community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. 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 inclusion of Sativex® under the Community Drugs Schemes High Tech Arrangements in early September 2014. Sativex® is indicated for the relief of symptoms of spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis where other conservative treatments have failed to provide adequate benefits.

A Health Technology Assessment on Sativex® has been completed by the National Centre for Pharmaceoeconomics which did not recommend reimbursement of Sativex® at the submitted price.

The Report by the National Centre for Pharmaceoeconomics is an important input to assist the HSE in its decision making process and informs further discussions between the HSE and the supplier. No further comment can be provided at this time as the assessment process is on-going.

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (455)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

455. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow may have access to Fampyra, which is a much needed treatment for that person's medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18263/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (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. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers of a range of statutory criteria including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.

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 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 National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics 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.

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 25 July 2014. The HSE has since been engaging with the company seeking an improved commercial offering and these engagements have been completed. It is not possible to say when a decision on the funding of this medication will be made as the HSE is considering the outcome of those commercial engagements as well as the outcome of discussions which the HSE has had with clinical experts regarding this drug.

Hospital Staff

Questions (456)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

456. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has left a post at Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal; if a replacement doctor has been installed to the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18273/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. 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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (457)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

457. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be backdated to cover the costs of that person's treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18278/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.