Tuesday, 16 Jun 2015

Written Answers Nos. 653-665

Registration of Nurses

Questions (654)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

654. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses and midwives who have to take enforced leave from the Health Service Executive due to their names being removed from the register of nurses and midwives while they await restoration to the register for each of the years 2011 to 2014 and for 2015 to date; the average length of time taken to process the restoration of a name on the Register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23858/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.

Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt by the HSE and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). I have referred the first part of the Deputy's question to the HSE and second part of the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.

If you have not received a reply from the NMBI and/or the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 655 answered with Question No. 572.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Questions (656)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

656. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, for end May 2014 and end of May 2015, for each local health area, the numbers of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme; and the length of time waiting. [23898/15]

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.

HSE Expenditure

Questions (657)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

657. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the total Health Service Executive budget for each of the years 2011 to 2014 by the following directorates - primary care, acute services, social care, health and well-being, mental health and corporate. [23900/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The information requested is given in the following tables. The specific breakdown requested is only available for 2014 as this was the first year of operation since the reorganisation of the HSE into the service areas mentioned i.e. Primary Care, Acute Hospitals, Social Care, Health & Well-being and Mental Health. Corporate comes under the category "Other" and also includes National Services, Regional Services etc. Prior to 2014, the HSE reported by Category and Care Group. Therefore, the data for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 is presented in that format. This information has already been provided to the Deputy in response to PQ30454/14.

The approved allocation for each year relates to current expenditure. It is reported in Income & Expenditure terms and is shown net of income.

2011-2013 Approved Allocation by Category and Care Group

Approved Allocation*	2011 €000	2012 €000	2013 €000
Hospital Services	3,770,116	3,603,119	3,865,347
Primary and Community Care(including childcare)	4,789,794	4,378,232	4,251,051
Primary Care Reimbursement Service	2,502,909	2,680,618	2,597,563
Fair Deal	364,822	794,808	829,110
Population Health	146,939	140,422	144,629
National Services Broken down as follows: National Cancer Control Programme Health Repayment Scheme Ambulance Clinical Indemnity Scheme & Insurance Quality and Clinical Care	392,337 111,460 12,000 140,964 103,418 24,495	357,555 106,605 1,700 128,697 84,000 36,553	421,398 110,016 9,000 135,175 132,569 34,637
Other National Services	102,038	177,646	47,924
Support Functions	429,838	483,970	486,025
HSE Budget after Supplementary Estimate	12,498,795	12,616,369	12,643,047

Notes: any difference due to rounding

*as per December HSE Performance Assurance Reports for the year in question

2014 Approved Allocation by Division

Approved Allocation*	2014 €000
Acute Services	4,045,662
Primary Care	3,431,687
Health and Well-being	206,723
Social Care	2,954,480
Mental Health	754,828
Pensions	424,122
Other (including National Services, Regional Services, Corporate & Held Funds etc.)	395,441
HSE Budget after Supplementary Estimate	12,212,942

Notes: any difference due to rounding

*as per December 2014 HSE Performance Assurance Report

Health Services

Questions (658)

Pat Breen

Question:

658. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of a service (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23913/15]

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.

Hospital Services

Questions (659)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

659. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has commissioned, undertaken and/or completed any reports and/or reviews of service provision at University Hospital Waterford over the past four years; the details of same; if any of these reports and / or reviews have been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23925/15]

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.

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Questions (660)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

660. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the 2,684 cases on the National Treatment Purchase Fund inpatient-day case list for 30 May 2013 in Cork University Hospital, the number of these cases in which the scheduled treatment and/or procedure was provided in Cork University Hospital; the number of cases in which the scheduled treatment and / or procedure was outsourced; and the number of cases in which no scheduled treatment and/or procedure actually occurred. [23926/15]

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.

Question No. 661 answered with Question No. 563.

Medicinal Products Licensing

Questions (662)

Arthur Spring

Question:

662. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who took part in the trial of the drug fampridine; the benefits the clinical trial results demonstrated; and if the full extent of the benefits were considered in the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. [23940/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) evaluation of the drug Fampridine was completed in August 2012; the evaluation took account of clinical evidence submitted by the manufacturer, Biogen Idec, in May 2012. Following this evaluation, the NCPE concluded that it was unable to recommend reimbursement of the product as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness and a fair price for Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting. Further information on the NCPE's evaluation can be found on the centre's website at www.ncpe.ie. The NCPE has not carried out any further pharmacoeconomic evaluations of Fampridine.

In July 2014, Biogen Idec submitted a revised application to the HSE for the inclusion of Fampridine in the GMS and community drugs schemes. 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 Appointments Status

Questions (663)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

663. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment to attend University Hospital Galway for an urological procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23942/15]

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 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 Waiting Lists

Questions (664)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

664. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients from Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal, in tabular form, who are currently on the waiting list to be seen by a consultant urologist; who have been waiting for six months, 12 months; one year; and more than one year; the total number of patients with respect to each of these periods who have been referred to University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23943/15]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (665)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

665. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 will receive an appointment for dental implants. [23960/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of 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.