Written Answers Nos. 399-418
399. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a national baby loss awareness day as a day of remembrance for bereaved families, as discussed by Féileacháin at an Oireachtas health committee meeting in October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24588/15]
View answerMany people are affected by infant loss and a remembrance day as suggested would be a poignant reminder. However, it is my understanding that remembrance days such as that proposed by Féileacháin, are often organised by the bodies themselves.
My Department, therefore, unfortunately would not be in a position to proceed with the proposal of organising such an event.
400. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding an incident that took place in Dublin 2 in recent days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24903/15]
View answerSince coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change. We are committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness, ensuring early and appropriate intervention and improving access to modern mental health services in the community. Additional funding totalling €125 million and some 1,150 new posts have been provided for mental health services since 2012.
This funding has enabled the HSE to develop a number of services and programmes for people who are in suicidal crisis, including the self-harm Clinical Programme which provides for assessment and management of patients presenting with self-harm to Emergency Departments, the development of the Liaison Psychiatry Service and the roll out of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service.
In relation to the specific incident raised by the Deputy, I feel that the HSE may be better placed to provide information on this and, accordingly, I am referring the question for direct reply by the HSE.
401. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Health Service Executive’s financial position; the net current deficit of the executive against profile at the end of May 2015; the latest projection for the overall deficit in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24480/15]
View answerIn its April Performance Report, the latest published data, the HSE is reporting year to date net expenditure of €4.116 billion against profiled net expenditure of €3.980 billion, leading to a variance of €136m. The Report confirms that the key financial risks are in demand-led areas, as well as in the Acute and Social Care areas.
Under the HSE’s Accountability Framework, escalation procedures have been initiated in respect of financial under performance in both the Acute Hospitals and Social Care areas.
It is too early, at this stage, to accurately assess the projected overall deficit in 2015. My Department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the greatest degree of budgetary control is exercised.
402. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of the revised costs for free general practitioner care for those under six years of age, his Department's current estimate of the full year cost of providing free general practitioner care to the population as a whole. [24483/15]
View answerOver 400,000 children under 6 will benefit from a new enhanced service under the new under 6 GP contract. This will involve age-based preventive checks focused on health and wellbeing and the prevention of disease. The contract will also cover an agreed cycle of care for children diagnosed with asthma. The costs of providing the enhanced GP service for all children under 6 years of age will be approximately €67 million.
The additional cost of providing a universal GP service to the entire population was previously estimated at €330m-€365m on the basis of the existing scope of the service, rates of payments to GPs and eligibility. In the absence of specific changes to the scope and content of the GP service, the relevant fee structure or the eligibility rates, it would not be possible for an additional exercise to yield a more valid estimate in respect of the remainder of the population at this point in time.
403. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure performed; if priority will be given to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24517/15]
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.
404. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive an appointment for urgent necessary orthopaedic surgery at University Hospital Galway, in view of the person's circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24520/15]
View answerUnder 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.
405. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he expects Voluntary Health Insurance to acquire the necessary fund for reserves to make an application for authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland by 30 June 2015. [24540/15]
View answerThe Central Bank of Ireland has completed its assessment of VHI's application for authorisation and has agreed to its authorisation in principle, subject to the provision of a capital requirement. VHI is committed to self-funding the required capital and is engaged in the preparatory work to put the capital in place.
Once VHI's authorisation is complete, it will be regulated by the Central Bank as a non-life insurance undertaking.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
406. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when Voluntary Health Insurance will publish its annual reports and accounts for 2014. [24541/15]
View answerIn accordance with the VHI Acts, the VHI is required to submit its Annual Report and Accounts to the Minister for Health, and I am required to lay the Annual Report and Accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I understand the VHI's 2014 Annual Report and Accounts are currently being finalised and will be submitted shortly. I will then make the relevant arrangements for them to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
407. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the enormous difficulties persons are still experiencing with the medical card application process, and in particular persons who have been diagnosed with cancer, and who are being treated appallingly by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, where persons who are undergoing treatment for cancer are left waiting for months without a medical card, and their serious medical condition is simply ignored by the service; if he will issue a directive to the Health Service Executive to treat persons who have been diagnosed with cancer with more urgency and compassion than they are currently doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24548/15]
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.
408. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an appointment for a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scan, which is necessary to determine the course of necessary treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24549/15]
View answerUnder 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.
409. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be called for a procedure at University Hospital Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24571/15]
View answerUnder 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.
410. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the areas of the State which are covered by an out-of-hours general practitioner co-operative; the areas which are not covered; if north Wicklow is not covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24611/15]
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.
411. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive an appointment to see a specialist consultant at St. James's Hospital in Dublin 8; the reason the person is waiting three months to be seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24613/15]
View answerUnder 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.
412. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Cavan will receive an appointment for a dental procedure; the timeframe the child will be expected to wait in view of the urgency of the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24619/15]
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.
413. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the procedure available to a person pursuant to the current statutory mental health framework, to enable an application be made to have a person's detainment in a psychiatric institution changed from voluntary to involuntary, where that person's medical status so warrants same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24641/15]
View answerIn accordance with Section 23 of the Mental Health Act 2001, where a voluntary patient in an approved centre indicates at any time that he or she wishes to leave the approved centre, then, if a consultant psychiatrist, registered medical practitioner or registered nurse on the staff of the approved centre is of the opinion that the person is suffering from a mental disorder, he or she may detain the person for a period not exceeding 24 hours.
Section 24 of the act authorises a person so detained to be examined by another consultant psychiatrist who, following such examination, may determine that the person is suffering from a mental disorder and that he/she should therefore be detained in the approved centre. If the consultant psychiatrist is satisfied that the person is not suffering from a mental disorder, then he/she should be discharged.
All the protections laid down in the act for involuntary patients, including access to mental health tribunals, are then available to such persons in the normal way.
The Deputy will be aware that an Expert Group review of the Mental Health Act 2001 was published in March. I will shortly be seeking Government approval to prepare the General Scheme of a Bill to reflect the recommendations of the review in revised mental health legislation. Further protections are recommended in the review where the question of changing a person’s status from voluntary to involuntary is proposed. The Expert Group review of the act is available on my Department’s website at http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Dept-Health-Report-Expert-Group-for-website.pdf.
414. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the options available under the Mental Health Treatment Act 2004, as amended, in respect of a person who is suffering severe mental health difficulties, including schizophrenia, in terms of involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital, to enable appropriate treatment to be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/15]
View answerMost people who have mental health problems are treated without going into hospital. Many people are treated by their GP while others are referred on to specialist mental health services where appropriate. Where hospitalisation is deemed necessary, most patients voluntarily admit themselves to an inpatient psychiatric unit for treatment. However, the Mental Health Act 2001 also allows for the involuntary admission of people who are assessed as having a mental disorder as defined in section 3 of the act.
A person can only be admitted against his/her will if it is thought they meet the criteria for involuntary admission. These criteria are set out in the act to make sure people are only admitted involuntarily if this is absolutely necessary.
Section 9 of the act sets out those who may apply for the involuntary admission of a person. Following the making of an application, a registered medical practitioner must then examine the person and if he/she believes the person meets the criteria for involuntary admission, they will make a recommendation for admission to hospital. The person will then be removed to a psychiatric unit (approved centre) for further examination by a consultant psychiatrist. If the consultant believes that the person meets the criteria for involuntary admission, then he/she will sign an admission order for the person concerned. If the consultant does not believe the person has a mental disorder, he/she will not sign the admission order and the person will be free to leave. The person may, however, choose to stay in the unit as a voluntary patient.
All people admitted on an involuntary basis have a right to have their admission or renewal order reviewed by a mental health tribunal to ensure that the rights of the patient are fully protected.
The Deputy will be aware that an Expert Group review of the Mental Health Act 2001 was published in March. I will shortly be seeking Government approval to prepare the General Scheme of a Bill to reflect the recommendations of the review in revised mental health legislation.
415. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to queries that the Health Service Executive or the National Ambulance Service are refusing to engage Dublin Fire Brigade ambulances, with particular reference to an incident (details supplied). [24644/15]
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.
416. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the number of persons currently waiting to access the fair deal scheme in Dublin, and elsewhere in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24655/15]
View answer417. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department is undertaking to reduce waiting times to access the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24656/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services in nursing homes. Under the Scheme, nursing home residents contribute towards the cost of their nursing home care based on their means, and the HSE pays the balance.
In Budget 2015 €948.8m was provided for the NHSS which included an additional €10m to fund an extra 300 places which formed part of the Delayed Discharges Initiative. However, throughout this year hospitals have experienced increased overcrowding in Emergency Departments and increased numbers of patients whose discharge from hospital has been delayed. At the beginning of April 2015 it was announced that an additional €74m has been allocated to address the issue that has arisen. As a result delayed discharges have reduced from a high of 835 at the end of November 2014 to 649 as of the 16th of June 2015.
Of the €74m, €44m was provided to the NHSS to fund 1,600 more places under the Scheme. This brings the total budget for the NHSS for 2015 to €993m. The additional €54m in funding in 2015 for the NHSS has reduced the number of people on the national placement list awaiting funding from 1,898 in November 2014 to 556 people as of the 12th of June 2015 (latest figures available). The length of time spent on the national placement list has also reduced significantly from 14 weeks in November to 4 weeks currently.
418. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if a campaign is taking place to recruit Irish nursing staff who have emigrated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24657/15]
View answerThe HSE is planning to recruit over 600 nurses across a number of nursing disciplines. There is significant work being undertaken to achieve this. This includes recent and ongoing national and local interviewing of General Nurses, Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Registered Children's Nurses and Midwives. The HSE has developed an International Nurse Recruitment Project for filling posts. This initiative is a targeted recruitment drive in the UK primarily focused on Irish trained nurses who left during the moratorium. In order to facilitate this the services of a recruitment agency has been secured. It is hoped that the first of the interviews will commence in the coming weeks in a number of UK cities with the first nurses due to commence duty in August.
