Written Answers Nos. 730-749
730. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to resolve a staffing issue at the cystic fibrosis unit at Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30441/15]
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.
731. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the allocation of 90 new nurses at the Midland Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30443/15]
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.
732. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health given the unprecedented suspension of a midwife (details supplied) on 12 September 2014 pending the outcome of a systems analysis investigation by the Health Service Executive, which he repeatedly claimed would be produced by mid-March 2015, the reason for the failure by the executive to date to produce a final report on the investigation; and when this will be completed. [30454/15]
View answer733. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health given the supervisory review of the practice of a midwife (details supplied), claimed by him as a measure to expedite the parallel systems analysis investigation, whether a final report was issued by the supervisory review team to the Health Service Executive; if so, the date on which it was issued; and if not, the reason for the failure to do so. [30455/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 733 together.
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 with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and 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.
734. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be provided with access to the drug Lemtrada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30458/15]
View answerThe 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, 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.
735. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will consider conducting a public information campaign aimed at suicide awareness, similar to the Road Safety Authority's safety campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30469/15]
View answerSuicide is a tragedy that we are constantly working to prevent and also working to give more support to the families affected. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm continues to be a priority for this Government. The HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has developed a range of initiatives designed to support people who are suicidal and also supporting their families, friends and peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.
A key part of the work of the NOSP is to create an awareness within the community of positive mental health and suicide prevention. In recent years, the NOSP has run a number of national media campaigns and has also sponsored non-statutory partners in their health promotion work. The major NOSP campaigns include ‘Your Mental Health’ and ‘Let Someone Know’ . It also funded campaigns targeted at specific groups within the community e.g. the farming community through Farm TV. These programmes have been well evaluated in terms of impact. The focus of these national campaigns is to assist the individual to understand the importance of looking after their mental health and to seek help at times of stress.
In October 2014, the NOSP in collaboration with over 25 partner organisations launched a new mental health awareness campaign entitled ‘Little Things’. The campaign features real people sharing their real stories, told through animated films and radio messages. The ads are supported by a range of print and online illustrations of the #littlethings that are proven to protect and recover good mental health and wellbeing. The campaign has been developed in conjunction with mental health experts to highlight evidence-based advice for how little things can improve our mental health and wellbeing. It is designed to answer two very fundamental questions in relation to mental health: What can I do? and Where can I go for help? A new online multimedia information resource www.yourmentalhealth.ie has been developed as part of the campaign. This is the most comprehensive online repository of support services and information resources on mental health in Ireland, as well as giving tips on reaching out and listening.
736. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of mental health spending per capita and per region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30471/15]
View answer799. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of funding allocated for mental health services, broken down per capita and by geographic area for the years 2011-2015, inclusive. [30723/15]
View answer842. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, funding allocated for mental health services, broken down by Health Service Executive administrative area and by county for the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30846/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 736, 799 and 842 together.
As this is a service issue these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
737. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his views on the importance of investment in services to those bereaved by suicide, given that they are a special group who face especial difficulties, and who are at present supported, in the most part, by community services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30472/15]
View answerBereavement support for families and communities is critically important in the aftermath of a death by suicide. The aim of bereavement support is to support those immediately affected by the death, to allow them to express their grief and to prevent more suicides from happening in the same area.
A range of local and national services provide suicide bereavement support to families and communities. The HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention provides funding to Console to deliver suicide bereavement support services across the country. The organisation has six regional offices and has a dedicated helpline for individuals bereaved by suicide. The National Office also provides funding to Counselling, Responding, Information & Bereavement Services in HSE South and to Mayo Suicide Liaison Project.
It is important that those providing bereavement support services follow evidence-based practice. In this regard, the National Office for Suicide Prevention, Console and Turas le Cheile developed national quality standards for all levels of suicide bereavement support in Ireland. These standards provide a significant resource for those organisations providing support to individuals at a very vulnerable time in their lives.
739. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown, by scheme project, of the State spend on suicide prevention and awareness projects, including on the National Office of Suicide Prevention, in each of the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30474/15]
View answerFunding for suicide prevention is primarily provided by the HSE’s National Office of Suicide Prevention.
In addition, my Department has, in the past, provided relevant organisations with National Lottery funding for the years in question. Details of this are as follows:
|
Year |
Organisation |
Purpose |
Grant Paid |
|
Waterford & South East Branch of Samaritans |
Renovating Premises |
€34,000 |
|
|
2012 |
Console |
Refurbishment of premises. |
€75,000 |
|
Cork Counselling Services ltd |
Programme for Defeating Depression |
€50,000 |
|
|
Fingal Suicide Network |
Office Equipment |
€1,000 |
|
|
2013 |
Mountmellick Development Association |
€2,175 |
|
|
Grow in Ireland – Southern Region |
Establishment of New Office |
€5,954 |
|
|
2014 |
Cork Counselling Services Ltd. |
Adolescent Mental Health and suicide prevention programme |
€50,000 |
|
Arklow Mental Health Association |
Presentation drama on suicide prevention |
€3,000 |
The Department of Health is processing various National Lottery applications for this year in respect of mental health and suicide prevention, and successful applicants will be informed in the normal way in due course.
I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply in respect of detailed information sought relating to the NOSP, or any other funding source used by the Executive for the purposes indicated by the Deputy.
740. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30478/15]
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.
741. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision on an application for a medical card will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30502/15]
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.
742. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for an orthopaedic bed by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30503/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for attention and 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.
743. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a hospital appointment. [30505/15]
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.
744. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare may expect a hospital appointment. [30508/15]
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.
745. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has agreed to make a drug (details supplied) available to sufferers of phenylketonuria. [30518/15]
View answer749. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will consider including the sapropterin drug, Kuvan, in its reimbursement scheme, in order to help patients here with phenylketonuria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30532/15]
View answer815. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will make available the drug sapropterin or Kuvan, for the treatment of those affected by the condition phenylketonturia, PKU, here; and when patients may avail of this treatment. [30784/15]
View answer820. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his plans to make available the medication Kuvan through the Health Service Executive, which stabilises phenylalanine levels in those diagnosed with phenylketonuria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30811/15]
View answer994. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has been approached by the manufacturer of a medicine called Kuvan or sapropterin, which is used to treat persons with phenylketonuria, PKU, for reimbursement on the condition that the company will cover the initial cost of the drug and only if the patient responds to treatment will the HSE take over the cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31412/15]
View answer1088. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to approve a treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31879/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 745, 749, 815, 820, 994 and 1088 together.
The 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 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.
Sapropterin (Kuvan®) was previously considered under the national pricing and reimbursement processes in 2009. At that time, insufficient evidence was available to support the pricing and reimbursement application submitted by the manufacturer, Merck Serono.
Merck Serono recently commenced the process of resubmitting a new application for pricing and reimbursement of Kuvan; this application will now be considered in line with criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and using the processes outlined in national pricing framework agreements.
As the application process is still at a very early stage, it is not possible to discuss potential outcomes or comment further at this time.
746. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if all documents relating to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will be released to the person’s family. [30525/15]
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.
747. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the principle of informed consent is always adhered to in the administration of vaccines; that any new evidence of risk is fed into the decision-making process to continue with vaccine programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30530/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Services Executive for a 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.
748. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the Health Service Executive will agree to provide funding, or some support, for selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery for persons with cerebral palsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30531/15]
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.
