Áine Collins
Question:451. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on reducing the current cap on prescription costs for seriously disabled persons from €25 to €10. [39573/15]
View answerPrescriptions Charges
Questions (451)
Written answers
Prescription charges are part of a set of measures introduced by Government in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical drugs expenditure. Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family.
There are no plans to amend the prescription charge; however, the charge remains frozen at the level set in 2014.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (452)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:452. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment in Croom Hospital in County Limerick for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39578/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (453)
Anne Ferris
Question:453. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Health in view of the explanation he provided to Seanad Éireann on 3 November 2015 regarding the extent to which parental consent for the human papillomavirus vaccine can be considered informed consent, how his Department reconciles the requirement to satisfy average or below-average levels of adult literacy with the obligation placed on parents to navigate an Internet website in order to receive specific scientific information regarding the side effects; and, in turn, his view on the effectiveness of the requirement for the Health Service Executive to obtain informed consent, which might have to be obtained in areas of poor or no broadband access, since the introduction of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39583/15]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE provides information for parents about diseases, the vaccines to prevent them and side effects to allow them to choose whether to give consent to vaccination. All vaccines provided by the HSE are based on the recommendation of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to protect the public from preventable diseases and are licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the European Medicines Agency.
All vaccination information provided to parents is prepared from the available licensed documentation for each vaccine, the Summary of Products Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet. The information is presented in clear simple language and approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency so that it can be understood by all adults as the average reading age in Ireland is 12 years of age.
Prior to all school immunisation parents receive an information pack in a sealed package which contains an information leaflet, consent form and cover letter. Information packs for all immunisation are standardised nationally. The information booklets include information on the most common adverse events that can occur after each vaccination. Parents are also given contact details for their local immunisation office and advised to speak to a member of the school immunisation team if they have any further questions.
Should parents require additional information about vaccines the immunisation leaflet refers to the HSE’s national immunisation website (www.immunisation.ie) where further information is available. The national immunisation website has been accredited by the World Health Organisation for credibility, content and good information practices. The website allows members of the public to contact the National Immunisation Office to ask a question if they require further information. These questions, when possible, are answered by the staff of the National Immunisation Office within one working day.
Parents of any girl with a suspected adverse reaction following vaccination are advised to contact the HSE vaccination teams or their general practitioner for advice and are referred for further management if required.
The safety of the HPV vaccine has been reviewed frequently by many international bodies including the European Medicines Agency, the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety of the World Health Organisation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US. These Committees have continually concluded that the HPV vaccine is safe.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (454)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:454. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card by persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39587/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (455)
Brendan Smith
Question:455. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the proposal to provide a new primary care unit (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39607/15]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (456)
Brendan Smith
Question:456. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the proposal to provide a new primary care unit (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39608/15]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (457)
Brendan Smith
Question:457. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the proposal to provide a new primary care unit (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39609/15]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE proposes to use the direct build mechanism to deliver the primary care centre for the location in question. A design team has been appointed and as at end September 2015, the HSE estimates that the planning application could be lodged by year end.
While the Government's objective is to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered / provided / available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation.
Autism Support Services
Questions (458)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:458. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the home support services available from his Department for autistic children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39610/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (459)
Seán Kyne
Question:459. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 636 of 15 April 2015, the progress his Department has made on examining the issue of introducing a minor ailments scheme for pharmacies in order that pharmacies can realise their full potential in contributing to the primary care needs of communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39626/15]
View answerWritten answers
Expanding the role of the community pharmacist to include provision of services such as a Minor Ailments Scheme is worth exploring as we seek to further expand and develop the primary care sector. It is important that such proposals generate real savings on existing public expenditure since the health service continues to operate within tight budget constraints. The Department of Health is examining this issue having regard to the evidence-base for such a service, including the application of such schemes in other countries, and any contractual or funding implications.
The Department has engaged the services of the Health Research Board (HRB) to undertake an analysis of Minor Ailments Schemes in other jurisdictions. Work on this is progressing to schedule and a report by the HRB is expected in the coming weeks. The HRB's report will assist the Department in its examination of the issue.