Wednesday, 13 Jan 2016

Written Answers Nos. 614 - 625

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (614)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

614. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health why Sativex is still not available for multiple sclerosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46866/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In July 2014, the Health Products Regulatory Authority granted a marketing authorisation for the 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 their 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 (NCPE). 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 NCPE, which did not recommend reimbursement of Sativex® at the submitted price.

The Report by the NCPE 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 ongoing.

Hospital Services

Questions (615)

Written answers

Minister for Health

Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Funding was allocated in 2015 for additional consultant posts including two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin, while capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further. The 2016 Service Plan specifically provides for support for the new theatre capacity and the continued development of paediatric scoliosis services to address ongoing capacity deficits.

With regard to the specific query of when the new theatre space will become operational at Crumlin, this is a service matter and 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. 616 answered with Question No. 538.

Respite Care Services Availability

Questions (617)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

617. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of additional respite beds that will be available following the allocation of an additional €1 million for this in the 2016 Health Service Executive service plan. [46879/15]

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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (618)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

618. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of medical cards in respect of cancer patients (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46884/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is founded primarily on the undue financial hardship test. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. This requires the provision of information by the applicant and the HSE cannot make a determination on eligibility unless all the required information is to hand. Where the applicant's income is within the income guidelines, as set out in the HSE national assessment guidelines, a medical card or GP visit card will be awarded.

In certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds his or her income threshold, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services. The HSE affords applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting information and documentation to fully take account of all the relevant circumstances that may benefit them in the assessment, including medical evidence of cost and necessary expenses.

The Deputy may be aware of the "Keane" Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility with a key recommendation that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card. It also recommended that it is neither feasible nor desirable to list conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility.

It is clear that there are people with medical needs and it is important that they should be able to access necessary assistance in a straight forward manner. Greater discretion is being exercised by the HSE because the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation has increased from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to over 97,000 at the beginning of December 2015. This followed the measures I announced with Minister Varadkar following the publication of the Keane Report.

On foot of the Keane Report, the HSE established a Clinical Advisory Group to develop clinical oversight and guidance for the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. The Director General of the HSE, on accepting an interim recommendation of the Group, made a decision to award medical card eligibility to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer from 1 July 2015, with the card to be held for a period of five years. The Clinical Advisory Group is continuing its work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions.

We do not have a universal eligibility system for primary and community health services. Until we have universal health care and everyone is entitled to health care, one will always have anomalies and injustices. There will always be somebody who is just above a means threshold, or who does not have a prescribed disease, or whose condition is not sufficiently severe and, as a result, these individuals will not meet the assessment criteria.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (619)

Barry Cowen

Question:

619. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case and when the person (details supplied) will receive an appointment in the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, County Offaly. [46901/15]

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (620)

Tom Fleming

Question:

620. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46902/15]

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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (621)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

621. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the level of the emergency medical technician service in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46904/15]

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.

Health Services Expenditure

Questions (622)

Clare Daly

Question:

622. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount it costs a multidisciplinary team in the Health Service Executive to diagnose autism spectrum disorder as against diagnosis by a private psychiatrist; if the psychiatrist has done work for the executive over a period of years; and the amount paid from the public purse for this. [46905/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be 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.

Question No. 623 answered with Question No. 539.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (624)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

624. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is awaiting a hospital bed in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46941/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Hospital Charges

Questions (625)

Finian McGrath

Question:

625. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support patients' families with huge parking costs at Beaumont Hospital (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1001/16]

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.