Michael Healy-Rae
Question:371. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2222/16]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (371)
Written answers
In order to address scoliosis service needs, funding was allocated in the HSE Service Plan in 2015 for additional consultant posts including two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetist and support staff at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin. These two orthopaedic surgeon posts will also support the service at Tallaght Hospital.
Capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site at Crumlin 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. The HSE is continuing to work with the Children’s Hospital Group to identify all options to increase capacity further to improve access times for surgery.
As the specific issue raised 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 Appointments Status
Questions (372)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:372. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2232/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.
Hospital Services
Questions (373)
Tom Fleming
Question:373. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently examine the referral of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry to Cork University Hospital for a procedure to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2236/16]
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 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.
School Therapy Services
Questions (374)
Mattie McGrath
Question:374. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the senior staff of Scoil Aonghusa in Cashel, County Tipperary, given their efforts to improve therapy services at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2237/16]
View answerWritten answers
My Office has recently received a meeting request from the Deputy and it is currently being considered.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (375)
Tom Fleming
Question:375. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently allocate home help hours to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2245/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Respite Care Services Availability
Questions (376)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:376. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the respite bed capacity at a facility (details supplied) in County Wicklow in each of the years 2013 to 2015; if discussions are taking place regarding funding of respite beds; the status of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2250/16]
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.
Vaccination Programme Data
Questions (377, 378)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:377. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of adverse side effects of the human papilloma virus vaccine, Gardasil, including the severity of these side effects in each of the years 2010 to 2015 and in 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2251/16]
View answerThomas P. Broughan
Question:378. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he is examining cases of adverse side effects of the human papilloma virus vaccine, Gardasil, and the literature provided with the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2252/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
In Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the regulatory authority for medicines in Ireland. There are 2 licensed HPV vaccines available in Ireland (Gardasil and Cervarix). Gardasil is the vaccine used by the HSE in the School Immunisation Programme.
At the start of the HSE’s schools immunisation programme in 2010 the HPRA requested reporting of all suspected adverse reactions (side effects) associated with use of Gardasil and since that time 958 reports have been submitted to the HPRA. A breakdown of reports per year is as follows:
|
Year |
Number of reports of suspected adverse reactions/events submitted to the HPRA in association with Gardasil |
|
2010 |
256 |
|
2011 |
255 |
|
2012 |
142 |
|
2013 |
129 |
|
2014 |
58 |
|
2015 |
108 |
|
2016 (to 08/01/2016) |
10 |
The vast majority of reports received have been consistent with the expected pattern of adverse effects associated with use of Gardasil, as described in the product information. These include vaccination related events occurring at the time of vaccine administration, such as:
- syncope (faints) which have been among the most commonly reported effects. Other commonly reported symptoms include malaise, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness and injection site reactions;
- Reports of allergic-type reactions including skin rashes.
Other reports include experiences of persisting/chronic fatigue or persistent joint/muscle/nerve pain, in some cases with multiple other symptoms (e.g. headache, malaise, drowsiness, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, joint swelling, nausea, flu like illness, menstrual disorders etc.) following vaccination. Some reports have indicated that a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has been made, while in others, follow up and investigations are on-going.
All reports of suspected adverse reactions submitted to the HPRA were transmitted to the EMA's Eudravigilance database and were considered as part of the ongoing EU review. The first and second stage of this review concluded in late 2015 and the EMA recommended that it did not consider there was any need to change the way the HPV vaccines are used or to amend the current product information. The review recognised that more than 80 million girls and women worldwide have now received these vaccines and in some European countries they have been given to 90% of the age group recommended for vaccination. The matter is now with the European Commission for a final and binding decision. Use of these vaccines is expected to prevent many cases of cervical cancer (cancer of the neck of the womb, which is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in Europe each year) and various other cancers and conditions caused by HPV. The benefits of HPV vaccines therefore continue to outweigh their risks.
The HSE provides information for parents about diseases, the vaccines to prevent them and side effects to allow them to choose whether or not to give consent to vaccination.
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.
Medical Card Data
Questions (379)
Billy Kelleher
Question:379. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have received a medical card on the basis of a cancer diagnosis since 1 July 2015. [2253/16]
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.
Question No. 380 answered with Question No. 332.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (381)
Finian McGrath
Question:381. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to support a matter (details supplied) regarding a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2257/16]
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 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 Procedures
Questions (382)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:382. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2278/16]
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 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 Procedures
Questions (383)
Willie Penrose
Question:383. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a procedure is carried out for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2286/16]
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 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.
General Practitioner Services Provision
Questions (384)
Robert Troy
Question:384. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the general practitioner post in Ballymore, Ballymahon and Colehill in County Longford which has become vacant following the sudden death of the general practitioner will be advertised without delay in order that a replacement is put in place to ensure the continuation of this much-needed service. [2321/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 the Executive.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (385)
Brendan Griffin
Question:385. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the status of the opening of new beds at Kenmare Community Hospital and at the West Kerry Community Hospital in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2322/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (386)
John Perry
Question:386. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Health the status of the tender process for the return of satellite mammography services at Sligo University Hospital; if a successful bidder has been chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/16]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE sought tenders in November 2015 for the provision of a mobile follow-up mammography service for women from the Sligo/Leitrim area who have already received treatment for breast cancer.
The tender process is currently ongoing and it is hoped that it will be concluded shortly.