Written Answers Nos. 116-121
116. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the options open to a family (details supplied) in County Cork who are seeking to access an appropriate adult day service or an appropriate course for an adult with special needs. [2371/16]
View answerGovernment policy is to enable young people with disabilities to develop the skills they will need to live independent lives to the greatest extent possible and to receive the supports they need in order to achieve this. For most young people with disabilities, the hope is that they will progress directly to further education, vocational training or employment. Responsibility for the provision of services and supports in these areas lies with the Government Departments and agencies that have responsibility for providing these services to the whole population. Young people with disabilities who need assistance with gaining or retaining employment are assisted to do so under the Department of Social Protection’s Supported Employment programme. Other activation supports are also provided by the Department of Social Protection. The young person referred to by the Deputy, and his family, may wish to contact their local Intreo office for further details. Vocational training, including vocational training for adults with disabilities, is provided by SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards and I understand that Intreo is also the point of contact for information and advice in this regard.
Some young people who have more complex support needs will require life-skills training or day supports provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, works with young people with disabilities and their families to identify training needs and explore suitable options.
One of the most significant projects currently being progressed by the HSE is the implementation of the person-centred approach to day services outlined in New Directions - Report on the National Working Group for the Review of HSE funded Adult Day Services. The New Directions policy proposes that health-funded day services for adults with disabilities should be based on the principles of person-centeredness, community inclusion, active citizenship and high quality service provision. The HSE is committed to providing services in a more individualised and person-centred way to people availing of day services, whose service should in future take the form of individualised and personally chosen outcome-focused supports.
Each Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and his family to discuss his options with regard to health-funded day services and life-skills training with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at: Local Health Office, Area 4, Hospital Grounds, Newberry, Mallow, Co. Cork, tel. 022 31855.
117. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if the Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown area has the highest elderly population in the country; if this is reflected in the availability of eligible home care providers under the home care package scheme for the area; if he is aware of home care providers being unable to provide carers with the requisite skill to elderly persons in this area due to lack of availability; if the Dublin south-east Health Service Executive will add additional companies to the approved home care providers list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2375/16]
View answerAs 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 it will follow up the matter with the executive.
118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the analysis he will carry out into the fact that 220 young girls are displaying the same symptoms within a similar timeframe after receiving the human papilloma virus, HPV, vaccine and the measures he will put in place to assist these young girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2379/16]
View answerI am aware of claims of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women. I want to make it quite clear from the outset that anyone who is suffering ill health is eligible to seek medical attention, and to access appropriate health and social care services, irrespective of the cause of their symptoms. People are assessed for eligibility for Medical Cards, disability or carers allowance individually. The assessment takes into account their family income and individual needs rather than a specific diagnosis.
It appears that some girls first suffered symptoms around the same time that they received the HPV vaccine, and understandably some parents have connected the vaccine to their daughters condition. The young women and their families should seek medical advice from their family doctor in the normal manner and be guided by this advice in accessing appropriate services including specialist opinion where necessary.
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 and over 100,000 girls have received this vaccine since its introduction.
No medicine, including vaccines, is entirely without risk, there is therefore on-going pharmacovigilance and monitoring of medicinal products once they are authorised for use. The safety profile of Gardasil has been continuously monitored since it was first authorised. The European Medicines Agency has recently advised healthcare professionals that available data do not warrant any change to the use of HPV vaccines as there are no new safety concerns regarding HPV vaccines. Therefore healthcare professionals should continue using the vaccines in accordance with the current product information.
As part of its monitoring of the safety of medicines, the HPRA operates an adverse reaction reporting system, where healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse reactions they consider may be associated with their treatment, through the range of options in place for reporting. All reports received are evaluated and considered in the context of the safety profile of the product concerned, with reports followed up as necessary for further information, that may assist in the assessment of the case.
The HPV vaccine, which was introduced in 2010, protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in the first year of secondary school. This is in accordance with the recommendation received from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) which indicated that the HPV vaccine should be offered on an annual basis to all girls aged 12. As you are aware the immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the NIAC. The advice, based on public health considerations and supported by the cost-effectiveness analysis, is that HPV vaccines confer maximum benefit both individually and on a population basis if administered prior to HPV exposure.
The introduction of new vaccines is based on the expert advice of the NIAC. Decisions on the supply of vaccines into the market are undertaken by specific expert agencies rather than being the responsibility of the Minister of the day.
Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against two high risk types of HPV (16 & 18) that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. Vaccinated women and girls will still be at risk from other high risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and will therefore need to continue to have regular cervical smear tests.
119. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the status of the progress on the Autism Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2386/16]
View answerIn March 2013, a Private Members' Bill entitled the Autism Bill 2012 was debated and passed Second Stage in the Dáil. The Bill, as introduced, makes provision for the preparation of an autism strategy and a national framework for addressing the specific needs of adults with autism. The broad thrust of the Bill was accepted by Government and it was not opposed at Second Stage. Although the needs of people with autism have received some recognition in recent years, the Bill is seen as contributing to a more enlightened and educated public debate.
In the context of the Autism Bill, it is important to note that the Government is already committed under the National Disability Strategy (NDS) to ensuring that people with autism are empowered by policy and programmes to participate meaningfully as citizens in Irish society. The NDS is driven by this basic but fundamentally important objective and is the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional arrangements and services to support and reinforce equal participation for all people with disabilities.
The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy has been examining issues around autism across Government Departments in association with the National Disability Authority (NDA). This work by the NDA, which has included consultation with families, has been of significant assistance in informing how best to address the needs of people with ASD as part of the National Disability Strategy which covers a wide range of policy areas and Government Departments and agencies, so that we can be sure that they are appropriately reflected and included in policies and actions. The proposed approach was also discussed with the National Disability Strategy Steering Group.
I understand from the NDA that a programme of specific measures has now been agreed for delivery by the relevant Government Departments and agencies, including specific actions to be delivered by the NDA.
The Minister for Justice & Equality is currently preparing a revised National Disability Inclusion Strategy with a view to having it in place by early 2016 following a wide consultation with interested parties.
120. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the operation of the fair deal scheme and if improvements could be made by linking in all additional costs to the original agreed settlement, as at present many persons are subject to additional costs for nursing home care after agreeing to the original arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2391/16]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) or Fair Deal as it is commonly referred to, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. Once an individual has been assessed as needing long-term residential care i.e residential care which requires a 24 hour nursing presence, a financial assessment is carried out to determine the financial contribution that the individual should make towards the cost of their care. An individual’s contribution is based on their means, and the State, through the Health Service Executive (HSE), pays the balance of the costs in public, private and voluntary nursing homes approved under the Scheme.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- bed and board;
- basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
- laundry service.
Charges may only be levied in respect of services which are additional to the above, and which are clearly specified in a contract to be concluded within one month of admission between the relevant residential facility and the resident.
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, e.g. social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). This currently amounts to about €44 per week.
121. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health when an urgent operation for a person (details supplied) in County Longford will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2394/16]
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.
