Written Answers Nos. 369 to 385
369. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will reimburse costs to persons for the drug Fampyra, who are covered under the general medical services scheme and the long-term illness scheme for the period following the end of the trial until its approval by the Health Service Executive on 1 October 2015, given the considerable financial costs incurred by such persons in need of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/16]
View answerAs you are aware, Fampridine (brand name Fampyra®) has been reimbursed under the Long Term Illness Scheme on a conditional, responder-only basis since 1 October 2015.
It is not possible to reimburse patients retrospectively for any medicine purchased before that medicine is added to the HSE's List of Reimbursable Items.
370. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the criteria persons must meet in order to be approved for use of Fampyra under the long-term illness scheme; the average waiting time for approval; the mechanisms through which persons can actively pursue approval or determine reasons for refusal for this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/16]
View answerAs you are aware, Fampridine (brand name Fampyra®) has been reimbursed under the Long Term Illness Scheme on a conditional, responder-only basis since 1 October 2015.
Reimbursement will be extended where a demonstration of clinical response (based on objective criteria agreed with clinical experts) is recorded and where that clinical response is shown to persist, based on objective measurement at six-monthly intervals.
I have arranged for your questions regarding the application process and waiting times to be referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has 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.
371. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the proportion of admissions through emergency departments that are privately insured versus public patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3138/16]
View answer372. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the proportion of admissions through emergency departments that are privately insured versus public patients and how this compares with the proportion of elective admissions from each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3139/16]
View answer373. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if it is known whether patients are public or private when cancelling elective admissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3140/16]
View answer374. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if overall income from private patient insurers in general is taken into consideration when cancelling elective admissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 371 to 374, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
375. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants by type of contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3142/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter with them.
376. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for a device; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3153/16]
View answerAs 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.
377. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be seen by an occupational therapist. [3154/16]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has 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.
378. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) has been refused extra home care hours, given that physical support is very necessary for that person's quality of family life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3155/16]
View answerAs 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.
379. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the implementation of the strategy on neuro-rehabilitation 2011 to 2015. [3163/16]
View answer380. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will propose a new strategy on neuro-rehabilitation and outline an implementation plan for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.
A Steering Group led by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Social Care Division, with representation from the National Clinical Programmes for Rehabilitation Medicine and Neurology, Department of Health, Primary Care, Therapy Professions and the Neurological Alliance of Ireland has been assigned the task of developing an implementation framework for the National Policy & Strategy for Neuro-rehabilitation Services. Once the implementation framework has been agreed by the Steering Group, it will go for consultation to the wider stakeholder interest groups. Following this consultation, the framework will be revised and will guide and oversee the reconfiguration and development of Neuro-rehabilitation structures and services at national and local level, from within existing resources.
In August 2015, my colleague, the Minister for Health, announced an additional €15 million for the redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire. This allocation will enable the NRH and the HSE to proceed with a new 120 bed building on the Dun Laoghaire campus. The redeveloped facility will be purpose built to accommodate integrated therapy services, hydrotherapy and sports facilities.
Outside of the Clinical Programme, the HSE's Disability Services Division has a role in certain key aspects of Neuro-rehabilitation Services, primarily the provision of community-based therapy services and personal social services, often funded through partner service providing agencies in the non-statutory sector. The Disability Services Division will focus on Disability funded rehabilitation services in 2016 and enable reconfiguration of existing provision through the establishment of demonstration sites. Close links will be maintained with the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinical Programme to ensure that there is no duplication of effort and that all initiatives receive optimal support. Demonstration sites have been identified by Disability Services and mapping has commenced.
381. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health in the lifetime of this Government, the number of proposals managerial staff in any agency or managerial body under his remit put forward to alter the roll-out of public services which were delayed, postponed or abandoned as a result of non-co-operation by trade union representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3175/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the remit of my Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
382. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will have a necessary procedure carried out in February 2016 either in Blackrock Clinic or in an approved hospital in England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3196/16]
View answerOur 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.
In order to address waiting times in the interim, patients from Crumlin have been transferred to other hospitals where capacity is available and where that is clinically appropriate. These include Temple Street, Cappagh, Tallaght and the Blackrock Clinic. External capacity has also been identified at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore in the UK. The HSE is continuing to work with the Children’s Hospital Group and the individual hospitals to identify all options to increase capacity further to improve access times for surgery.
As the specific issues raised are a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
383. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 691 of 13 January 2016, his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3216/16]
View answerAs the Deputy refers to Health Service Executive services and institutions I have referred this question to the HSE for direct reply. 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.
384. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health why the Health Service Executive has cut a vital grant to Louth-Meath Down Syndrome by 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3220/16]
View answerThe Government will provide funding of €1.56 billion to the Disability Services Programme in 2016. The quantum of service to be provided with that funding, and the key service deliverables and priorities for the Disability Services Programme, are outlined in the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016. The HSE is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent, and to maintaining a consistent level of service to that provided in 2015.
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.
385. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health how much it has cost the Health Service Executive to relocate services from Letterkenny University Hospital to the McGinley Building at Justice Walsh Road in Letterkenny, County Donegal; the type and cost of the lease the HSE has on the building; and if the HSE intends to relocate these services back to Letterkenny University Hospital in the near future [3223/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
