Tuesday, 22 Mar 2016

Written Answers Nos. 351-374

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (351)

Joan Collins

Question:

351. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of patients which are on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery in University Hospital Galway for six, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively. [5049/16]

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (352)

Joan Collins

Question:

352. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a hospital appointment will be made for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and how long the person will be waiting for surgery. [5051/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Long waiting times for scoliosis services are unacceptable and I have been clear in my determination that these waiting times are reduced, through additional resources and capacity.

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. 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 Department of Health is continuing to work with the HSE, the Children’s Hospital Group and the hospitals themselves to ensure that we continue to make strong progress in addressing this issue and to identify all options to further improve access times.

As the specific issues raised are 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 Consultant Recruitment

Questions (353)

Michael Harty

Question:

353. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when a consultant geriatrician post at Ennis General Hospital, County Clare will be advertised; when the Health Service Executive became aware of the planned retirement of the existing post holder; the measures being taken to date to fill this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5055/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.

Dental Services Provision

Questions (354)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

354. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a dental appointment for braces for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5060/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 them.

Dental Services Provision

Questions (355)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

355. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a dental appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5062/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 them.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (356)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

356. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical appliance for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5074/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 them.

Ambulance Service

Questions (357)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

357. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the extent of ambulance cover in County Donegal including the schedules for each division; the number of personnel on-call; the staffing schedule; the average response times for each division, within the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5078/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As these are service matters, 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.

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Questions (358)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

358. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health in relation to the Health Service Executive's 2015 service plan which provides for the recruitment of two additional children's outreach nurses in 2015, one of which was to be allocated to serve families in County Donegal, if these appointments have been made and if these personnel are now in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5079/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.

Hospitals Capital Programme

Questions (359)

Michael Harty

Question:

359. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the capital plans and timeframe for works at Ennis General Hospital, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5082/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE states in its 2016 National Service Plan at Appendix 4 Page 136 that the phased fit-out of vacated accommodation to accommodate physiotherapy and pharmacy and a local injuries department is expected to be completed by Q4 2016/Q1 2017 and operational Q1 2017.

There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the health care infrastructure, including Ennis General Hospital, must be considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Any future investment must also be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme and establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves.

The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (360)

Michael McGrath

Question:

360. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the members of the Munster Amputees Association who chose a company (details supplied) to provide their prosthetic needs and who are not allowed access to the rehabilitation consultant at a certain unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5087/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

With regard to the specific query raised by the Deputy, 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 Waiting Lists

Questions (361)

Joan Collins

Question:

361. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12 for six months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. [5088/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Long waiting times for scoliosis services are unacceptable and I have been clear in my determination that these waiting times are reduced, through additional resources and capacity.

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. 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 Department of Health is continuing to work with the HSE, the Children’s Hospital Group and the hospitals themselves to ensure that we continue to make strong progress in addressing this issue and to identify all options to further improve access times.

As the specific issues raised are 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.

Assisted Human Reproduction Services Provision

Questions (362)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

362. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of in vitro fertilisation treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5092/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

On Monday 1st February, I announced my intention to provide public funding for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment in conjunction with the planned introduction of legislation in this area. It is important that consideration be given to how best to provide public funding for fertility treatment in conjunction with closing the legislative gap in this area of healthcare. To that end, my officials are currently drafting a General Scheme of legislative provisions dealing with AHR. Drafting of the General Scheme is ongoing and it is envisaged that it will be published in the first half of 2016.

I have commissioned an evidence review of international public funding models. The review will inform policy regarding the ideal mechanism for any future public funding of AHR in the State. It is expected that the evidence review will be completed before the end of 2016 and that once the AHR legislation is enacted the Government will be in a position to provide fertility treatments based on the best model of funding for Ireland.

It is important to note that while in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (363)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

363. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of cancer patients who are refused a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5093/16]

Written answers

Minister for 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 and every application must be assessed on that basis. Under the legislation, having a particular illness, in itself does not establish eligibility for a medical card.

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 HSE has specific procedures in place for the provision of medical cards in response to an emergency situation. An emergency situation can apply to persons with a serious medical condition in need of urgent or on-going medical care that they cannot afford and persons who are terminally ill. However, with the exception of terminally ill patients all medical cards, granted on an emergency basis, are issued on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card on the basis of means or undue hardship, and will follow up with a full application within a number of weeks of receiving the medical card eligibility. Eligibility, in these circumstances, is granted to a named individual for a period of six months. These are issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and a letter which confirms the medical condition from a doctor or consultant. For terminally ill persons, no means test applies and the cards are not reviewed.

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. 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.

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 straightforward manner. Greater discretion is being exercised by the HSE as evidenced by the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation, which has increased from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to over 102,000 at the beginning of March 2016.

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. 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.

Pension Provisions

Questions (364)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

364. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of pensions for SouthDoc employees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5099/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, 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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (365)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

365. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of persons (details supplied) who suffer from Huntington's disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5100/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly 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.

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (366)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

366. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will roll out free heart screenings for second level students as part of a national health plan to combat sudden adult death syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5106/16]

Written answers

Minister for 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.

Hospital Services

Questions (367, 368)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

367. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to reverse the decision to downgrade community hospitals in County Donegal including Lifford, Stranorlar and Ramelton; if a contingency plan is in place to preserve the services into the future and to prevent further downgrading, removal of the residential care units and eventual closure of the three hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/16]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

368. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to meet with representatives of the Save Our Services group who are campaigning on behalf of the Lifford, Stranorlar and Ramelton community hospitals in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5110/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together.

The recently announced national programme of investment in public residential units is designed to bring them into compliance with relevant national standards by 2021. The plan includes the development of a new 130 bed centre, centrally located in Letterkenny to ensure that bed capacity in the region, which includes Ramelton, Lifford and Stranolar, is secured on a sustainable basis.

Given the requirement for additional services to provide for the needs for older persons right around the country, including Donegal, there will, in parallel with residential beds, be an ongoing need for the provision of short stay services such as rehabilitation, respite, step up and step down facilities, all with a view of maintaining older people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. In planning for the coming years the use and purpose of the current buildings in Ramelton, Lifford and Stranorlar will be considered in order to ensure that an appropriate service is provided for the older people living in their own community in Donegal.

While the detailed operational planning for future service provision in this context is a matter for the HSE, if a representative of the Group contacts my Office I will consider their meeting request.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (369)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

369. 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. [5122/16]

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.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (370)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

370. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on the issue raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5123/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme is operating very well since it was established on 10 November 2014. It was estimated that 350 women would apply to the Scheme, but in fact 578 applications have been accepted by the Scheme and as of 4 March 2016, 365 awards have been made.

The Scheme has brought to an end years of uncertainty and costs for women who have undergone surgical symphysiotomy, whose only option prior to its establishment was to take legal action through the courts, with no certainty about the outcome of that action. The Scheme was designed to be simple, straightforward and non-adversarial and aims to minimise the stress for all women concerned. The Scheme was designed following meetings with all three support groups, two of which have welcomed its establishment.

In the interest of accountability, the Scheme requires each Applicant to prove that she had a surgical symphysiotomy or pubiotomy in order to be considered for the assessment of an award of €50,000. It is solely a matter for the Assessor to determine whether an Applicant has identified and established any significant disability by objective evidence if the Applicant is seeking a higher award of €100,000 or €150,000.  Judge Clark, Assessor to the Scheme, has informed Department officials that where medical records are not obtainable to support a woman's application, then arrangements are made to have such applicants examined by a gynaecologist for the presence of a surgical symphysiotomy scar and by a radiologist to establish the extent of any pubis symphysis widening.

The Scheme is voluntary and women do not waive their rights to take their cases to court as a precondition to participating in the Scheme. Women may opt out of the Scheme at any stage in the process, up to the time of accepting their award. It is only on accepting the offer of an award that a woman must agree to discontinue her legal proceedings against any party arising out of a symphysiotomy or pubiotomy.

The remuneration for Judge Clark, Assessor to the Scheme, has been approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is in line with salary payable to a High Court Judge.

The Government has given careful and detailed consideration to this complex and sensitive matter. It believes that the provision of the Scheme, together with the ongoing provision of medical services by the HSE, including medical cards, represents a comprehensive and fair response to this issue, which should help bring resolution for the women, many of whom are elderly, and their families.

Hospital Services

Questions (371)

Seán Kyne

Question:

371. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if there is an operating positron emission tomography scan available in University Hospital Galway or if there are arrangements in place with other hospitals; if so, the details of those arrangements; and his plans to review the situation. [5124/16]

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.

Ambulance Service

Questions (372)

Seán Kyne

Question:

372. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the operating procedures for calls to the Health Service Executive ambulance service; if there is a national or regional call centre service; the locations where calls from Galway are directed to; and if patients from the north Connemara and Clifden area are being sent by ambulance to Castlebar rather than Galway University Hospital [5128/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As these are service matters, 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.

Hospitals Capital Programme

Questions (373, 374)

Denis Naughten

Question:

373. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the capital plans and timeline for works at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5141/16]

Denis Naughten

Question:

374. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the capital plans and timeline for works at Roscommon County Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5142/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together.

The construction of the endoscopy department at Roscommon County Hospital has been completed. It is expected to be operational in Q2 2016.

There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the health care infrastructure, including Roscommon and Portiuncula Hospitals, must be considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Any future investment must also be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme and establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.