Written Answers Nos. 373 - 386
373. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will make a drug available to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; if he will request the Health Service Executive to review its decision, given the person's circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6337/16]
View answerFampridine (Fampyra) was reimbursed conditionally from 1 October 2015 onwards, under a protocol drafted by neurology experts. The HSE has provided all neurology centres with the details of the protocol which must be satisfied to enable a patient to qualify for reimbursement.
As the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. 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.
374. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons deceased in Dublin 8 and in each postcode area of County Dublin in each of the past ten years. [6352/16]
View answerNumber of deaths where area of residence is Dublin, 2005 to 2014.
|
Year |
Dublin City |
South Dublin |
Fingal |
Dun Laoghaire Ratdown |
Total |
|
2005 |
4,361 |
920 |
743 |
1,132 |
7,156 |
|
2006 |
4,325 |
902 |
766 |
1,174 |
7,167 |
|
2007 |
4,282 |
876 |
827 |
1,257 |
7,242 |
|
2008 |
4,169 |
888 |
886 |
1,287 |
7,230 |
|
2009 |
4,216 |
870 |
924 |
1,304 |
7,314 |
|
2010 |
4,080 |
928 |
843 |
1,385 |
7,236 |
|
2011 |
4,127 |
1114 |
889 |
1,294 |
7,424 |
|
2012 |
4,081 |
973 |
1079 |
1,460 |
7,593 |
|
2013 |
4,092 |
1,050 |
988 |
1,444 |
7,574 |
|
2014* |
4,035 |
1,169 |
952 |
1,456 |
7,612 |
* year of registration
375. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive keep an official register of contacts or correspondence between State bodies or employees and pharmaceutical companies; if he will establish such a register, similar to one in place in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6354/16]
View answer376. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he keeps a register of any health care professionals employed by the State who are also involved with pharmaceutical companies, for example, as members of boards; if he will provide details of such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6355/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together.
There is no register of the type described by the Deputy.
The Department and agencies under the aegis of the Department must comply with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies. Under section 5.6. of the Code, Board members and senior staff in agencies under the aegis of my Department, staff at Principal Officer level and above and other designated persons in the Department and members of the HSE Directorate and senior HSE staff must provide a disclosure of interests, which could influence them in the performance of their official duties. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) publishes guidelines to ensure compliance with the requirements of the legislation. Board members and officers are restricted in performing official duties where a material interest is involved.
The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 is designed to provide information to the public about who is lobbying whom about what. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) has established an online register of lobbying at www.lobbying.ie. Section 6(4) of the Act requires each public body to publish a list of designated public officials of the body. The purpose of the list is twofold:
1. To allow members of the public to identify those persons who are designated public officials; and
2. As a resource for lobbyists filing a return to the SIPO Register who may need to source a designated public official’s details.
The list of designated public officials is on the Department of Health's website health.gov.ie.
377. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when the post of psychologist in the Spraoi Centre in Portlaoise in County Laois which has been vacant since 4 March 2016 will be filled. [6356/16]
View answerI 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 on the matter with them.
378. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the funding for the provision of assessments for housing adaption grants by occupational therapists in County Kildare, the waiting times for the service; if there are any additional issues and complications with this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6360/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
379. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6371/16]
View answerThe 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 recently 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.
380. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when he will provide capital funding for the refurbishment and extension of the day care centre in Monasterevin in County Kildare [6379/16]
View answerThere are always more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the day care infrastructure, including facilities in County Kildare, must be prioritised and considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Currently the HSE is prioritising improvements to long term residential care for older people. Nevertheless the HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
As it is responsible for the management of the health care estate the HSE has been requested to reply directly to you on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
381. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule for the construction and completion of the primary health facility in Kilcock, County Kildare, the proposed medical services that will be available, and the number of general practitioners who will be working there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6386/16]
View answerThe HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
382. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the early intervention scheme, including its purpose and functions, the waiting times, and the availability of the scheme in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6387/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
383. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the report on the investigation into the safety of babies being delivered in Portiuncula Hospital in County Galway. [6414/16]
View answerIn relation 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.
384. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive Ireland East hospital group has been very vague in relation to any investigation into the first of the two reported maternal deaths in the last four months (details supplied), yet immediately passed on details of the second death to the relevant Coroner's office for inquest. [6415/16]
View answerI fully recognise that maternal death is a terrible human tragedy and I extend my sincerest sympathies to the families involved. However, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
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.
385. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when the Health Information and Qualty Authority will carry out a full report on seven women’s deaths in the maternity services, further to its recently opened public consultation on new maternity standards, which mentions Savita Halappanavar’s death and the baby deaths in Portlaoise, County Laois, but makes no mention of the other seven maternal deaths between 2007 and 2013, where inquests were also held and which returned verdicts of medical misadventure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6416/16]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that there are now procedures in place to record and review maternal deaths and to ensure that any learning is disseminated and applied to help improve our maternity services.
The Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry in Ireland Report (2015) reports 12 direct maternal deaths in the period 2009 to 2013. A maternal death is classified as a Serious Reportable Events (SREs), and as such, must be reported through the National Incident Management System within 24 hours, investigations commenced within 48 hours of the organisation becoming aware of the incident, and investigations completed within four months of commencement. I understand that maternal deaths are reported to the Coroner as a 'rule of practice'.
The safety of service users is of course of paramount importance. All 19 Maternity Hospital/Units now publish monthly Maternity Patient Safety Statements (MPSS), in line with one of the recommendations of the CMO Portlaoise Report.
I launched the Maternity Strategy earlier this year which sets out a plan for improved, safe, quality maternity services for this country. In addition, HIQA is developing maternity standards which will be finalised later this year which will further strengthen the safety of our maternity services.
386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the funds spent by the Health Service Executive on legal fees concerning all maternity cases and maternity-related matters for each of the years from 2007 to 2015 [6417/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond 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.
