Written Answers Nos 777-804
777. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of dental services in primary schools in north County Dublin, including the waiting times and availability of visiting dentists in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10083/16]
View answerAs 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.
778. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for dental checks for children of six, nine, and 12 years of age, by county, in tabular form; the areas where there is a delay in children receiving these checks; his actions to ensure these children receive these checks in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10084/16]
View answerDental services for children up to 16 years of age and persons of all ages with special needs are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE through its dental clinics. A targeted fissure sealant programme is provided for children aged 6 to 8 and 11 to 13 (usually 2nd and 6th class). These are the optimum ages for the application of fissure sealants. In addition, a screening programme is provided for these age groups with necessary interventions for permanent teeth including fillings and extractions. Referrals for orthodontic or other treatments as required are also made at this time. This is a targeted public health programme for which waiting lists are not applicable.
The HSE prioritises services within the available budget taking account of legislation, policy and key developmental stages for children's teeth. Additional resources have been released in 2015 and into 2016 to improve dental services in areas where there have been difficulties. The provision of dental services for 2nd class and 6th class is monitored by the HSE using performance indicators collated on a monthly basis. This enables the HSE to target any additional resources appropriately. Future service provision will be informed by the National Oral Health Policy, which the Department of Health is currently developing. This three-year project commenced in 2014 and is being led by the Chief Dental Officer. The project includes a needs assessment, a review of resources and involves consultation with stakeholders, including dental professionals and the public.
779. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for equipment from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10085/16]
View answerAs 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.
780. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is waiting a significant time for an operation and if the person can be scheduled for surgery as soon as possible. [10090/16]
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.
781. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the criteria for providing a discretionary medical card; the guidelines he provides to officials for adjudicating on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/16]
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.
783. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health why he has cancelled the respite services in Birr, County Offaly for the next two weeks; the number of persons affected by this cancellation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10102/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
784. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of new therapy posts he has filled in children's disability services in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10103/16]
View answer785. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered a proposal by the Laois Offaly Families for Autism group to deploy psychologists from community and primary care services to clear the backlog for assessments and referrals for services for school age children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10104/16]
View answer786. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for assessment and referral to a psychologist for school age children with disabilities in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10105/16]
View answer787. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for referrals to individual therapists for school age children with disabilities in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10106/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 784 to 787, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Building on additional investment in recent years, funding of €8m is being provided to the HSE in 2016 to expand the provision of Speech and Language Therapy in primary care and the further development of early intervention therapy services under the Progressing Disabilities Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability in mainstream pre-school settings, as part of the roll out of the new inclusive preschools model.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific area referred too. 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.
788. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, County Offaly, by speciality and by six-month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10107/16]
View answerAs 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.
789. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be approved to transfer from Portlaoise general hospital in County Laois to a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10112/16]
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.
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.
790. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for children in County Wicklow to see a paediatrics occupational therapist; the number of paediatrics occupational therapists employed by the Health Service Executive in County Wicklow; the number of active clients they have; the waiting list for children in County Wicklow to see a paediatrics physiotherapist; if the HSE in County Wicklow is recruiting speech therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10114/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
791. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health to establish an independent expert panel to hear evidence from members of the Reactions and Effects of Gardasil Resulting in Extreme Trauma Support Group to examine if there is a causal link between the human papilloma vaccine, Gardasil, and the medical condition in an alarming high numbers of teenage girls reporting chronic debilitating effects subsequent to receiving the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10116/16]
View answerThe HPV vaccine, Gardasil 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.
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.
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 200,000 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.
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.
I am aware of claims of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women. It appears that some girls first suffered symptoms around the time they received the HPV vaccine, and understandably some parents have connected the vaccine to their daughter’s condition.
I want to make it quite clear 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. The individual nature of the needs of some children may require access to specialist services.
In November 2015 the European Medicines Agency completed a detailed scientific review of the HPV vaccine. The review, which the HPRA participated in, found no evidence of a causal link between the vaccine and the two conditions examined.
On 12 January 2016 the European Commission endorsed the conclusion of the European Medicines Agency stating that there is no need to change the way HPV vaccines are used or to amend the product information. This final outcome by the Commission is now binding in all member states. There are no plans to carry out any further reviews at this stage.
792. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the best practice in terms of frequency of check-ups for those diagnosed with diabetes; if it is recommended that those with diabetes attend a quarterly check-up; if this level of frequency is considered necessary to manage the condition; if the HSE has outlined targets in respect of the number of check-ups for those diagnosed with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10117/16]
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.
793. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with brain injuries in acute hospitals who are awaiting transfer to the National Rehabilitation Hospital; the number who have completed their therapeutic stay at the National Rehabilitation Hospital and are being held there awaiting transfer to a suitable care facility in the community, who are awaiting transfer pending upgrade to their home or a care package, who have a functional disability and brain injury and who are inappropriately placed in nursing homes, that is, where the specialist services and facilities required to support their care are not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10127/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
With regard to Neuro-rehabilitation services, the Programme for Partnership Government places a particular focus on publishing a plan for advancing Neuro-rehabilitation services in the community. Currently a steering group led by the Health Service Executive Social Care Division, with representation from the National Clinical Programmes for Rehabilitation Medicine and Neurology, the Department of Health, Primary Care, Therapy Professions and the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, has drafted an implementation framework for the National Policy and Strategy for Neuro-rehabilitation services, which has been circulated to members of the steering group and stakeholder agencies.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
794. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health to improve the accommodation available at the ambulance station in Newcastle West, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10159/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
798. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health to provide funding for an oncology nurse at a facility (details provided); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10178/16]
View answerMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. While it is open to the facility involved to apply for such funding, allocations are usually provided for once-off initiatives, rather than for on-going staff costs.
Voluntary organisations can also apply to the HSE for funding under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004.
799. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10180/16]
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 HSE, 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.
800. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for persons seeking certain operations in a private capacity such as that outlined in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10182/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1970, as amended, the HSE makes in-patient and out-patient services available to persons ordinarily resident in the State through a range of HSE and publicly funded acute hospitals. However, as the individuals concerned have sought to arrange services in a private capacity at a private medical clinic the Minister has no function in this matter under the legislation.
801. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the status of a review for persons (detailed supplied) under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10184/16]
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.
802. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health how he will ensure adequate car parking at a low cost to accommodate patients, staff and visitors at the site for the new children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10187/16]
View answer803. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health how he will ensure adequate facilities and access to the new children's hospital at the St. James's Hospital site to accommodate tertiary level children arriving for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10188/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together.
On 28 April, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the new children’s hospital on the campus shared with St. James’s Hospital and for satellite urgent care centres on the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospital. The decision means that enabling works can commence this summer. It is expected that the satellite centres will open in 2018 with building work completed on the main site in 2020.
During the design process, there has been extensive engagement and consultation with families, young people and children who are former or current users of the service, with staff from the existing three children’s hospitals and with local residents. This has led to the development of a world-class building which has been designed to enable staff to deliver the best possible clinical care for children and young people. The planned accommodation will include facilities for inpatients, day care patients, outpatients, operating theatres and emergency care. There will be 380 inpatient rooms, all of which will be single en-suite rooms with in-room parent accommodation, 93 day-care beds and 20 operating theatres. The hospital will also include play areas, external gardens and courtyards.
In relation to access, the campus at St. James’s hospital benefits from a full suite of transport options including private car, national rail, Luas, bus, bicycle, pedestrian and taxi.
Notwithstanding the public transport accessibility of the site, the need of most parents to access the hospital by car is recognised, and ample parking has been provided for families based on current and projected future demand. 1,000 car parking spaces are being provided, with a minimum of 675 of these intended to accommodate family parking. This is based on an assessment of the level of parking demand, developed in consultation with the medical planning team. The NPHDB has confirmed that this level of parking provision will facilitate 100% car parking provision for inpatient, day case and emergency attendances, and 65% car parking provision for outpatient attendances. The car parking stock and appointment schedules will be actively managed to ensure that all patients wishing to avail of parking will be facilitated. In addition, a condition of the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála is that a minimum of 20 spaces be marked and designated as “parent and child” spaces and reserved for parents of children with specific needs (equipment etc.).
In regard to parking costs, these will be considered in due course having regard to the needs of patients and families, including families of long-stay patients.
804. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health how many of the 36 posts sanctioned nationally to support the implementation of the type 2 diabetes cycle of care initiative will be sanctioned to support the diabetes community in County Waterford; when he will put those sanctioned for County Waterford in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10193/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question 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.
