Thursday, 26 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 191-201

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Questions (191)

Seán Haughey

Question:

191. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health his plans to promote the enactment of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12321/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill remains a priority for this Government. The Bill is part of a suite of measures agreed on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. The Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and the introduction of the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 8 December 2015. The Bill completed Second Stage in the Seanad on the 17 December 2015. We are currently awaiting dates to progress the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Questions (192)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

192. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the cost-analysis figures for the socio-economic burden of hospital acquired infection; the comparative figures for other European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12324/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a patient safety and public health priority for the Department of Health for many years.

HCAI surveillance is complex. Information on excess costs of HCAIs such as prolonged hospital stay, further treatments required, attributable mortality and other complications can be difficult to retrieve as they require complex evaluation, particularly to confirm that they are directly linked to HCAI episodes and not to other factors. National HCAI surveillance systems at European level are, however, in place and EU Member States collect routinely-generated antimicrobial susceptibility testing data in invasive infections and report to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) through its European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net).

The ECDC assesses this data along with estimated costs of increased hospital stays and treatments. European estimates indicate that approximately 4,100,000 patients are estimated to acquire a HCAI in the EU each year with 37,000 attributable deaths annually and HCAIs also contributing to an additional 110,000 deaths. The burden of HCAI is also reflected in significant financial losses. According to the ECDC these infections account for approximately €7 billion per year. The ECDC 2011-2012 Point Prevalence Survey of HCAIs and AMR use in European hospitals estimates that Ireland had 494 patients with a HCAI. This equated to a mean of 9,554 beds occupied per day. (A Point Prevalence Survey gives a snapshot picture of the number of patients with a HCAI in hospital at a particular point in time).

The National Clinical Guideline 'Prevention and Control Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)', endorsed by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) in 2013 estimated the cost of HCAI in Ireland for 2011, extrapolated from national (HSE) and international sources, at €118, 257,312 with 29,388 patients acquiring a HCAI.

Management and reduction of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) is made very challenging by the rise in antimicrobial resistance world wide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the rise in antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest potential threats to human and animal health at global, European and national levels with possible serious consequences for public health, animal welfare and the agriculture and food sectors.

A wide range of initiatives has been put in place in the Irish health system over several years to address HCAI and AMR including improved surveillance of infections and prescribing, infection prevention and control processes, antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, public and professional awareness raising and with a significant emphasis on the education and training of healthcare professionals. Ireland also fully supports the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and through the Interdepartmental AMR Consultative Committee, established by the Chief Medical Officer of this Department and the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Department of Agriculture, and endorsed by both Ministers for Health and Agriculture, Food and the Marine respectively, is addressing the WHO's requirement for all countries to have in place an Intersectoral Mechanism to develop a national action plan against AMR to address both the human and animal sectors, agriculture and the wider environment.

Ireland also supports and has actively engaged on the European Commission's Draft Council Conclusions on AMR which will be presented for adoption to the Ministerial meeting of EPSCO (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) on 17th June 2016; this document will call on Member States and the European Commission to develop a new and comprehensive EU Action Plan on AMR. Ireland is fully committed to and engaged in addressing resolution of the problem of AMR and will continue to collaborate at international, EU and national levels to this end.

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Questions (193, 194)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

193. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the average sums the Health Service Executive paid for a typical course of fidaxomicin, vancomycin and other drugs used for persons infected with clostridium difficile and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, in hospitals under its control, by patient, in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12325/16]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

194. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the sums the Health Service Executive paid for fidaxomicin, vancomycin and other drugs in treating patients for infection with Clostridium difficile and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, in hospitals under its control in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.

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.

Respite Care Services Provision

Questions (195)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to arrange respite and residential care on a periodic basis for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12348/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (196)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health why, when persons (details supplied) renewed their medical cards, it was determined that one of the persons was only entitled to a general practitioner visit card although the family’s circumstances had not changed; to resolve this matter at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12352/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy directly.

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 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.

Cochlear Implants Provision

Questions (197)

Jack Chambers

Question:

197. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures carried out under the bilateral cochlear implant scheme in the years 2014 to 2016 to date; the number of patients who are awaiting a procedure and the average waiting time under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12384/16]

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 (198)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

198. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the waiting lists for the insertion of spinal cord stimulators including the waiting time and the funding he provides, by hospital, in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date; his plans to significantly reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12385/16]

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 it up.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (199)

James Browne

Question:

199. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health as per Annex 17.2 of A Vision for Change, the original requirement set out for each position (details supplied), the number of these positions filled and the number yet to be filled, in tabular form, taking account of demographic change. [12388/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Disease Incidence

Questions (200, 201)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

200. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health why the recent report on a possible cluster of Guillain-Barré syndrome in east County Meath was confined to a study of cases in the village of Duleek. [12399/16]

Thomas Byrne

Question:

201. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if and when he will act on the recommendations in the recent Guillain-Barré syndrome cluster report; and the cost of so doing. [12400/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the HSE has published a report on claims of an association between Guillan Barre Syndrome and environmental conditions in Duleek, County Meath. The report has found no evidence of any environmental issue having a causal association with Guillan Barre Syndrome in the Duleek area. Indeed the number of Guillan Barre Syndrome patients in the Duleek area, during the time period investigated, is in keeping with the expected incidence of the disease for this time period allowing for the wide variation in small numbers when the incidence of rare diseases is examined.

I understand that the report, which has not yet been formally submitted to my Department, has three recommendations. These are:

- A national Environmental and Health Unit should be formed to assess alleged risks to public health from environmental stressors;

- This unit should put a surveillance system in place to monitor health data and assess any unusual incidents of disease or syndromes in the population; and

- As there is currently no national register for rare diseases including Guillan Barre Syndrome, consideration should be given to establishing such a register as per the recommendation in the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018 for an All-Ireland Network of Rare Disease Registries.

These recommendations are solely within the remit of the HSE and I am aware that Dr Kevin Kelleher, Assistant National Director, Health and Well Being, Public Health at the HSE is replying directly to the Deputy in this regard.