Written Answers Nos. 652-67
652. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when the Cope Foundation in Cork will be able to access funding promised for post-21 day services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22444/16]
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. 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, the Deputy can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
653. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health when replacement dentists will be employed to fill vacancies that have recently arisen in a clinic (details supplied); if he will review the loss of dental services in Clondalkin and advise when normal services will be resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22497/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
654. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate the transport services for service users once they transition into adults at 18 years of age; the way he plans to fund the services; the savings his Department has made since the termination of the transport services since 2012; the areas to which this funding was reallocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22507/16]
View answerTransport of school-going children, including those with a disability, is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills. The provision of transport to adults with a disability attending HSE-funded day services is not a core health service, and the HSE endeavours to ensure that all service users access public transport, including rural transport services, if possible. In recognition of the challenges which some service users experience in relation to accessible transport, some transport is provided by disability service providers on a case by case basis as resources allow. Service providers are continuously reviewing their transport arrangements to ensure that they are used as effectively and equitably as possible within available resources, and will continue to keep the matter under review.
655. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to provide the medical records of a person (details supplied) for the periods the person attended Waterford Regional Hospital from 1990 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22517/16]
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 particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
656. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was left on a trolley at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny for 31 hours; the action Waterford Regional Hospital took on the person's arrival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22518/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I cannot comment on individual cases. However, I fully recognise and acknowledge the stress and discomfort experienced by patients and their families who have to wait in conditions that do not provide comfort or privacy.
As the particular query raised by the Deputy relates to a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
657. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 21 June 2016, to reply in particular concerning persons with intellectual disabilities who are living at home (details supplied); and the services available to persons with intellectual disabilities who reside at home and where adequate care can no longer be provided, perhaps due to age or the death of a parent. [22533/16]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is asking about day services for people with disabilities who wish to continue to reside at home. If this is not the case and the Deputy has a specific instance in mind he is welcome to contact my Private Office with details and I will arrange for the matter to be followed up with the HSE.
The HSE currently provides a range of day services for around 22,000 people with disabilities, and a range of other day supports including assisted living services, in-home support and respite services.
HSE-funded day service provision for adults with disabilities is undergoing a transformation from group programmes delivered mainly in segregated settings to a day service underpinned by principles of person-centredness, community inclusion, active citizenship and high quality service provision, as outlined in New Directions - the report of the National Working Group for the Review of HSE-funded Adult Day Services. New Directions recommends that day services should take the form of individualised and personally chosen outcome-focused supports, underpinned by good governance, quality assurance, monitoring and service-provider guidelines.
Each Local Health Office area in the HSE has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities and it is open to individuals and their families to pursue the question of access to appropriate day supports and services with the Disability Manager for their area.
658. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to develop and provide funding for a mental health strategy specifically for mental health promotion in third level universities and institutions and to include an action plan for the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22585/16]
View answerPositive metal health continues to be a priority for this Government, as evidenced by the fostering of mental health promotion through campaigns like the 'Let's Talk' and 'The Little Things' campaigns. These campaigns are directed at a whole-of-society level, including third-level students. Additionally, any persons, including third level students, can access specialist mental health services, or any of the mental health promotion initiatives, funded directly by the HSE, or by agencies on their behalf. The third level institutions, rather than the HSE, have primary responsibility for providing a range of positive mental health initiatives within colleges. The Deputy will be aware that there is a forthcoming review of 'A Vision for Change', which has guided national mental health policy for the past 10 years. Tenders have recently gone out to engage independent consultants to undertake this review. This review will provide evidence to determine the policy direction for a revision of 'A Vision for Change'. I will certainly bear in mind the issues raised by the Deputy in this context, including the potential for better service linkages between the health and education sectors.
659. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to provide a commitment that all the funding allocated to mental health stays within mental health areas for the duration of the term of the 32nd Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22586/16]
View answerSince 2012, additional ring-fenced mental health funding of €160 million has been provided to the Mental Health Services. This includes €35 million for 2016.
The €35 million allocation will fund new service developments. The HSE National Service Plan 2016 identifies priorities for allocation of the €35 million, including the continued development of early intervention and counselling services across both primary and secondary care; the provision of three new Jigsaw mental health services in Cork, Dublin City Centre and Limerick; the continued development of Community Mental Health teams; improved 24/7 response and Liaison Services; services for Psychiatry of Later Life; Perinatal Mental Health, and two new mental health clinical programmes, specifically for ADHD in Adults and Children, and for Dual Diagnosis of those with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse.
It is intended that all funding for mental health will stay within mental health areas.
660. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if there has been a noticeable increase in the prescribing of the drug Lyrica by doctors to patients; if he is aware of the dramatic increase in the misuse of this drug and the effect it has on users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22587/16]
View answerDispensing data from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service indicates that there has been an increase in the prescribing of the drug Pregabalin (brand names include Lyrica, Brieka and Pregabalin).
Pregabalin was originally developed and authorised as a treatment for epilepsy. However, further research has shown that it can also be beneficial in treating other conditions. Many pregabalin products are now authorised for use in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder and neuropathic pain. The greater number of authorised indications may also be a contributory factor to the increase in the number of Pregabalin items dispensed.
In June of this year the Early Warning Emerging Trends Subcommittee (EWET) of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol, with the agreement of my Department, wrote to Health Care Professionals highlighting the need for vigilance when prescribing and dispensing Pregabalin, as the drug presents a risk of addiction and a potential for illegal diversion and medicine misuse. Prescribers were advised to always undertake a risk benefit assessment prior to prescribing either of these medicines for patients under their care.
661. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to protect the confidentiality of the clients of the suicide charity, Console, in the aftermath of its collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22588/16]
View answerOn the 14 of July, the HSE confirmed that Pieta House will commence providing the services previously provided by Console with immediate effect. These services comprise the 24/7 Suicide Helpline, the Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service and the Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service. While the main priority is to ensure the seamless continuation of services provided by Console, it is important to also ensure the protection of individual clients’ confidentiality, regardless of who is providing the service.
To this end, all HSE and public service staff have responsibilities under Data Protection legislation. These responsibilities include ensuring that personal data, such as medical records, is:
- used and shared both appropriately and legally;
- stored securely;
- not disclosed to unauthorised third parties; and
- disposed of appropriately when no longer required.
Compliance with Data Protection Legislation has been included in the HSE Controls Assurance Statement which is signed by senior managers in the annual Health Service internal control review process.
In addition any organisation providing services on behalf of the HSE who may have access to service user’s personal information must sign the HSE's Service Provider Confidentiality Agreement.
These controls will help to ensure that each client's confidentiality is protected.
662. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed development of the Jigsaw programme in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22598/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
663. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the drafting of a new national cancer strategy for the period 2016 to 2025; if there is a proposed publication date for the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22600/16]
View answerDrafting of a new National Cancer Strategy for the period 2016 to 2025 is well progressed and it is envisaged that it will be brought to Government towards the end of the year, following which it will be published.
664. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 594 of 12 July 2016, if a qualification from a college (details supplied) will be included in the Act to protect the title of physical therapist; if this college has engaged with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22609/16]
View answerFurther to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 594 of 12 July, 2016 the Health and Social Care Professionals Act is being amended to facilitate existing users of the title physical therapist who are not qualified physiotherapists but who are graduates of the Institute of Physical Therapy and Applied Science, Dublin, or who hold equivalent qualifications to be tested by the Physiotherapists Registration Board (CORU), to continue to hold the title. My Department is preparing the necessary legislation to give effect to the decision and the detail involved will be clarified as work on the legislation evolves.
I can confirm that my predecessor, Leo Varadkar, T.D., received and replied to representations on the matter from the Principal of the Institute of Physical Therapy, Cork, earlier this year.
665. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be considered for any cancellations or available appointments that may arise for the surgery they are currently waiting for. [22623/16]
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
666. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to close wards at a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork; the number of staff employed at this hospital; if the hospital has the maximum number of staff required for patient numbers; and the details of a specific issue at this hospital. [22640/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
667. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22641/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
