Written Answers Nos 1445-1473
1445. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Headway facility located at a location (details supplied) has ceased taking patients for respite care following an investigation by HIQA that took place on 7 January 2016; when this service may be restored; and the referrals the HSE are making to families who previously availed of this service and still are in need of it. [26178/16]
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.
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.
1446. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if a third consultant rheumatologist has been appointed to Sligo General Hospital; and when the outreach rheumatology clinic will be reinstated in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26183/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1447. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the advice he would give to a person (details supplied) who cannot obtain affordable insurance given the particular anomalies of their situation under the current regulations applying to the private health insurance market. [26194/16]
View answerThe individual concerned wrote to my office in relation to this matter . My office provided a reply to that correspondence on 10 August last, which outlined the rationale for the introduction of Lifetime Community Rating to the health insurance market and clarified that there are no specific anomalies in the implementation of the legislation in respect of the individual circumstances provided.
Lifetime Community Rating came into effect on 1 May 2015 and is designed to encourage people to join the private health insurance market at an earlier age and thus support affordable community rated premiums for everyone who wishes to purchase insurance. There was a grace period (of 9 months) provided up until 30 April 2015, during which time people of any age could take out health insurance without incurring loadings. Late entry loadings of 2% per annum now apply for people who buy health insurance for the first time at the age of 35 and older.
In this instance, the legislation has been applied appropriately in the same manner which applies for any individual in the State taking out health insurance, for the first time, at age 35 or over.
1448. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE is reviewing the manner in which hours are banked in respect of home helps; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this system has resulted in some home helps owing significant sums to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26195/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1449. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the current situation at University Hospital Kerry, the advanced nurse practitioner post and the resignation of a person (details supplied); the measures he is taking to address the current situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26196/16]
View answerWith 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.
1450. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the revenue raised from prescription charges in 2015 and to date in 2016. [26199/16]
View answerAccording to the HSE's 2015 annual report, revenue from the medical card prescription charge was €113 million in 2015. The most recent data available from the HSE indicates that revenue from the prescription charge for the first eight months of 2016 was approximately €80 million.
1451. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the circumstances under which a person (details supplied) has remained in St. Vincent’s Hospital; the reason the hospital has refused to engage with members of their family stating that they have been made a ward of court when this is not the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26202/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1452. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that cancer patients admitted to University Hospital Limerick on weekends and bank holidays do not have access to morphine for pain relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/16]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
1453. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a medical procedure as requested by their GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26246/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1454. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the sale of a HSE building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26247/16]
View answerYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter.
1455. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the reason Autoimmune Hepatitis is not on the long-term illness scheme. [26254/16]
View answer1456. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when the list for the long-term illness scheme will be updated. [26255/16]
View answer1457. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when the list for the long-term illness scheme was last updated. [26256/16]
View answer1458. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the reason Ankylosing Spondylitis is not on the list for the long-term illness scheme. [26257/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1455 to 1458, inclusive, together.
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 prescribing the 16 conditions that are covered by the LTI Scheme: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
The list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme has not changed since 1975. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme.
1459. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if a review of a person's case (details supplied) can take place to regularise treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26261/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1460. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in supplying a replacement wheelchair for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26262/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
1461. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in respect of a surgical procedure date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26263/16]
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 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.
1462. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when the new paediatric palliative care nurse will be appointed at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26268/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1463. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the necessary resources will be allocated to the Mater Hospital, Dublin to enable the extension of a service which cares for patients throughout most of the country (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26269/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1464. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide new accommodation and facilities at a hospital (details supplied), given the large number of patients attending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26270/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1465. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the staffing complement will be increased at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26271/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1466. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of full and partial lower limb amputations that were carried out in 2014 and 2015 by county; the number of these persons who had diabetes by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26273/16]
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.
1467. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital bed days required by the number of persons undergoing full and partial lower limb amputation procedures in 2014 and 2015 by county; the number of these persons who had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26274/16]
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.
1468. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment from Tallaght Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26286/16]
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 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.
1469. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointments, inpatient appointments and elective surgery procedures cancelled at Tallaght Hospital, by appointment type, on a monthly basis for each of the years 2011 to 2015 and in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26295/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1470. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 September 2016 or the latest date available; the number of general practitioner cards on the same date; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [26309/16]
View answerThe following are Medical Card and General Practitioner Visit Card figures as of 1 September 2016, as requested by the Deputy:
|
Card Type |
Total Cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,709,957 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
110,453 |
|
GP Visit cards |
460,427 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
44,034 |
1471. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours provided in each local health office area in June, July and August 2016 in tabular form; and the way it compares against target in each instance. [26310/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1472. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme for each local health area in tabular form; and the length of time waiting in each instance. [26311/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1473. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the Vimizim drug will be approved for use by the HSE in view of the fact it has been approved by the European Medicines Agency and is available in Britain and Northern Ireland on the NHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26322/16]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to deciding whether to reimburse a medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) of pharmaceutical products for the HSE, and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process.
At the request of the HSE, the NCPE is currently conducting an assessment of Vimizim for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis, type IVa (also known as Morquio A syndrome) in patients of all ages. Once this assessment is completed, a summary report will be published on the NCPE website. The HSE will then consider the NCPE assessment as part of its decision-making process when considering the drug for reimbursement.
As the NCPE's assessment of Vimizim is ongoing, it is not possible to provide further details at this time.
