Tuesday, 27 Sep 2016

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Questions (600)

Michael D'Arcy

Question:

600. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Health the cost per week to the State of keeping a person (details supplied) in a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26635/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Services Provision

Questions (601)

Martin Ferris

Question:

601. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a fitting for specialised shoes. [26641/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (602)

Martin Ferris

Question:

602. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for surgery at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork. [26645/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Questions (603)

John Brassil

Question:

603. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for hearing aids by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26654/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Legislative Measures

Questions (604)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

604. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, allowing for the parents of children conceived through assisted human reproduction be listed as parents on their child's birth certificate, will come into force; and if he will provide a timeline for the implementation of same [26662/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

When the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was enacted in April last year, it was indicated that Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, which deal with donor-assisted human reproduction, would not be commenced for at least a year following enactment. This period of time is intended to provide an appropriate transition period and ensure that people currently undergoing donor-assisted human reproduction treatment could continue that treatment and to give fertility clinics time to prepare for the new regulatory framework. This transition period is a practical and pragmatic administrative solution to facilitate the seamless transition to a new regulatory framework. This transition period is also to allow time for officials in my Department to conduct the significant amount of preparatory work required to enable these provisions (including provisions relating to the National Donor-Conceived Person Register) to enter into force.

HIQA Inspections

Questions (605)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

605. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the measures which have been put in place to address the serious incidences of regulatory non-compliance recently identified by HIQA inspectors at a residential care centre (details supplied) for adults with mild to severe intellectual disabilities in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26666/16]

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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 Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory authority under the Health Act 2007 which is responsible for the inspection, regulation and registration of residential services for children, older people and people with disabilities in Ireland. HIQA's role is to promote sustainable improvements, safeguard people using health and social care services, support informed decisions on how services are delivered, and promote person centred care for the benefit of the public. All centre-based residential and residential respite care facilities for adults or children with a disability are subject to registration and inspection by HIQA since 1 November 2013. Over 1,900 inspections have taken place to date. The lessons learned from these are continuing to improve the quality of services.

The purpose of the regulations is to safeguard and support the delivery of person-centred care to people with a disability of any age who are receiving residential care services and to ensure that their health, well-being and quality of life is promoted and protected. Compliance with HIQA standards is a requirement under the Service Level Arrangements between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and voluntary service providers under Sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004.

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.

Health Care Policy

Questions (606)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

606. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a new model for medical education and practice by making grants available to private entities promoting functional medicine and preventative medicine practices in the health care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26668/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under section 7(4)(b) of the Health Act, 2004 the functions of the Health Service Executive include facilitating the education and training of students training to be registered medical practitioners and also nurses or other health professionals. Related to this function, section 86 of the Medical Practitioners Act assigns specific responsibilities to the Health Service Executive in relation to promoting the development of specialist medical and dental education.

I would expect the Executive in fulfilling its duties in relation to medical training to take account of the extent to which it would be considered necessary to encompass functional and preventative medicine practices in its engagement with the Medical Council, the Dental Council, the medical training bodies and the dental training bodies and to direct its funding of medical education and training accordingly.

HSE Funding

Questions (607)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

607. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the schemes which exist in his Department or the HSE grants to private entities providing educational conferences for health care practitioners promoting lifestyle changes to promote functional medicine and preventative medicine to improve national health; the amount which was paid out in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26669/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Maternity Services

Questions (608)

Clare Daly

Question:

608. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will commission a fully independent hospital wide review of vaginal birth after caesarean section, VBAC, counselling at Lourdes hospital, rather than the HSE managed review of an individual case with no start or completion date and no review of any of the other cases, despite the fact that its own limited audit of 2011 cases highlighted over 50% of cases had no documentation of the risks of VBAC being discussed. [26670/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The individual case referred to has been the subject of correspondence between the family involved, the HSE and the Department of Health. The Deputy National Director, Acute Hospitals Division, HSE is dealing directly with the concerns raised. As a result of this I have referred this matter to the HSE to respond to you directly.

A new model of care has been developed for maternity services within the National Maternity Strategy which was launched in January 2016. The Strategy recommends that services should be woman-centred and provide integrated, team-based care, with women seeing the most appropriate professional, based on their need. This will ensure that specialist care will be available to women as required.

Maternity Services

Questions (609)

Clare Daly

Question:

609. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the HSE's apparent widespread failure to counsel on the risks of vaginal birth after caesarean section, VBAC, to enable persons to make an informed birthing choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26671/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Maternity Strategy, which was launched last January, espouses a new model of maternity care. The Strategy recommends that services should be woman-centred and provide integrated, team-based care, with women seeing the most appropriate professional, based on need. Central to the Strategy is the need for women to have access to all the necessary information, in a readily understandable format, to allow then to make informed choices regarding their care.

In relation to the specific query raised in relation to VBAC counselling, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Questions (610, 693)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

610. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a device (details supplied) under the long-term illness scheme cover for type 1 diabetes; if he is aware of the device and that it has been introduced in the UK; if research has been carried out on the amount it could save the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26674/16]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

693. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system on the long-term illness list so users can have the cost reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27059/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 693 together.

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputies.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (611)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

611. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26681/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Question No. 612 answered with Question No. 583.