Written Answers Nos. 379-402
379. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to address the national lack of paediatric pathology services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28127/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
380. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when he plans to introduce a full medical card to children who are in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance; and if the cards will be issued automatically or on application. [28130/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government states "We will extend the entitlement to a medical card for all children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) in Budget 2017. Approximately 10,000 children will benefit from this initiative". In early June, I met with representatives of Our Children's Health. At that meeting, and in the debate on the Private Members Motion on the 19 July 2016, I reaffirmed the Government's commitment in its Programme to providing medical cards to all children that qualify for the DCA.
I also confirmed that this commitment was a priority for me in the upcoming budget discussions. Detailed financial analysis is currently being conducted in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer in each case.
Subject to the required resources being secured in the upcoming budget negotiations, primary legislation will be required to give effect to this measure and it is my objective to have this prepared and brought to the Oireachtas as quickly as possible after the Budget.
This new legislation will effectively mean that all 33,000 recipients of DCA will automatically qualify for a medical card. Therefore, those children will no longer be subject to the medical cards means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Therefore, the requirements for administering the scheme and how the cards will issue will be a matter for the HSE.
381. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the level of social worker care available for oncology patients at eight designated cancer centres and one satellite hospital (details supplied); the number of social workers to patients ratio; the waiting list for access to a social worker and the coverage available that is 24 hours, twice weekly and so on; his plans to increase this ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28137/16]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
382. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28147/16]
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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
383. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that all care homes are monitored by HIQA regardless of who runs them, in particular homes run by religious orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28180/16]
View answerAt present HIQA's remit does not extend to the regulation of residential centres catering for elderly members of religious orders. Under Section 2 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, premises in which the majority of the persons being maintained are members of a religious order or priests of any religion are offered an exemption to registration. This is a matter that I will keep under review.
384. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28185/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
385. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will provide additional funding for community and home based care to support and enable persons with dementia to remain living at home for as long as possible; if he will provide the level of funding of €67 million as identified by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in its pre-budget submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28189/16]
View answerThe Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014, with the objective of increasing awareness, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention and developing enhanced community based services.
In parallel with the Strategy the Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This Implementation Programme represents a combined investment of €27.5m, with the Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m and the HSE €15.5m.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Care Packages for people with dementia valued at €22.1 million;
- the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs and Primary Care Teams to include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points valued at €1.2 million;
- measures to raise public awareness, address stigma and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia valued at €2.7 million.
The roll out of Intensive Home Care packages commenced in January 2015 and monitoring of the allocation and uptake of these packages to persons with dementia is ongoing. To date 133 people living with dementia have benefitted under the funding allocated from the National Dementia Implementation Programme at an average cost of €1,000 per package per week. There are currently 72 people with dementia in receipt of an Intensive Home Care Package. Up to 500 people with dementia and their families are expected to benefit from Intensive Home Care Packages over the lifetime of the implementation programme. In addition to the Intensive Home Care Packages the HSE will continue to provide mainstream home help and routine Home Care packages to people with dementia whose needs have been assessed as requiring these supports and within available resources.
It is Government policy that, wherever possible and appropriate, people should be cared for in their own homes and communities, and the National Dementia Strategy specifically restates this commitment to those living with dementia.
The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016 provides for a target of 10.4 million Home Help Hours to support about 47,800 people. It also provides for 15,450 Home Care Packages and 130 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs. A further 60 clients with dementia will be supported with co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
Home support services across the country are being stretched by demands from more people, and for more hours at times outside of core hours, in the evenings and at weekends, all of which cost more. Activity in the first quarter of 2016 was ahead of the same period last year as efforts continued to alleviate pressure on the acute hospital system.
The Government has been able to respond to this demand by providing an extra €40m for home care in 2016. This will ensure that the home support services provided in 2015 are maintained and that the rate of service allocation can be maintained during the summer months. €10m of this money has been ring fenced for home care as part of the new winter initiative. The targets for 2016 will be reviewed in light of these additional resources.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to increasing provision for home care in the years ahead. While the proposal from the Alzheimer Society will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Estimates exercise for 2017, at this stage I cannot predict what the outcome of that consideration will be.
386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the policy implemented under the fair deal scheme by which residents in nursing homes are allocated a daily allowance of €6.34; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28193/16]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings. A financial assessment is carried out by the HSE to determine how much a participant in the Scheme will contribute to the cost of their care.
Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held. In the case of a couple, the applicant’s means are assessed as 50% of the couple’s combined income and assets. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three year cap.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living;
- Laundry service.
The Scheme has a number of important safeguards built into the financial assessment which ensures that:
- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care;
- An applicant will keep a personal allowance of 20% of his/her income or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater. This is in recognition of the fact that, although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, such as social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing;
- If an applicant has a spouse/partner remaining at home, he/she will be left with 50% of the couple’s income or the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- If both members of a couple enter nursing home care, they each retain at least 20% of their income, or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- Certain items of expenditure, called allowable deductions, can be taken into account for the financial assessment, including health expenses, payments required by law, rent payments and borrowings in respect of a person’s principal private residence;
- A person’s eligibility for other schemes, such as the Medical Card Scheme or the Drug Payment Scheme, is unaffected by participation in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme or residence in a nursing home.
In addition to these safeguards, where an applicant’s assets include land and property held in the State, the contribution based on such assets may be deferred and collected from their estate. This is known as the Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support), the purpose of which is to ensure that a person does not have to sell their home during their lifetime to pay for long-term nursing home care. A nursing home resident can apply for this deferral at any stage.
A person’s financial assessment can be reviewed, at their request, if 12 months have passed since the initial financial assessment or the most recent review, or if the HSE is satisfied that there has been a material change to the person’s financial circumstances.
387. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a special chair for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28198/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
388. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to remedy the lack of paediatric orthopaedic consultants; when Tallaght Hospital will have its cancelled fracture clinic reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28199/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
389. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason parents of children with fractures who attend Tallaght Hospital accident and emergency department need to go through another accident and emergency department such as Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, to obtain aftercare for their children; his views on whether this is a waste of resources and an unnecessary stress for sick children and their parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28200/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
390. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients receiving renal dialysis treatment here on 31 December 2015 or on a single specific date in 2016; the numbers of these dialysis patients who were receiving home haemodialysis as outpatients, receiving in-centre haemodialysis, receiving peritoneal dialysis as outpatients, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28204/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
391. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the average cost to the State of a unit of blood administered in a public hospital here; the cost to the State of all blood administered in hospitals in 2015, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28205/16]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
392. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State of all blood administered to patients during surgical procedures in 2015, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28206/16]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
393. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the opening and commencement of operations at the new pancreas transplant unit at St Vincent's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28208/16]
View answerAn extensive programme of work has been undertaken in St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) to enable the transfer of the Pancreatic Transplant Programme from Beaumont Hospital. This work included:
- the development and implementation of a multi-disciplinary team approach;
- the recruitment of additional personnel including an additional transplant surgeon, an additional transplant fellow, two transplant co-ordinators, a clinical nurse manager and a clinical facilitator for transplant in theatre;
- engagement with external parties;
- nurse education and training.
A delay in progressing the nurse education and training workstream has arisen due to an Industrial Relations issue which has been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC is prioritising the setting of a date for this engagement.
394. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will review the draft implementation plan for the national neuro-rehabilitation strategy in view of the concerns raised by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28213/16]
View answerAs part of a review of access to and provision of specialist rehabilitation services, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health jointly published the National Policy & Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 – 2015. The Rehabilitation Medicine Programme was also established within the Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate of the HSE. The recommendations in the Report focused on the re-configuration of existing services, with no additional funding.
Currently, a steering group chaired by the Disability Programme in the HSE, with representation from the National Clinical Programmes for Rehabilitation Medicine and Neurology, Department of Health, Primary Care, Therapy Professions & Neurological Alliance of Ireland has been assigned the task of developing an implementation framework for the National Policy & Strategy for Neuro-rehabilitation services. An implementation framework has been drafted and circulated for consultation to members of the steering group and stakeholder agencies. Given the lead role of the HSE in this consultation process, I have forwarded your question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
395. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [28214/16]
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.
396. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the position of a person (details supplied) on the kidney transplant list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28217/16]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to her.
397. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called to University Hospital Kerry for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28219/16]
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.
398. 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. [28224/16]
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.
399. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a person (details supplied) in relation to the contamination of anti-D; if his attention has been drawn to a commitment made in May 2012 by the former Minister, Senator James Reilly, to re-examine this issue and the compensation schemes; if his attention has further been drawn to a Trinity College study being undertaken on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28234/16]
View answerI have received a letter from the person to whom you refer and my Department is considering the issues raised.
I understand this person is seeking access for a group of women who received infectious, or potentially infectious, Anti-D Immunoglobulin in two periods (between 1977 and 1979 and between 1991 and 1994) and who tested negative for Hepatitis C to compensation from the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal and to be awarded HAA cards.
The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006, provides clear scientific grounds for the definition of “diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C”. Under this legislation a diagnosis must arise (a) from a positive result from one of three specific tests for the presence of Hepatitis C virus, or (b) from the presence of antibodies to the virus, or (c) based on evidence of jaundice up to 16 weeks after the administration of Anti-D Immunoglobulin. I am satisfied that no new scientific evidence has emerged in this regard.
I am aware that Trinity College are planning to carry out a study with the aim of exploring why some people appear to have a natural protection from Hepatitis C.
400. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the €28 million committed to the disability sector for change of needs and emergency services has been allocated; the amount of funding allocated to each area in the country; if the figures for the budget include this amount for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28239/16]
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 level of funding available for my Department in 2017 is being considered as part of the national estimates / budgetary process which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
As the Deputy's question regarding the allocation of funding in 2016 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.
401. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ask the HSE to introduce the butterfly scheme in all Irish hospitals in view of the growing prevalence of dementia here and the findings of the first Irish national audit of dementia care in acute hospitals in 2014 that highlighted the lack of standardised care for persons with dementia in Irish hospitals. [28268/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
402. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the HSE's policy in respect of the provision of mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs in each of the nine community health care organisations, CHOs; the reason for the variation in these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28276/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for reply to the Deputy.
