Billy Kelleher
Question:427. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the additional cost of extending the meningitis B vaccination programme to children born before October 2016. [28398/16]
View answerVaccination Programme
Questions (427, 435)
Catherine Martin
Question:435. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement a catch-up programme for the meningococcal B vaccine, similar to that which was provided in the UK; if access will be provided to children born before 1 October 2016 to this vaccine free of charge as part of the primary childhood immunisation schedule; if not, whether his Department plans to financially assist parents seeking to get older children vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28438/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 435 together.
The HSE Service Plan included additional funding of €2.5 million for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule in 2016. There will be two changes made to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule later this year with the introduction of Men B and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. The HSE is currently working on the necessary preparations for the introduction of these new vaccines. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. The Men B immunisation programme which is scheduled to start in quarter 4 this year makes Ireland the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended that the Men B vaccine is given at 2 and 4 months with a booster at 12 months of age. However, NIAC has made no recommendation in relation to a catch up programme for older children. The introduction of this vaccine to the childhood immunisation programmes means that all children born on or after 1 October, 2016 will automatically receive the vaccine. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However, the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.
Question No. 428 answered with Question No. 350.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (429)
John Brassil
Question:429. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the position of the Health Service Executive with regard to the closure of a home (details supplied); the reason this closure has taken place; if it is due to a lack of funding to meet Health Information and Quality Authority requirements to provide the necessary funding to St. John Of God community services to bring the accommodation up to standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28409/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Dental Services Provision
Questions (430)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:430. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28415/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (431)
Martin Ferris
Question:431. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical directors and executive clinical directors appointed in the public health system on foot of the consultant contract of 2008; and the number of those appointed who hold full-time and part-time clinical positions, respectively, in the public health system; and the locations in which each of these positions, full and part-time are held. [28416/16]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (432)
Martin Ferris
Question:432. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if any clinical director holding a part-time position simultaneously holds clinical director positions elsewhere. [28417/16]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (433)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:433. 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. [28418/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 Card Eligibility
Questions (434)
Brendan Griffin
Question:434. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when medical card cover will be extended to recipients of the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28436/16]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Question No. 435 answered with Question No. 427.
Questions Nos. 436 to 440, inclusive, answered with Question No. 373.
Hospital Services
Questions (441)
John Halligan
Question:441. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is right and just that the risk rating regarding the second catheterisation laboratory in University Hospital Waterford could have been adjusted by the hospital group located in Cork University Hospital without any consultation with or notification to University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28451/16]
View answerWritten answers
I have been advised by the HSE that neither University Hospital Waterford nor the South/South West Hospital Group have changed their risk ratings in relation to out of hours access to interventional cardiology services in the past six months.
Questions Nos. 442 to 448, inclusive, answered with Question No. 373.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (449)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:449. 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. [28461/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Dispensing Fees
Questions (450)
Jack Chambers
Question:450. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason patients have to pick up a long-term prescription on a weekly basis from a pharmacist, which ultimately increases the number of charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28466/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, which regulates community pharmacists, advises that the optimal and safest way for dispensed medicines to be supplied is through direct supply to the patient or carer following a face-to-face interaction between a pharmacist and the patient or carer in the pharmacy. This direct communication with the patient or their carer allows the pharmacist to evaluate the patient’s overall health and health needs, perform a therapeutic review of the prescription, and for the required patient counselling to take place. It also allows the pharmacist to verify the authenticity of the prescription and to evaluate the safety and appropriateness of supplying the medicine in the particular circumstances presented.
In general, monthly prescriptions are dispensed by pharmacies on a monthly or 28-day basis depending on the type of medicine and the form in which it is packaged by the manufacturer. A prescriber may, on occasion, request that patients are only supplied with one week's supply of medicine at a time, due to the nature of the medicines involved and/or any ongoing safety concerns for the patient. In such circumstances, the prescription would be required to be dispensed by the pharmacy on a weekly basis, and this would be governed by the particular patient's care needs. This is known as phased dispensing. The rules in relation to dispensing have not changed since 1996.
I have been informed by the HSE that its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) issued a letter to all pharmacies on the 5 May to reconfirm the rules applying to phased dispensing.