Written Answers Nos. 392-416
392. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of youth workers specifically allocated to drugs task forces per county and designated to work with young persons at risk of offending or having offended, per service division nationally in each of the calendar years 2012 to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29436/16]
View answerDrug and Alcohol Task Forces are responsible for developing measures to address drug problems in their areas having regard to local needs. As part of their work, many Task Forces have developed measures to support projects targeting young people at risk of using drugs. Funding for such measures is either provided to the Task Force projects directly by the Health Service Executive or channelled through other departments or agencies, such as the Department of Justice and Equality, Education and Training Boards or the City of Dublin Youth Services Board.
The Department of Health does not collect information on the number of youth workers specifically allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces per county that are designated to work with young persons at risk of offending or having offended.
393. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns raised by organisations (details supplied) regarding CORU registration for a profession that will allow persons without a bachelors or masters degree in the profession to register as a practitioner; his views on the fact that the registration process as it stands leaves Ireland out of step with other EU states in terms of regulating practitioners in this field to protect patient safety; if he will act to ensure that these concerns are addressed and only suitably qualified practitioners will be allowed register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/16]
View answerI am aware of the concerns expressed by certain interested parties. I can confirm there has been no change of policy in this matter.
Last month, the Physiotherapists Registration Board established its register with effect from 30 September 2016 under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. This ensures that the specified title of physiotherapist will be protected for the exclusive use of the board's registrants when the register’s two-year transitional period ends in September 2018.
In much of the rest of the English speaking world the titles of physiotherapist and physical therapist are interchangeable and their users are qualified physiotherapists. In Ireland, however, the title is also used by a number of practitioners who are not physiotherapists but who have been providing musculoskeletal therapies in the private sector for many years. Physiotherapists, on the other hand, are trained to provide cardio/respiratory and neurological therapies as well as musculoskeletal therapies and they practise in both the public and private sectors.
Earlier this year, my predecessor, Leo Varadkar T.D., having consulted with the Physiotherapists Registration Board and a number of other relevant organisations, announced that he had come to the conclusion that protecting the title of physical therapist under the Act as a variant of the title of physiotherapist would be the best way to eliminate the ongoing risk of title confusion and the consequent risks to public safety. He also decided to allow particular existing users of the title of physical therapist, who are not physiotherapists but who hold qualifications of a certain standard, to continue to use the title.
New grand-parenting provisions will allow such practitioners to apply, on a once-off basis and for a limited period, to register in the physiotherapists register. The registration board’s code of professional conduct and ethics will oblige all registrants, including those registered under the new provisions, to act within the limits of their knowledge, skills, competence and experience. In other words, in order to ensure public protection, those registered under these time-limited special provisions will be required to confine their practise to musculoskeletal therapies.
Preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to these decisions is now at an advanced stage. The legislation will involve the making of regulations under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 together with the enactment of the necessary amendments to the Act to allow qualified existing users of the title of physical therapist to register on a once-off basis and for a limited period. It is my intention to seek Government approval in the next month or so to include these amendments to the Act in a Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that is currently being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government.
394. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the operative period stated in the terms and conditions of the service level agreement, ref. No.HSE 021/12, between the HSE and private ambulance companies for the provision of ambulance services to HSE hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29441/16]
View answer395. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the amount of money in total HSE hospitals paid to private ambulance services participating in the service level agreement, HSE 021/12, from 3 June 2013 to 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29442/16]
View answer396. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the amount of money HSE hospitals have paid to private ambulance companies which are not participating in the service level agreement, HSE 02/12, from 3 June 2013 to 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29443/16]
View answer397. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of additional tendering processes for the supply of private ambulance services HSE hospitals have put out to tender from 3 June 2013 to 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29444/16]
View answer398. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of requests from HSE hospitals to the private ambulance companies participating in the service level agreement, HSE 02/12, which have been declined by those private ambulance companies listed on the service level agreement from 3 June 2013 to 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29445/16]
View answer399. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of private ambulance companies which have had their position in the ranking on the service level agreement, HSE 021/12, changed as a result of their being either unwilling or unable to fulfil 60% of requests to move patients on behalf of HSE hospitals in the period 3 June 2013 until 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29446/16]
View answer400. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of patients in total who have been moved on behalf of HSE hospitals by private ambulance companies participating in the service level agreement, HSE 021/12, from 3 June 2013 to 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29447/16]
View answer401. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of patients in total who have been moved on behalf of HSE hospitals by private ambulance companies not participating in the service level agreement, HSE 021/12, from 3 June 2013 to 1 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29448/16]
View answer402. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the HSE was made aware of the fact that some HSE hospitals were engaging private ambulance companies which were not part of the service level agreement, HSE 021/12; if so, when the HSE was made aware of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29449/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 394 to 402, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
403. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the psychiatric services available in County Louth for children with disabilities; his plans or provisions to address this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29450/16]
View answer418. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the psychological and psychiatric services available in County Louth for children with intellectual disabilities; his future plans or provisions to address these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29520/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 418 together.
As these are service issues, I am referring these questions to the HSE for direct reply.
404. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the HSE's consideration of the NCPE report on Translarna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29451/16]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products 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 to the HSE.
Decisions on whether to reimburse medicines 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 the health technology assessment of pharmaceutical products for the HSE, and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process.
The NCPE completed a health technology assessment of ataluren (brand name Translarna) in April and did not recommend reimbursement. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy regarding the latest position on this drug.
405. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug Macushield is no longer on the list of drugs and appliances under the hardship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29455/16]
View answerThe HSE has advised that Macushield products have never been made available to all persons with medical card eligibility; however, Macushield and similar products were historically available to medical card holders in many areas under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements.
In developing a national framework for the administration of Discretionary Hardship Arrangements, the HSE's Medicines Management Programme (MMP) was asked to review the available therapeutic evidence for supporting reimbursement of Macushield and similar products. The MMP report supported the view of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics that the evidence for dietary carotenoids for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is inconclusive, and the MMP therefore does not recommend that products containing these preparations be reimbursed under any community drug scheme.
In light of the MMP's published report, the HSE decided to cease reimbursement support for these products. The MMP report is available at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/medicinemanagementprogramme/yourmedicines/Evaluation_Reports/.
406. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the behaviour and the failure of the HSE to properly investigate and protect a person (details supplied) in County Clare as a whistleblower as outlined in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29465/16]
View answerUnder Section 21 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, all public bodies must establish and maintain procedures for the making of protected disclosures by workers who are or were employed by the public body and for dealing with such disclosures. As this protected disclosure relates to the HSE, I have referred your request to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
407. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will grant night-time respite care for a 12-week period for a person (details supplied) as requested by their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29469/16]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
408. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no policy on patients self-medicating in accident and emergency departments in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda; if this is common practice in HSE hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29472/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
409. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the policies which govern the area of patients self-medicating in emergency departments of hospitals while they await treatment, be that a general policy or individual policies for each hospital emergency department. [29473/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
410. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists employed at University Hospital Waterford; the number of those posts which are vacant and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29474/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
411. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that appointments for children and adolescents referred by general practitioners to UHW to see a child and adolescent psychiatrist are being cancelled; the reasons in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29475/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
412. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case (details supplied) where a person who was referred to UHW by their general practitioner had their appointment with a child and adolescent psychiatrist cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29476/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
413. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a case where a person (details supplied) had their appointment with a child and adolescent psychiatrist cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29477/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
414. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no SHO-registrar in place at UHW; his plans to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29478/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
415. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a group (details supplied) as a matter of urgency to discuss issues relating to the provision of respite services for adults with disabilities in County Louth; his position on proposals and estimates on the provision of respite services for adults with disabilities in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29483/16]
View answer416. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his position regarding the lack of funds in the current service plan to provide the necessary respite services agreed and identified through the disability database in correspondence (details supplied); if he will be recommending that these funds are to be provided in the upcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29484/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
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 Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
The level of funding available for my Department is being considered as part of the national estimates/budgetary process for 2017, 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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
