Written Answers Nos. 464 - 487
464. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he will convene a national health consultative forum, as allowed for under section 8 of the Health Act 2004, to gather knowledge, insights and expertise from health experts and interest groups involved in the area of health service provision, particularly in the area of services for children with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29768/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the third phase in the consultation process is taking place with a view to developing a new National Disability Inclusion Strategy which I launched in July 2016.
The new Strategy will replace the previous National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan NDSIP), and will take a whole-of-Government approach to disability issues, including setting out high-level objectives and detailed actions in areas of education, employment, provision of public services, health, income support, and personal safety and autonomy.
Following phase 3, a proposed/draft Strategy will be prepared with the assistance of the National Disability Strategy Steering Group for consideration by Government. It is envisaged that the new Strategy will be in place by end 2016.
When the Strategy is in place, my Department will reconstitute its Departmental Consultative Committee. Its membership will have the input of stakeholders – disability organisations and service providers, individuals with a lived experience of disability, Government Departments and agencies - to discuss a range of issues for people with disabilities including services for children with Autism.
465. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address the unfairness regarding private health insurance upon admittance to a public hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29769/16]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services and out-patient public hospital services. This has not changed in any way.
The core purpose of the public hospital system is to provide services to public patients. Persons can opt to be treated privately on admission to a public hospital, in which case they are liable for the consultants fees and hospital charges arising for that episode of care, whether paid for by the patient or by a health insurer on their behalf.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2013 revised the charging regime in respect of private patients in public hospitals. Previously, the cost of providing private services in public hospitals were not reflected in the charges levied on private patients, as only a €75 statutory in-patient charge applied. The private in-patient charge applicable now takes account of all the services which a public hospital provides, for example, accommodation, nursing, diagnostics (such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI etc.) and other overheads and maintenance costs. Users of private services in public hospitals now pay a more realistic charge towards the full costs of providing those services, which the Government believes is a much fairer and more equitable arrangement.
466. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the outstanding EU directives that his Department or agencies under its remit are responsible for implementing, in tabular form; if the implementation of any of them require specific legislative change; and, if so, the details of same. [29771/16]
View answerThe EU Directives which the Department of Health has lead responsibility for transposing are set out in tabular form:
|
Commission Proposal |
Irish Legislative Transposition Measure |
Deadline Date for Transposition |
|
Commission Directive (EU) 2015/565 of 8 April 2015 amending Directive 2006/86/EC as regards certain technical requirements for the coding of human tissues and cells. |
Secondary Legislation is required. |
29 October 2016. |
|
Commission Directive (EU) 2015/566 of 8 April 2015 implementing Directive 2004/23/EC as regards the procedures for verifying the equivalent standards of quality and safety of imported tissues and cells. |
Secondary legislation is required. |
29 October 2016. |
|
Council Decision - subjecting the new psychoactive substance methyl 2-[[1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (MDMB-CHMICA) to control measures. |
Secondary legislation is required. |
31 August 2017. |
|
Commission Directive (EU) 2016/1214 of 25 July 2016 amending Directive 2005/62/EC as regards quality system standards and specifications for blood establishments. |
Secondary legislation is required. |
15 February 2018. |
470. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Health the reason for the long waiting times for speech and language therapy services for children in County Wexford; the number of staff available to carry out these services in whole-time equivalents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29786/16]
View answerAs this 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.
474. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the percentage of girls who are currently being vaccinated with the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29794/16]
View answerThe collation of data regarding vaccinations is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and, as such, I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
475. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if there are any ongoing studies here to examine any adverse reaction to the Gardasil vaccination, not just directly after the injections but for at least five years afterwards; his plans to implement a strategy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29795/16]
View answer493. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of longitudinal studies of girls vaccinated against HPV in the past five years that have been performed and their results. [29876/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 493 together.
In the past ten years the safety of the HPV vaccine has been reviewed frequently by many international bodies including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety of the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US. These Committees have continually concluded that the vaccine is safe.
The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety of the World Health Organisation has systematically investigated safety concerns raised about HPV vaccines and has issued several reports in this regard. In December 2015, WHO reported that, it has not found any safety issue that would alter its recommendations for the use of the vaccine. In January 2016 the EU endorsed the use of HPV vaccines in all countries in the EU. This was following a European Medicines Agency (EMA) report on a review of HPV vaccine.
There have been numerous studies published in the past 5 years on the HPV vaccine which have observed those girls vaccinated with the HPV vaccine since it was licensed in 2006. The findings of almost 30 of these studies that I am aware of can be summarised as follows:
- HPV vaccines are highly efficacious (>90%) at preventing infection with targeted HPV types (types 16 and 18 and for the quadrivalent vaccine also types 6 and 11) and related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The quadrivalent vaccine has proven efficacy and against HPV16/18/6/11 related vulvar, vaginal, and anal intraepithelial neoplasia and genital warts.
- The vaccines have some, although lower levels of, cross-protection against related type HPV31. The bivalent vaccine also has some cross-protection against types 33, 45, 51 and 52. The bivalent vaccine produces higher antibody titers than the quadrivalent vaccine.
- Following three doses, antibody tirtres plateau by 48 months but are then sustained (bivalent>quadrivalent) for more than 9 years, with no indication of waning protection.
- Two doses of vaccine spaced six months or more apart are as immunogenic in females aged under 15 years as three doses in older women.
- Following population-based vaccination programs, significant declines in genital warts, HPV infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia have been observed.
- Herd protection of males against genital warts has been observed following female HPV vaccination programs.
- With over 230 million doses distributed globally, HPV vaccines have been repeatedly assessed as safe. The vaccines are not associated with any increased risk of disease including autoimmune, neurological or thromboembolic disease.
I can provide Deputies with detailed references of these studies.
Worldwide there is no scientific evidence that HPV vaccines cause any long term illness. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the authority regulating the HPV vaccine has never advised that there is any concern about the safety of the HPV vaccine. The HPRA continues to monitor each vaccine and medicine during the life time of its license.
477. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints that have been received each year from 2011 to 2016 by the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC; the number of complaints received regarding the symptoms as described by the girls who made the complaints, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29797/16]
View answer478. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the principal role of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, and the cost of this body in each of the years 2011 to 2015. [29798/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together.
In Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the statutory regulatory authority for medicines in Ireland. This is achieved by both monitoring of individual adverse reaction reports received by competent authorities across Europe (including the HPRA) and Periodic Safety Update Reports submitted by the Marketing Authorisation Holder (i.e. license holder) for the vaccine on a regular basis. As part of its monitoring of the safety of medicines, the HPRA operates an adverse reaction reporting system, where healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse reactions they consider may be associated with their treatment, through the range of options in place for reporting. All reports received are evaluated and considered in the context of the safety profile of the product concerned, with reports followed up as necessary for further information, that may assist in the assessment of the case. From the time of authorisation and up to 30th September 2016, the HPRA had received 1063 reports of adverse reactions and events associated with use of Gardasil. This level of reporting for Gardasil reflects the very positive response to calls from the HPRA for reporting of national experience associated with use of the vaccine, following its introduction into the national immunisation programme which commenced in May 2010.
The majority of reports received by the HPRA have been consistent with the expected pattern of adverse effects for the vaccines, as described in the product information (Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and Package Leaflet (PL)). Vaccination related events, occurring at the time of vaccine administration, such as syncope (faints) has been among the most commonly reported effects. Other commonly reported symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms, malaise, headache, dizziness and injection site reactions. Reports of allergic-type reactions including skin rashes, urticaria and flushing have also been received, including isolated reports of more severe hypersensitivity-type reactions. There have also been some reports describing persisting/chronic fatigue, generally with multiple other symptoms (e.g. headache, malaise, drowsiness, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, joint swelling, flu like illness, menstrual disorders) following vaccination. The HPRA has informed me that a tabulated listing of case reports will be provided separately to the Deputy.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has no statutory role in the monitoring of adverse reaction to licensed medicinal products. NIAC was established within the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 1998. It comprises representatives from a broad range of medical and healthcare organisations. The role of NIAC is to provide expert, evidence-based, impartial guidance to the Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health in the area of immunisation procedures and related matters. NIAC also prepares, and regularly updates, the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland with the assistance of an active committee from associated disciplines in Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases, General Practice and Public Health. My Department does not provide any direct funding for the Committee.
479. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will examine issues relating to an appointment for autism diagnosis assessment in County Louth as per correspondence from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29799/16]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
480. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health the costs involved in the recurring renewal of driving licences required by those aged over 70 years; and if any support is available for those with difficulty paying this sum. [29808/16]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority has responsibility for driver licensing including the rules for applying for or renewing a drivers license. Individuals over the age of 70, can get their drivers licence renewed free of charge. Motorists over 70 will need a certificate of fitness to drive by their doctor in order to apply for a three year or a one year licence. Since August 2015, persons over the age of 70 automatically qualify for a free GP visit card. However certain medical reports including a report for the renewal of a drivers licence are not covered under this scheme.
481. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health if the disused HSE clinic site behind Dundrum library is available for use by local community groups. [29810/16]
View answerAs this 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.
482. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a person, who is a registered nurse with NMBI and provides care for persons in his or her home in a private capacity, is required to register as a care provider for regulatory purposes; if so, the locations to register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29812/16]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for direct reply.
483. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that from 1 September 2016, all HSE home care package tenders have been awarded solely to private companies; if this is part of the Government's privatisation agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29838/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
484. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on capital projects at University Hospital Galway since 1 January 2006; the hospital's official bed capacity on that date; and the current official bed capacity of the hospital. [29846/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
485. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the number of patients by clinical specialty who have been on outpatient waiting lists for Galway University Hospital for less than six months, between six and 12 months, 12 and 24 months, 24 and 36 months, 36 and 48 months and more than 48 months. [29847/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
486. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the number of patients by clinical specialty who have been on outpatient waiting lists for Mayo General Hospital for less than six months, between six and 12 months, 12 and 24 months, 24 and 36 months, 36 and 48 months and more than 48 months. [29848/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
487. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the number of operations or procedures by clinical specialty that were scheduled but cancelled at University Hospital Galway since the beginning of 2016. [29849/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
