Tuesday, 13 Dec 2016

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (487)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

487. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange an urgent appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [39945/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (488)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

488. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the outcome of the round-table meeting of European Ministers for health and pharmaceutical companies in Lisbon on 7 December 2016; the main outcomes and action points of the meeting; if any bilateral or follow-up meetings were arranged arising from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39951/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I participated in the second Round Table meeting for European Health Ministers and CEOs/Heads of Europe-based pharmaceutical companies, co-organised by Portugal and the Netherlands, in Lisbon on 7th December 2016. This meeting afforded me a very good opportunity to engage with Ministers from other member states on the key issues of access to and affordability of new and innovative medicines and to discuss further the potential for collaboration between Ireland and other member states.

I took the opportunity to raise directly the situation of Orkambi, and the manner in which the company was treating patients and their families in Ireland. I also spoke on the margin of the meeting with the Dutch Health Minister regarding Orkambi and the potential for collaboration at official level between Ireland, the Netherlands and others in relation to the reimbursement of medicines.

Blood Donations

Questions (489, 490, 491)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

489. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when the amended policy regarding deferral of blood donations by men who have sex with men will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39960/16]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

490. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if he will review the requirement for a 12-month deferral period for blood donation by men who have sex with men in view of the fact that there is no such deferral period in other jurisdictions such as Italy, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Ukraine, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Bulgaria, Mexico and Peru; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39961/16]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

491. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend an equal 12-month blanket deferral policy for sexually active heterosexual blood donors in view of the rapid rise in HIV diagnoses in this population and the possibility of HIV infection of heterosexual blood donors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39962/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 to 491, inclusive, together.

At present the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) imposes a lifelong ban on men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood.

In June of this year, I accepted a recommendation from the IBTS that (a) the deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood should be reduced to a period of one year following their last sexual encounter with a man and (b) all donors who have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) should be deferred from donating blood for a period of at least five years from that infection. A similar one year deferral policy has been adopted by the UK, US, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, France and Australia. This change will come into effect before the end of January 2017.

The IBTS will continue to keep all deferral policies under active review in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections and international experience.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Administration

Questions (492)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

492. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if in the case of person (details supplied) he will consider including specific food items under the long-term illness card. [39964/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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 reply to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services Data

Questions (493)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

493. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number waiting for a child and adolescent mental health service appointment in community care area, CCA, 9; the numbers waiting between three and six months, six and 12 months, and more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39965/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (494)

Robert Troy

Question:

494. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for cataract surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39980/16]

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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.

Disability Support Services Provision

Questions (495, 496, 503)

Carol Nolan

Question:

495. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the HSE and relevant personnel from RehabCare to meet with persons (details supplied) in respect of the immediate reinstatement of support services for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39982/16]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

496. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE and RehabCare to reinstate support services for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39983/16]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Director General of the HSE to meet with persons (details supplied) to discuss issues relating to the supports for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39998/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 496 and 503 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.

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.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Questions (497)

Peter Burke

Question:

497. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of the national supplementary recruitment campaign for physiotherapists, staff grade; if the HSE is recruiting from the panels formed from this campaign or if it intends to recruit in the near future for positions in counties Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39984/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (498)

Barry Cowen

Question:

498. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person can expect an appointment. [39987/16]

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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.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (499)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

499. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the appointment of a clinical psychologist as part of the CAMHS team in Donegal town; the number of CAMHS staff currently employed in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39989/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Questions (500)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

500. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on mental health services in each county in 2015 and 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39990/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (501)

John McGuinness

Question:

501. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason there has not been a consultant psychologist or psychologist in west Kilkenny for over two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39992/16]

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