Written Answers Nos. 936-956
936. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the 33 residential centres run by St. John of God for persons with disabilities that are currently deemed by HIQA to be non-compliant with regulations, in tabular form. [13752/17]
View answer937. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the action being taken by the Health Service Executive to ensure that the 33 residential centres run by St. John of God for persons with disabilities are operated on a basis that is compliant with HIQA regulations. [13753/17]
View answer938. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been provided in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by his Department and the HSE to St. John of God to provide services to persons with disabilities. [13754/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 936 to 938, inclusive, together.
Saint John of God Community Services Limited (SJOG) operates HSE funded services across intellectual disability, adult mental health and child and adolescent psychiatry. It supports over 6,800 children and adults annually with over 3,000 staff and volunteers. In intellectual disability services, SJOG provides day services for over 2,200 children and adults, residential services for over 900 children and adults, and respite services for over 750 service users.
I understand that the service provider is currently in an escalation process with HIQA owing to non-compliance with national standards in a number of facilities and serious concerns being raised by the regulator in terms of the organisation’s capacity to effectively govern and deliver safe services for people with a disability.
Non-compliance with national standards can range from relatively minor issues that have a minimal impact on the care and welfare of residents to significant incidents of major non-compliance. I understand that HIQA's ongoing discussions with SJOG are focused on a small number of designated centres with major issues of non-compliance. At the same time, I can confirm that there are 79 SJOG designated centres currently recorded as being inspected by HIQA. As it takes an average of four to five months from date of inspection to date of publication, only data up to October 2016 has been analysed to date. 45 of the 126 inspections of SJOG centres carried out between January 2015 and October 2016 achieved above 75% overall compliance, of which 16 inspections achieved 100% compliance.
The St. John of God Services are funded by the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act, 2004. Services are provided through a Service Arrangement which is signed on an annual basis and reviewed continually. The SJOG receives significant funding from the HSE as highlighted in the table and is scheduled to receive €134,299,012 in 2017:
|
Year |
Disability Services |
Mental Health |
Total |
|
2011 |
€106,436,289 |
€22,684,059 |
€129,123,348 |
|
2012 |
€104,575,670 |
€21,376,411 |
€125,952,081 |
|
2013 |
€102,723,834 |
€21,483,070 |
€124,206,904 |
|
2014 |
€100,112,012 |
€21,479,230 |
€121,591,242 |
|
2015 |
€103,817,057 |
€21,479,230 |
€125,300,887 |
|
2016 |
€109,811,678 |
€22,530,819 |
€132,342,497 |
The HSE is committed to working with all agencies to improve compliance in voluntary and statutory service providers in respect of the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
As the particular issues raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
939. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the dementia services available for the under 65s nationally and specifically in the Dublin South-West constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13755/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
940. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be admitted to hospital for a procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13757/17]
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.
941. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if any adult cystic fibrosis, CF, patients were accommodated in wards within University Hospital Limerick other than in the CF unit since the unit opened; if so, the length of time they were in the non-CF unit; if there was a room available in the CF unit at the time; the breakdown of CF versus non-CF patients in the unit at the time; if adult non-CF patients have been admitted to the CF unit ahead of CF patients since the opening of the CF unit; if adult CF patients been moved out of the CF unit; if so, the reason they were moved; if there was accommodation in the adult CF unit when they were moved; and if their room or bed in the adult CF unit was taken by a CF or non-CF patient. [13760/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
942. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the works to be carried out at a health centre (details supplied) are significant; if it will affect the services provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13763/17]
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.
943. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the position regarding making Translarna available through the general medical services scheme following additional data which have been given to the Health Service Executive; the position regarding the drug being made reimbursable following submissions of additional data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13770/17]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines 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.
944. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in implementing the recommendations contained in chapter five of the review of the nursing homes support scheme and, specifically, work done in implementing recommendations 7 to 9 that deal with additional charges imposed by private nursing homes on fair deal residents. [13772/17]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for people who require 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 NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term 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; and
- Laundry service.
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, e.g. social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). An operator should not seek payment from residents for items which are covered by the NHSS, the medical card or any other existing scheme.
Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.
Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns about additional charges should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaints procedure of the private nursing home concerned.
945. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the extent to which a person (details supplied) in County Sligo has access to a medical card to cover costs associated with treatments prior to March 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13792/17]
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 HSE have advised that if the person was not covered by a medical card in the time that the treatments were administered, the person is not eligible for a refund of costs endured.
However, the person may also be able to claim tax relief on the cost of medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%. Details on how to claim are at http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it6.html.
946. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of women who have availed of the screening for cervical cancer in each of the years from 2010 to 2016. [13803/17]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to her.
947. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the age groups that receive the free meningococcal B vaccine; his plans to extend the free meningococcal B vaccine to all children; if his attention has been drawn to the fact the vaccination costs up to €270 to receive it outside the public health care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13811/17]
View answerThe HSE Service Plan included additional funding of €2.5 million for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule in 2016. Two changes were made to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule with the introduction of MenB and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. As the first doses of these vaccines are administered to children when they reach two months, the changes to the immunisation schedule took effect from 1 December, 2016. Children born on or after 1 October, 2016 are now receiving the MenB vaccine at 2, 4 and 12 months of age. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. However, there are no plans at this stage to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. 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. Ireland is the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.
948. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a €75 public charge was introduced for an appointment for necessary chemotherapy treatment; and if this is a policy of any hospital that provides this necessary public health service. [13812/17]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. As provided for by the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, the current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €850 in any twelve consecutive months.
These Regulations also underpin charges for persons admitted to hospital as a day case, i.e. the public in-patient charge also applies to in-patient day cases. On this basis, where chemotherapy is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies.
949. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 499 and 500 of 14 February 2017 the reason Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, do not submit their inpatient cancellation data to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF; the reason Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, do not submit their outpatient cancellation data to the NTPF; if Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, collect data relating to inpatient and outpatient hospital cancellations; if not, the reason; the barriers to the collection of this data; the proposed plans to start collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13817/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
950. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number and which hospitals do not collect inpatient and outpatient cancellation data; the reason these data are not being collected; if there are plans to start the collection of this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13818/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
951. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the information relating to waiting lists which exists for Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in view of problems with data collection at these hospitals; the types of data currently being recorded in respect of inpatient and outpatient lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13819/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
952. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the IT systems in use at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the waiting list and data collection systems in use at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; if the systems currently in use at these hospitals are up to modern standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13820/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
953. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the details of all meetings between his Department and Nursing Homes Ireland from 2011 to date in tabular form. [13821/17]
View answerSince 2011 officials from the Department have met regularly with various stakeholders, including Nursing Homes Ireland, both formally and informally. During that period meetings with NHI have discussed a wide range of issues including the review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, funding of Long Term Care, residential care standards, recruitment and workforce planning. NHI was also represented on Working Groups chaired by the Department which considered the Care and Welfare Regulations and Towards a Restraint Free Environment in Nursing Homes. In November 2016 NHI presented to the Interdepartmental Working Group established to oversee certain recommendations contained in the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. My Department does not maintain a register of formal and informal meetings with stakeholders, such meetings are typically part of the normal course of business, across a wide variety of issues.
As Minister with responsibility for Older People, I met with representatives from NHI in July 2016. I also invited them to participate in meetings I had in September 2016 and January 2017 with older persons’ representative groups.
954. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the details of all meetings from 2011 to date between the National Treatment Purchase Fund and Nursing Homes Ireland in tabular form. [13822/17]
View answer955. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the details of all meetings from 2011 to date between the National Treatment Purchase Fund, Health Information and Quality Authority and Nursing Homes Ireland, in tabular form. [13823/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 954 and 955 together.
Both the Health Information and Quality Authority and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are independent in the performance of their functions. The Department of Health does not maintain a register of meetings either agency would have with various third-party stakeholders.
956. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to allocate funding to service providers that accommodate children with disabilities moving into adult services; if so, when this funding will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13825/17]
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. The 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. With regard to the provision of day services for school-leavers with disabilities, the Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to ensuring that all 18 year old school leavers with intellectual and physical disabilities have continued education or training opportunities. Many of these young people will progress to mainstream education, training or employment but others will require continuing HSE-funded support services.
The process of meeting the needs of around 1,500 school leavers and Rehabilitative (Life-skills) Training graduates who require a HSE-funded day service in 2017 has commenced and has been further refined building on the learning from the 2016 planning process. To ensure that needs are met, additional funding of €10 million is being allocated by the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports. A standardised process for the identification of support needs has been put in place and a profiling exercise has commenced with each individual in order to ascertain their needs and preferences. It is intended that families and service users will be notified by the end of May of the placements which will be made available to them.
