Tuesday, 16 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 475-492

HSE Health Insurance Claims

Questions (475)

Declan Breathnach

Question:

475. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the body which is the insurer for the HSE; the amount of premium paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23219/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Government Departments and other State agencies, including the Health Service Executive, whose claims are delegated for management by the State Claims Agency (SCA), do not have conventional insurance cover. Instead, these State bodies operate under State indemnity, a self-insurance model whereby the State bears the financial risk associated with the costs of claims. Acting as the State Claims Agency (SCA), the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) manages personal injury, property damage and clinical negligence claims brought against the HSE. The Agency utilises and promotes an integrated approach to risk and claims management as suggested by international best practice.

This approach to insurance is set out in the Public Financial Procedures (Department of Finance, 2008, C8, Section 11): ‘the general rule is that no insurance should be effected against the risk of any loss which, if it arose would fall wholly and directly on public funds. This is based on the understanding that the risks for which the Government is liable are innumerable and widely distributed, and that losses maturing in any one year are never so large as to materially disturb the financial position of the year, so that it is cheaper in the long term for the Exchequer to carry its own insurance'.

The SCA is not the insurer or proxy for insurer, so the HSE does not pay a premium to the SCA. However, there are some insurable risks which are not covered by State indemnity. In this regard, I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (476)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

476. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the priority of a neurology appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed following a further urgent referral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23221/17]

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.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (477)

Joan Collins

Question:

477. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels that should be in place in the urology department in St. James's Hospital (details supplied); and the current staffing levels in place. [23232/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (478)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

478. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to provide a new permanent ambulance base at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; his plans to upgrade the temporary accommodation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23246/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospitals Capital Programme

Questions (479)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

479. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the refurbishment works at Millstreet Community Hospital, Millstreet, County Cork; if he will provide a timeline for the commencement and completion of these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23251/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Significant work has been undertaken by the HSE in determining the most appropriate scheduling of projects, including Millstreet Community Hospital, over the multi-annual period 2016 - 2021, within the phased provision of funding, to achieve compliance and registration with HIQA. All healthcare infrastructure developments, including this development, must comply with DPER guidelines and EU directives and will require a lead-in time to complete the various stages. These stages include appraisal, project brief, design feasibility, detailed design, some of which may overlap, the review of costing estimates and finalisation of financing.

Your question on the project status has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the healthcare projects is a service matter.

Medical Card Data

Questions (480)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

480. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications submitted in 2016 by persons diagnosed with cancer; the number of these persons who were granted full medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23252/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas Members.

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Questions (481)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

481. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the progress regarding the second breast surgeon consultant post at Letterkenny University Hospital; his plans to deploy and utilise the post on a cross-Border basis in collaboration with Altnagelvin area hospital, Derry; the nature of discussions that have taken place to date between both service providers about the post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23255/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Breast Cancer Service at Letterkenny University Hospital operates as a satellite centre of University Hospital Galway. The service is run by a single consultant who also undertakes general surgery at the hospital, and it is augmented by locum consultants and by Galway-based Saolta consultants.

At present, efforts are being made to recruit a full-time locum consultant surgeon to deal with the demands on the service. Consideration continues to be given to longer-term measures to meet the future requirements of the service, and staffing at consultant and other levels will be among the issues to be considered. As part of this, the possibility of further cooperation with health services in Northern Ireland is being considered by Saolta, the NCCP and the Department, building on the co-operation achieved in relation to the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (482)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

482. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the Cork University Maternity Hospital gynaecological waiting list who have been receiving treatment through the National Treatment Purchase Fund since its introduction; and the level of reduction in the waiting list as a result. [23273/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.

Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.

In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of funding in the region of €5 million for a waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that in excess of 2,000 patients waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure will have received an appointment for their procedure by 30 June 2017.

The necessary tendering work commenced at the end of last year and has now been finalised with contracts signed with all successful applicants. The NTPF has advised that the Initiative has commenced and patients are currently receiving their appointments.

In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly. The Inpatient Daycase Waiting List Action Plan includes a targeted initiative for Cork University Maternity Hospital to address long-waiting Gynaecology patients in the South/South West Hospital Group.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (483)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

483. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures he is planning to take to reduce the ophthalmology outpatient waiting list in Cork. [23274/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I acknowledge that Ophthalmology waiting times in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) are often unacceptably long and am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.

Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.

In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5 million to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and patients are already receiving appointments. Long-waiting Ophthalmology patients are a core group who will receive treatment under this initiative.

In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.

The HSE is currently finalising the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review, which aims to reorganise primary eye-care services with an increased emphasis on maximising delivery of a comprehensive service in primary care, thereby creating capacity in hospitals to provide more complex Ophthalmology services.

In addition, the HSE has advised that the SSWHG is currently examining solutions in relation to Ophthalmology services across the Group, including increasing the number of ophthalmic physicians in the Group, which will have a positive impact on Ophthalmic Outpatient services.

Health Promotion

Questions (484)

Robert Troy

Question:

484. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the responsible serving of an organisation (details supplied); and the way in which its services could be utilised in order to promote drinking in moderation. [23293/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I presume the Deputy is referring to the organisation and website drinkaware.ie. Drinkaware.ie is funded by the alcohol industry. The Department's position is that the alcohol industry, similar to the tobacco industry, has no role in influencing public health policy. However, I and other Ministers have met with and listened to numerous alcohol industry representatives.

I had the pleasure of recently launching a Health Service Executive website and information campaign on the harms of alcohol under the title - askaboutalcohol.ie. The central tenet of the website and information campaign is about how much we are drinking, how it affects our physical and mental health, and how we can gain more by drinking less. The Deputy may have heard the campaign information broadcast on radio over the past couple of months. The website and the associated information campaign will play an important role in providing public health information on alcohol.

Reducing overall consumption of alcohol is one of this Government’s public health priorities. The current levels of consumption and patterns of drinking (e.g. drinking to excess regularly) are causing significant harm to individuals, their families and society. In this context the Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and it is included in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Askaboutalcohol.ie and the associated communications campaign is part of a suite of measures included in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill to reduce the number of people engaged in the harmful use of alcohol.

Liquor Licensing Laws

Questions (485)

Robert Troy

Question:

485. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on requiring licensed premises to have an alcohol serving policy as part of the licence renewal process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23294/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Department of Health has no responsibility for licensing laws. The Department of Health has not engaged with the Department for Finance in relation to the issue raised by the Deputy in his question. The Irish legislation relating to the serving of alcohol in licensed premises and the buying of alcoholic drinks in off-licences is the Intoxicating Liquor Acts and the Licensing Act. This legislation is the responsibility of the Department of Justice. The legislation amongst other issues, deals with conduct in licensed premises. I understand that national representative bodies for vintners and off-licences provide support to their members in meeting the requirements of the legislation in respect of the serving of alcohol.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Questions (486)

Willie Penrose

Question:

486. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to include persons with asthma in the long-term illness scheme or another targeted scheme such as a chronic disease card in the context of ensuring that the cost of preventative medication is not a barrier to effective asthma control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23301/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Questions (487)

John Lahart

Question:

487. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to drugs and alcohol task forces throughout the country in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23337/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The budget allocation for the twenty four Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from the Drugs Initiative of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive in each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

LDATF	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014 DOH
Ballyfermot	€1,533,826	€1,492,413	€1,569,489	€1,522,404	€461,150
Ballymun	€1,243,552	€1,209,976	€1,180,695	€1,145,274	€632,817
Blanchardstown	€1,184,200	€1,152,227	€1,124,343	€1,090,613	€179,305
Bray	€1,656,849	€1,612,114	€1,573,101	€1,525,908	€573,860
Canal Communities	€1,645,413	€1,600,987	€1,562,243	€1,515,376	€338,605
Clondalkin	€1,495,408	€1,455,032	€1,421,577	€1,428,930	€388,114
Cork	€1,662,621	€1,617,730	€1,578,581	€1,531,224	€411,988
Dublin 12	€1,180,005	€1,148,145	€1,120,360	€1,086,749	€74,013
Dublin NE	€1,294,199	€1,259,256	€1,228,782	€988,234	€422,251
Dun Laoghaire	€975,475	€949,137	€926,167	€898,382	€94,676
Finglas Cabra	€986,452	€959,818	€936,590	€908,492	€263,277
NIC	€2,495,777	€2,428,391	€2,369,624	€2,298,535	€576,956
SIC	€2,276,911	€2,215,434	€2,161,821	€2,096,966	€255,720
Tallaght	€1,316,913	€1,281,356	€1,250,347	€1,262,837	€452,712
Total LDATF	€20,947,601	€20,382,016	€20,003,720	€19,299,924	€5,125,444
RDATF	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014 DOH
East Coast Area	€896,933	€872,716	€851,596	€584,227	€58,200
Midland	€894,739	€870,581	€849,513	€824,028	€307,810
Mid-West	€1,576,095	€1,533,540	€1,496,428	€1,451,535	€147,982
North East	€1,038,588	€1,010,546	€986,091	€956,508	€0
North West	€806,369	€784,597	€765,610	€742,642	€272,485
North Dublin City & Co.	€870,066	€846,574	€826,087	€801,304	€456,080
South East	€1,193,005	€1,160,794	€1,132,703	€1,098,722	€0
South West	€894,750	€870,592	€849,524	€824,038	€102,820
Southern	€1,089,369	€1,059,956	€1,034,305	€1,003,276	€0
Western	€740,085	€720,104	€702,677	€681,597	€136,994
Total RDATF	€9,999,999	€9,730,000	€9,494,534	€8,967,877	€1,482,371
Overall Total	€30,947,600	€30,112,016	€29,498,254	€28,267,801

Table cont.

LDATF	2014 HSE	2015 DOH	2015 HSE	2016 DOH	2016 HSE	2017 DOH	2017 HSE
Ballyfermot	€1,025,582	€255,446	€1,231,286	€255,446	€1,231,286	€255,446	€1,231,286
Ballymun	€488,098	€422,958	€697,957	€422,958	€697,957	€422,958	€697,957
Blanchardstown	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589
Bray	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271
Canal Communities	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309
Clondalkin	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948
Cork	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299
Dublin 12	€990,134	€70,997	€993,150	€70,397	€993,750	€70,397	€993,750
Dublin NE	€594,836	€422,251	€594,836	€239,971	€777,116	€239,971	€777,116
Dun Laoghaire	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755
Finglas Cabra	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960
NIC	€1,652,623	€494,856	€1,734,723	€394,856	€1,834,723	€394,856	€1,834,723
SIC	€1,788,337	€176,043	€1,868,014	€176,043	€1,868,014	€176,043	€1,868,014
Tallaght	€782,240	€341,438	€893,514	€336,022	€898,930	€336,022	€898,930
Total LDATF	€13,823,981	€4,433,814	€14,515,611	€4,145,518	€14,803,907	€4,145,518	€14,803,907
RDATF	2014 HSE	2015 DOH	2015 HSE	2016 DOH	2016 HSE	2017 DOH	2017 HSE
East Coast Area	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500
Midland	€491,497	€136,816	€662,491	€136,816	€662,491	€136,816	€662,491
Mid-West	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007
North East	€927,813	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813
North West	€447,878	€258,633	€461,730	€258,633	€461,730	€258,633	€461,730
North Dublin City & Co.	€321,184	€309,778	€467,486	€266,245	€511,019	€266,245	€511,019
South East	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760
South West	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497
Southern	€973,178	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178
Western	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155
Total RDATF	€7,216,469	€1,151,223	€7,547,617	€1,107,690	€7,591,150	€1,107,690	€7,591,150
Overall Total	€27,648,265		€27,648,265		€27,648,265		€27,648,265

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Questions (488)

John Lahart

Question:

488. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when funding to the Tallaght drug and alcohol task force will be restored to 2008 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23338/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. In the 2017 budget, an additional €3m has been provided for a number of measures aimed at improving the health outcomes of those affected by addiction issues. The increased funding will support the development of a pilot supervised injection facility in Dublin city centre, the wider availability of alternative opiate substitution treatments for those who are not suited to methadone, improved services for under 18s and more detoxification beds.

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and in coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities. Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In excess of €27.6m has been allocated to the Task Forces for community-based drugs initiatives this year, the same amount provided in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Department of Health has commissioned external consultants to develop a performance measurement framework to assist in measuring the effectiveness of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. The framework will provide a mechanism to target funding allocations on the basis of objective criteria, having regard to the drugs situation in the Task Force catchment areas and other demographic factors. It will also inform the question of how best to align Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in order to address locally identified needs. I understand the findings of the consultants report have been considered by the steering group in the context of the development of the new National Drugs Strategy.

The funding available to address substance misuse will be kept under review in the context of the overall resources available to the health services and the most effective utilisation of those resources.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (489)

John Lahart

Question:

489. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the progress to date regarding the provision of primary care centres in Dublin South-West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23339/17]

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.

National Drugs Strategy

Questions (490)

John Lahart

Question:

490. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the new national drugs strategy; when the strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23340/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Government is committed to putting a new National Drugs Strategy in place from 2017 onwards, when the current policy expires. A Steering Committee with an independent chair has been established to advise me on the new Strategy. This committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse, which is defined as the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illegal drugs. It is envisaged that the new Strategy will be based on a health-led approach to the drug problem and build on progress achieved under previous drug strategies.

I understand that the Steering Committee is continuing with its deliberations with a view to presenting its final report to me shortly. I hope to bring my proposals to Government thereafter. Once approved by Government, the new strategy will then be published by the Department of Health.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (491)

John Lahart

Question:

491. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the delays parents of children on the autism spectrum are experiencing in accessing child and adult mental health services over the past twelve months; the reason children have been refused services at key developmental ages and are experiencing delays that will impact on their future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23341/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

National Drugs Strategy

Questions (492)

John Lahart

Question:

492. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason the word "alcohol" was not included in the title of the national drugs strategy, in view of the fact that alcohol was included in the remit of various alcohol and drug task forces in the period of the last Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23343/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy is aware, Government policy on tackling the drug problem is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. A Steering Committee, led by an independent chair, has been established to advise me on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards.

The Steering Committee has been mandated to develop an integrated public health approach to substance misuse, defined as the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illegal drugs and incorporating the relevant recommendations of other related policies, including the National Substance Misuse Strategy.

I understand that the Steering Committee is continuing with its deliberations with a view to presenting its final report to me shortly. I hope to bring my proposals to Government thereafter. Once approved by Government, the new strategy will then be published by the Department of Health.