Written Answers Nos. 190-208
190. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the situation regarding a residential home (details supplied) as a result of issues identified relating to safeguarding and governance by HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25228/17]
View answerThe safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the State is paramount. This Government’s primary concern is that the needs of the residents are being prioritised and addressed.
As the particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
191. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the situation regarding the 19 adults resident at a residential home (details supplied) as a result of an official closure notice with a two-week stay issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25229/17]
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. 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.
192. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will obtain an extension on the closure order to allow staff of an organisation (details supplied) sufficient time to ensure all requirements are met as a result of issues identified relating to safeguarding and governance by HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25230/17]
View answerThe Health Act 2007 provided for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), its inspection and regulation of designated centres, and the framework for registration of these designated centres. The Act sets out the provisions for service providers to respond to decisions made by HIQA and to appeal decisions to the District Court if required. There is no provision in the Act for me as Minister to intervene in decisions made by HIQA or the District Court in these matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, HIQA is a fully independent authority charged with ensuring high-quality and safe care for people using our health and social care services in Ireland. I am assured that HIQA takes a proportionate and measured response to issues arising during the inspection and regulation process, and only takes escalated action where significant concerns are present.
The safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the State is paramount. My Department will remain in close contact with the HSE to ensure that all necessary actions are now taken in respect of the centre in question to ensure that its residents are cared for appropriately.
193. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the environment in which persons with profound disabilities and very challenging behaviours are able to live, based on community living in a non-medical type setting, in view of the fact they can struggle with the more regimented HIQA requirements based on nursing home criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25231/17]
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. 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.
194. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issues relating to a facility (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that HIQA has undertaken three audits of the facility over the past 12 months; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HIQA has advised that if identified issues relating to safeguarding and governance are not carried out in the next two weeks, it will have to close this facility; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that HIQA has already released an official closure notice with a two week stay; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 19 persons are at risk of losing their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25232/17]
View answer195. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for obtaining an extension on the closure order to allow staff in a facility (details supplied) sufficient time to ensure all requirements are met; his further plans to ensure the funding is forthcoming to the facility to allow required qualified persons to be employed there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25233/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
I am aware of the facility to which the Deputy refers and the recent decision of the independent regulator HIQA to issue a notice of determination to cancel the registration of this facility.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health Act 2007 provided for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), its inspection and regulation of designated centres, and the framework for registration of these designated centres. The Act sets out the provisions for service providers to respond to decisions made by HIQA and to appeal decisions to the District Court if required. There is no provision in the Act for me as Minister to intervene in decisions made by HIQA or the District Court in these matters.
HIQA is a fully independent authority charged with ensuring high-quality and safe care for people using our health and social care services in Ireland. I am assured that HIQA takes a proportionate and measured response to issues arising during the inspection and regulation process, and only takes escalated action where significant concerns are present.
The safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the State is paramount. My Department will remain in close contact with the HSE to ensure that all necessary actions are now taken in respect of the facility in question to ensure that its residents are cared for appropriately.
The issue of any additional funding requirements in this regard is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have referred the Deputy’s second question to the HSE and have asked that the Executive reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.
196. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the financial situation in a rest home (details supplied) with 37 persons in Lismore, County Waterford, with a view to allaying the fears of the voluntary board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/17]
View answer197. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if funds will be provided for the relocation of a laundry room in a rest home (details supplied) with 37 persons in Lismore, County Waterford, as requested by HIQA request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25235/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
198. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the situation whereby persons who were receiving Respreeza for alpha 1 on a monthly basis will now only receive it on a weekly basis; and the status of his negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies to bring clarity and hope to these persons. [25237/17]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
199. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the financial proposal in County Louth which will see the care of 30 persons with disabilities being cared for by a group (details supplied); the details of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25239/17]
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. 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.
200. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 30 March 2017, the timeframe for a response from the HSE on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25251/17]
View answerI have sent a further request to the HSE asking them to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
201. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a consultant specialising in headache and migraine pain management will be appointed to Beaumont Hospital in view of the fact that there are approximately 2,500 persons on the waiting list to see such a specialist and in further view of the fact that these persons have been left some 18 months without progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25256/17]
View answerI 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.
The National Clinical Programme for Neurology (NCPN) Model of Care document recommends an increase in the number of consultant neurologists, nurse specialists, including clinical nurse specialists, and other health care professionals which would address waiting time issues. The programme also proposed implementation of these recommendations over a period of 5 years. This will significantly improve the access for all Neurology patients.
The Model of Care was launched by the Director General of the HSE on the 27 September 2016 and the HSE is now working towards its implementation.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
202. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive BHE treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25257/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
203. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there is a contingency plan in place in order that smaller hospitals that do not have compounding capabilities and do not run out of chemotherapy drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25261/17]
View answerThe vast majority of anti-cancer medications are made in the Aseptic Compounding Units (ACUs) in hospitals. There is one external manufacturer in Ireland who supplies approximately 15% of compounded chemotherapy preparations to hospitals in Ireland. This licensed manufacturer is subject to regulatory oversight by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
Should there be an issue in relation to the supply of anti-cancer medications, contingency plans can be implemented under the direction of the National Cancer Control Programme. Contingency measures include: the compounding of chemotherapy in the hospitals which have ACUs, inter-hospital cooperation within hospital groups, the ordering of medications from licensed manufacturers outside of the country, or the preparation of certain medications at ward level or in the pharmacy department in hospitals.
The recent chemotherapy supply issues relate to manufacturing problems experienced by the Irish supplier of compounded chemotherapy preparations. Under the direction of the NCCP, hospitals implemented the above contingency measures in order to minimise the impact on patients.
The production of chemotherapy products resumed on Monday 22 May. Contingency plans will remain in place in affected hospitals until full service is resumed. The NCCP will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming days to ensure that any disruption to patients is minimised.
The HSE has also indicated it intends to conduct a needs assessment for local compounding requirements at the hospitals providing chemotherapy services. This will inform the options on improving internal HSE resilience in the short, medium and long term.
204. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will consider pharmacists prescribing nicotine replacement therapy the way in which the morning after pill is prescribed (details supplied); if he will adopt the HIQA recommendation of a review of dispensing rules for nicotine replacement therapy on the general medical scheme and that this takes place without delay in order that operational structures can be developed to provide nicotine replacement therapy without a prescription to general medical scheme patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25262/17]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
205. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing the prescription charge on a phased basis over five years, beginning in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25263/17]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
206. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the 50 cent prescription charge reduction for medical card holders over 70 years of age to the entire general medical scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25264/17]
View answerMedical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacies under the General Medical Services scheme. This charge is subject to a monthly cap of €25 for each person or family.
Under Budget 2017, I announced a reduction in the charge to €2, subject to a monthly cap of €20, for medical card holders aged 70 and over and their dependants. This reduced charge took effect from 1 March 2017.
Any future change to the prescription charge is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and having regard to the funding available.
207. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme reimbursement threshold on a phased annual basis from €144 per month to €132 per month, €120 per month, €100 per month and €85 per month respectively, beginning in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25265/17]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
208. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual required co-payment on the drugs payment scheme; his plans to amend reimbursement of the scheme from a monthly to annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25266/17]
View answerUnder the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
This Government is committed to reducing the cost of medicines. This includes ongoing price reviews of approved products under the 2016 pricing and supply agreement with industry and the promotion of greater use and availability of generic medicines. As part of this process, and in line with the commitments given in the Programme for Partnership Government, I intend to consider the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, in the context of the Health commitments in the Programme for Government, and having regard to the funding available.
