Written Answers Nos. 794-813
794. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the CEO of the HSE has sanctioned a HSE employee to seek a contract with a Government Department or offices for supply of goods or services whether for their own benefit or for the benefit of any company with which they may have an involvement in a private capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35358/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter for the HSE, this question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
795. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the specialists will be in situ to see patients with regard to the identification of a sarcoma specialist at St. Vincent's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35359/17]
View answerThe Deputy's questions relate to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
796. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35360/17]
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.
797. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if arthritis patient appointments in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin are being cancelled for July 2017 and rescheduled for March 2018; his views on whether it is satisfactory that children are being left for so long without monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35364/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
798. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of posts assigned to the Cavan-Monaghan paediatric occupational therapy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35398/17]
View answer799. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of unfilled positions in the Cavan-Monaghan paediatric occupational therapy services; the length of time those positions have been unfilled; if approval to fill these posts has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35399/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 798 and 799 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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
800. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children in need of a school-age team service broken down by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35401/17]
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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
801. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by the family of a person (details supplied). [35403/17]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred out to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
802. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the treatment of a person (details supplied); if the time appealing decisions will be taken into account for the school age team waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35408/17]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
804. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding for the public home care sector. [35429/17]
View answerHome care services are provided on the basis of assessed health-care need carried out by health care professionals and there is no means-testing. The HSE provides services both directly and through service agreements with private and voluntary sector provider. The Programme for Government commits to increasing funding for Home Care Packages and Home Help every year. The planning and management of future health expenditure will be considered as part of the annual estimates and budgetary process which seeks to balance available funding across all of the various service areas to achieve the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritise areas of greatest need.
805. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for an MRI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35431/17]
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.
806. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there is funding available to groups wishing to introduce defibrillators for communities in their area; his plans to introduce a funding stream for this piece of life-saving equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35435/17]
View answerAs this PQ refers to the funding of defibrillators for local communities, I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
807. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the food in school forum will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35442/17]
View answerThe National Obesity Policy and Action Plan covers a ten year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. Every sector of our society has a role in reducing obesity levels and the Policy clearly acknowledges this.
The National Obesity Policy and Action Plan prescribes 'Ten Steps Forward' to deal with obesity and a key priority action for this year is to commence the implementation of ‘a whole of school’ approach to healthy lifestyle programmes, including nutrition.
My Department is looking at how best to take this forward to facilitate cross- sectorial and cross- departmental approach especially with the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Social Protection. Models of good practice are being considered. One such model is the Food in Schools Forum, a model used in Northern Ireland.
In the interim, National Nutrition Standards for the School Meals Local Projects Scheme are being developed and Healthy Eating Guidelines for primary and post primary schools are being updated with the new Food Pyramid.
808. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to cuts to the service provided by the podiatry service in HSE north and south Lee; and his plans to enhance this service [35443/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
809. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to ensure that persons who require essential podiatry services can access this preventative health care service. [35444/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
811. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the recruitment of nurses for Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35451/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
812. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35455/17]
View answerThank you for bringing this case to my attention, and if the patient's consultant requires further information following this reply I would invite him or her to contact my Department.
Cannabis is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 to 2016 and the Regulations made thereunder.
The two most common active components found in cannabis oil are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is derived from cannabis. Since it is not psychoactive, it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation. CBD oil is sometimes marketed as a nutritional or dietary supplement, however it should be noted that it is not authorised as a medicinal product in Ireland.
THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Under the Misuse of Drugs legislation products containing THC are strictly controlled and possession is unlawful except under licence.
There are two pathways for medical practitioners to prescribe cannabis-based products for medical purposes: (i) through the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme (which is currently being established); (ii) through the Ministerial licence application route.
(i) Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme:
In February I published the Health Products Regulatory Authority’s (HPRA) report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’ and undertook to establish an Access Programme for cannabis-based treatments, for patients under the care of a medical consultant, for certain medical conditions, including severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
An expert reference group has been established to operationalise this access programme. This work is being progressed.
(ii) Ministerial licence application route
Pending implementation of the Cannabis Access Programme, and for medical conditions that are not included in the Cannabis Access Programme: under existing legislation it is open to me as Minister to consider granting a licence to an Irish-registered medical practitioner, under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, for access to medical cannabis for named patients. In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
The main elements of an application submitted under the Misuse of Drugs legislation for a licence for cannabis for medicinal use must include:
- An outline of the treatment the patient has received to date and justification from the doctor as to why it is appropriate in their patient’s specific circumstances to prescribe a Schedule 1 drug.
- Details of the cannabis-based product which it is proposed to prescribe and administer to the patient.
- The source of the cannabis-based product.
- The arrangements for the ongoing monitoring and care of the patient once the cannabis-based treatment has commenced.
Ultimately it is the decision of the clinician, in consultation with their patient, or their patient's guardian, to prescribe or not prescribe a particular treatment for a patient under their care. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
813. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite urgent surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35460/17]
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.
