Written Answers Nos. 769-788
769. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to have gestational diabetes covered under existing or new health schemes in order that costs are not imposed on expecting mothers with conditions associated with pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36864/17]
View answerThere are currently no plans to make specific provision for gestational diabetes under any new or existing health scheme. However, there are other supports available for access to health products available such as the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) and the General Medical Scheme (GMS) that would assist patients with gestational diabetes.
Under 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.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
770. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if additional resources can be provided to improve ambulance response times in County Monaghan in view of the circumstances outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36875/17]
View answer789. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional resources can be provided to improve ambulance response times in County Monaghan in view of the circumstances outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36942/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 770 and 789 together.
I wish to express my sympathies to the family of the person concerned.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has been undertaking a significant and ongoing reform programme, to reconfigure the management and delivery of pre-hospital care services. This programme will ensure a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology. I am fully conscious of the need for a multi-annual programme of phased investment in ambulance manpower, vehicles and technology, in that regard €7.2m additional funding was provided in 2016 for NAS including €2m in development funding. This year, an additional sum of €3.6m has been made available which includes €1m to fund new developments.
With regard to the specific incidents raised by the Deputy, as these relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for direct reply.
771. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hearing test at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/17]
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.
772. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when home help hours will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36898/17]
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.
773. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he is cutting funding for the baby-friendly hospital initiative; if so, the reason for such a decision; if he will reverse the cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36899/17]
View answerThe Department of Health and the Health Service Executive are totally committed to increasing breast feeding rates in Ireland.
National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and the recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 all emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The recent National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 re-affirmed the commitment to advance public support of breastfeeding, and includes an action to extend provision for breastfeeding breaks under employment legislation (currently available to mothers of children under 6 months).
Regarding the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) issue, in 2016 the HSE commissioned a research team at TCD to undertake a review of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. One of the key findings of the review was that there was no difference in breastfeeding rates in hospitals that had achieved the Baby Friendly designation, and those that hadn’t achieved designation. In fact, while the initiative has been in place for 20 years, only 9 of the 19 maternity hospitals have achieved the Baby Friendly designation. This Review highlighted the need for a revised model of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
Following completion of the Review, the HSE initiated engagement with The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and other stakeholders on developing a revised model. While the HSE has made the decision to pause the existing initiative and it is not being funded for 2017.
The HSE are currently progressing the development of a revised model, working with the National Women and Infants Programme, the HSE Health and Wellbeing Division, the HSE Lead Midwife and other key stakeholders. The revised model will continue to support the implementation of the WHO/UNICEF 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, which is the basis of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. The revised model is expected by the end of the year and will be rolled out in 2018.
A wide range of other actions are underway in implementing the HSE National Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2020. These include:
- Improved Governance and health service structures;
- Breastfeeding training and skills development;
- Health service policies and practices;
- Support at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum; and
- Research, monitoring and evaluation.
Details of specific actions can be seen in the HSE National Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2020 on the HSE website breastfeeding.ie and here is the link https://www.breastfeeding.ie/Uploads/breastfeeding-in-a-healthy-ireland.pdf.
774. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will consider exempting wards of court funds in the calculation of means for a medical card in budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36902/17]
View answerThere are no proposals at present to exempt Ward of Court funds from the medical card financial assessment.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds his or her income threshold, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services. The HSE affords applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting information and documentation to fully take account of all the relevant circumstances that may benefit them in the assessment, including medical evidence of cost and necessary expenses.
775. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the State provides training for therapeutic management of violence within psychiatric care; if not, the name of the company; the name of the institutions in which it provides training, in tabular form; if a private company provides this training, the service level agreement for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36906/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
776. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of over-70s GP-only cards in circulation by local health office as of 30 June 2017. [36914/17]
View answerThe 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.
777. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed directly by the HSE as home care workers; the number of home care workers employed by the HSE in each county; the tendering process involved in the outsourcing of care work to private agencies; the number of agencies providing home care services; the number employed as home care workers by these agencies; the amount the HSE provides to these agencies per hour of work, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36916/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
778. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when he plans to commence a public consultation on a national biosimilars strategy further to his announcement of same in February 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36924/17]
View answerI recently announced the opening of a public consultation on biosimilar medicines. This consultation will inform the development of Ireland's first National Biosimilar Medicines Policy, with the aim of increasing the use of these more cost-effective medicines in Ireland.
The consultation paper is available online at http://health.gov.ie/consultations and the closing date for submissions is 22 September 2017.
779. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical posts that were in place for south Dublin, Dún Laoghaire and north Wicklow CHO for mental health services in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36925/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
780. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated time needed to fill vacancies for mental health professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36926/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
781. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds closed in each CHO area; the number that have been closed to date in 2017; his plans to mitigate the impact of these closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36927/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
782. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to address staff shortages in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36928/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
783. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a child and adolescent mental health service appointment in County Wexford; the number waiting from zero to three months, from three to six months, from six to nine months, from nine to 12 months and for more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36929/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
784. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the amount of income generated from fees in each voluntary and public hospital in 2015 and 2016 respectively for the provision of medical records; the number of requests processed in each hospital; the number of records released under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 in each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36930/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
785. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if publicly funded hospitals must provide personal medical records by request under the Freedom of Information Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36931/17]
View answerGenerally, access to one's medical records should be provided routinely and administratively, having regard to privacy, confidentiality and the public interest. An application may be made in writing to the appropriate service or agency providing sufficient information (date of birth, current and previous addresses, date of contact with the specific services etc.) to help in locating records.
People may also access their medical records, from publicly funded hospitals, under the Freedom of Information Act, 2014. They may apply in writing to the public body that holds the records and for medical card holders, that public body is the Health Service Executive (HSE). Patients of the public system may also be entitled to their medical records under the Data Protection Acts 2003 and 2008 or by 'discovery' in the course of court proceedings.
People who visit their G.P. privately or attend a non-HSE funded or private hospital may access their records under the Data Protection Acts or by court order.
786. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the contracts which have been awarded between 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 to carry out building, construction and or structural works at Letterkenny University Hospital; the names of the successful tender; the project costs; the dates on which contracts were awarded; the dates on which works commenced; the dates works were completed in respect of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36932/17]
View answer787. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the contracts awarded between 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 to carry out building, construction and-or structural works at Letterkenny University Hospital whereby, following completion of the project, it was later discovered that additional works, corrective measures and-or remedial action was required to be carried in order to remedy, correct or repair flaws, faults and-or complications which later arose; the name of the successful tenderer in each case; the corrective measures subsequently required; the costs incurred by same and by whom; the name of the company later called upon to carry out said corrective measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36933/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 786 and 787 together.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects including the awarding of contracts, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to contracts awarded between 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for capital works carried out at Letterkenny University Hospital.
788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of parking at each public hospital here; the revenue generated in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by hospital, by year, cost and revenue generated, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36941/17]
View answerThere is a significant demand for car parking at all hospitals. Consequently, the efficient management of parking spaces and traffic flow on hospital campuses is of crucial importance. This is to ensure on-going availability of parking spaces; free flow of traffic on campus; unobstructed access for emergency vehicles at all times; proper use of spaces designated for drivers with disabled permits; and proper use of spaces designated as drop off points near the hospital entrance.
The HSE (Health Service Executive) has advised that it does not have one single contract to provide parking services at all hospitals. Instead each hospital has a unique arrangement which reflects its specific circumstances.
Arrangements for car parking generally is an operational matter for the HSE. The HSE has advised that it does not provide guidelines on hospital parking and each hospital/hospital group implements their own guidelines.
Hospitals which charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families particularly those with long-term illnesses. Consequently, a maximum daily fixed parking charge has been introduced in some hospitals, thus capping this expense. I understand that some hospitals also provide reduced rate parking rates for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship. The HSE has advised me that it keeps hospital parking charges under review.
In response to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
