Written Answers Nos. 908-927
908. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendations Nos. 6.9, 6.10 and 6.11 of the National Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010-2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37200/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
909. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendations Nos. 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.6 of the National Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010-2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37201/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
910. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason the medication Ocuvite Lutein Forte has been withdrawn from being made available to persons under the medical card scheme; the alternative medication that has been considered to be included in absence of the medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37204/17]
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.
911. 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. [37205/17]
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.
912. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide for extra paediatric consultant ENT surgeons across Temple Street and Crumlin children's hospitals, in view of the very long waiting lists for ENT surgeries at both hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37206/17]
View answerIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
913. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37208/17]
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.
914. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the assessment to be held by the Health Service Executive on the pricing and reimbursement under the community drugs scheme of the FreeStyle Libre medical device, which is used by diabetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37209/17]
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.
915. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when the medication Hepa-Merz Granulat 3000 (details supplied) will be made available under the general medical scheme so that persons can have the cost of this included in the €144 they pay per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37214/17]
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.
916. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if persons suffering from a medical condition which requires Hepa-Merz Granulat 3000 (details supplied) will be considered for inclusion on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37215/17]
View answerThe 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.
917. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the cost his Department incurred in each of the past five years due to debit and credit card payment services and banking fees; the financial institutions to which the payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37226/17]
View answerThere are two Bank of Ireland corporate credit cards for official business purposes currently in use in my Department. The cards are held by my Private Secretary and a nominated officer in my Department's Finance Unit. Until 2017 these cards operated on a no fees basis. Therefore, the costs incurred on these cards from 2012 to 2016 are the standard €120 per year annual card charge and €30 per year Stamp Duty charge.
For current account services for the period in question, a no fees agreement was in operation with Bank of Ireland.
918. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed list of the services available in Cork city and county for children who have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome; the details of supports available to their parents and siblings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37235/17]
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.
919. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health how the pilot community ophthalmic services medical treatment scheme announced in 2008 and currently offered in seven locations is funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37236/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
920. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a nursing registration application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37259/17]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply within 10 working days.
921. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to review its decision to halt funding to the World Health Organization-approved baby friendly health initiative programme here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37268/17]
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; and
- Support at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum;
- 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.
922. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to ring-fence funding for the implementation of the national maternity strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37269/17]
View answerA National Women & Infants Health Programme has been established to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services by bringing together work that is currently undertaken across a number of HSE divisions. The National Maternity Strategy will be implemented on a phased basis and this work will be led by the Programme.
The Strategy confirms that all development funding for maternity services will be ring-fenced and allocated through the Programme. The Programme, with its wide remit and dedicated expertise, will facilitate greater oversight and support for service providers and will ensure the appropriate allocation and targeting of new resources.
€3 million development funding provided for maternity services in 2016 was allocated in line with the Strategy, and included funding for additional staff, including 100 midwives, the development of specialist bereavement teams and for the implementation of the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System. Increased funding of €6.8m being provided for maternity services in 2017 is facilitating the continued implementation of the Strategy.
923. 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. [37270/17]
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.
924. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37287/17]
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.
925. 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. [37293/17]
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.
926. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was ineligible for an emergency medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37299/17]
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.
927. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for cataract surgery at the Mater hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37300/17]
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.
