Written Answers Nos. 1008-1027
1008. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 4 July 2017, the location in which each of these accidents occurred, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37568/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1009. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing surcharging by some nursing homes for items that should be covered by the medical card scheme, such as doctor on call, and to the ongoing surcharge to nursing home fees for activities even in circumstances in which a person is unable to partake in such activities; his plans to put an end to these surcharges or to have them calculated in the client contribution as part of the fair deal scheme; the position regarding the interdepartmental working group established to progress the recommendations contained in the review of the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37571/17]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as A Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
- Laundry service.
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, such as social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). An operator should not seek payment from residents for items which are covered by the NHSS, the medical card or any other existing scheme.
Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and the private or voluntary nursing home.
Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns about additional charges should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaints procedure of the private nursing home concerned.
I have met with both Nursing Homes Ireland and Age Action to discuss this issue in detail. In order to improve the transparency of these additional charges, I outlined that a schedule of charges should be provided to potential residents on enquiry to an individual nursing home, rather than at the point of admission. Nursing Homes Ireland undertook to advise their members to do so. I have also recently met with the National Treatment Purchase Fund, the Office of the Ombudsman and HIQA to discuss this matter further.
I have asked the Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group established to oversee the implementation of certain recommendations contained in the 2015 Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to also consider this matter and examine the options that might be available, as part of its ongoing work.
I am committed to ensuring that our older population are protected, that they get the care that they deserve, and that they have access to all of the information they need in order to be able to make an informed decision, especially at such a vulnerable stage in their lives.
1010. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out an IVF scheme for persons with cystic fibrosis genes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37578/17]
View answer1027. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the IVF scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37618/17]
View answer1249. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to support an IVF scheme for couples with cystic fibrosis genes; the measures his Department is taking to support those with CF and help prevent instances of CF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38643/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1010, 1027 and 1249 together.
As the Deputies may be aware, in February 2016 the Health Research Board (HRB) was engaged to conduct a comprehensive review of international public funding models for assisted human reproduction (AHR). The completed HRB evidence review was published in March of this year on both the Department of Health’s and the HRB's websites.
This evidence review examines the public funding mechanisms for AHR in different countries. The review looks at the associated costs and benefits for the funder, provider and patient, the criteria for accessing the public funded service and the basis for these criteria in different jurisdictions. The review does not indicate a recommendation or preference for a specific funding model or for eligibility criteria for accessing funding; rather it outlines the pros and cons of such funding models, the different aspects of models in different jurisdictions, as well as the different rationales underpinning such funding models.
The HRB evidence review will be analysed by officials in my Department in the context of considering policy options for a potential public funding model for AHR treatment. It should be noted that any funding model that might ultimately be introduced would need to operate within the broader regulatory framework relating to AHR.
Work on the General Scheme of an AHR Bill is well advanced in my Department and this comprehensive piece of legislation will encompass the regulation of a range of practices, including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos. I consider this and the development of policy on public funding for AHR treatment to be a priority for 2017.
1011. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of agency locum staff working in the health service, or who are employed directly or indirectly by the HSE; the locations in which they are based, that is, hospital, health facility and so on; the duration of their contracts; their profession and speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37580/17]
View answer1012. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of agency locum consultants in the health service; the locations in which they are based; their speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37581/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1011 and 1012 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on these matters.
1013. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of respite care for a person (details supplied); the length of time they have waited for respite; the timeframe for respite to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37583/17]
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.
1014. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the distance between ambulance and emergency response vehicles deployment posts and the acute hospitals within the national ambulance service, NAS, dispatch areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1015. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the medically-advised waiting time for cataract surgeries compared with waiting times for cataract surgeries nationally and per hospital in the State, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37585/17]
View answerI acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
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 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. The Inpatient/Daycase Action Plan is being delivered through a combination of normal hospital activity, as well as insourcing and outsourcing initiatives utilising NTPF funding. Under the Inpatient/Daycase Plan, since early February, almost 22,000 patients have come off the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List.
The NTPF has advised that to date 5,295 patients have been authorised for treatment in private hospitals under its Day Case Initiative, 2,065 patients have accepted an offer of treatment in a private hospital and that 954 patients have received their procedure. The NTPF has also indicated that 2,496 patients have been authorised for treatment in public hospitals under the Plan’s insourcing initiatives, 558 offers of treatment have been accepted and 104 patients have been treated.
Under the Outpatient Plan, since early February, almost 79,000 patients have come off the Outpatient Waiting List.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
1016. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for cataract surgeries in hospitals across the State in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37586/17]
View answerI acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
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 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. The Inpatient/Daycase Action Plan is being delivered through a combination of normal hospital activity, as well as insourcing and outsourcing initiatives utilising NTPF funding. Under the Inpatient/Daycase Plan, since early February, almost 22,000 patients have come off the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List.
The NTPF has advised that to date 5,295 patients have been authorised for treatment in private hospitals under its Day Case Initiative, 2,065 patients have accepted an offer of treatment in a private hospital and that 954 patients have received their procedure. The NTPF has also indicated that 2,496 patients have been authorised for treatment in public hospitals under the Plan’s insourcing initiatives, 558 offers of treatment have been accepted and 104 patients have been treated.
Under the Outpatient Plan, since early February, almost 79,000 patients have come off the Outpatient Waiting List.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
1017. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries cancelled by the hospital in hospitals located across the State in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37587/17]
View answerCancellation of elective procedures can occur for a variety of exceptional reasons including cancellations because a bed or the clinical team are not available, cancellations by the patient or because the patient may not be fit for surgery at the time.
Maintaining scheduled care access for all patients and managing emergency demand at times is challenging, however all efforts are made to limit cancellations particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1018. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for cataract surgeries at the Mater hospital in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37588/17]
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.
1019. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries cancelled by the Mater Misericordiae University hospital in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37589/17]
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.
1020. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the work of the operational management group concerned with the continuing provision of services following the closure of the ADAPT service in Dublin West; his plans to investigate the reasons for the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1021. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37592/17]
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.
1022. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of a general practitioner in Sneem; the number of persons who have applied for the role; the stage the process is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37593/17]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1023. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a person (details supplied) assessed for additional assistance. [37595/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1024. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive physiotherapy and speech therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37601/17]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
1025. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an urgent hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [37613/17]
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.
1026. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a device (details supplied) under the long-term illness scheme for type 1 diabetes; if his attention has been drawn to the device and the fact that it has been introduced in the UK; if research has been carried out on the amount it could save the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37614/17]
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.
