Written Answers Nos. 1108-1127
1108. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the recommendations made further to the review of the 2016 children's palliative care programme; the number of the recommendations that have been explored in further detail; and the number of the recommendations that have been implemented to date. [37855/17]
View answerThe evaluation of the Children’s Palliative Care Programme, which was published in November 2016, contains 20 recommendations for the further development of children’s palliative care services. The Evaluation noted that the Children’s Palliative Care Programme had made a major difference to the lives of children with palliative care needs and their families and recommended a strengthening of the Children’s Palliative Care Programme to include more children’s outreach nurses, a second consultant paediatrician post with a special interest in children’s palliative medicine and a continuation of the education programme in Crumlin. To date, all but one of the recommendations (recommendation 3) have been explored in further detail, and 17 of the recommendations are being progressed. Some of the most significant areas of progress are highlighted below.
The aim of the children’s outreach nursing service is to co-ordinate seamless continuity of care between the acute paediatric unit, community services and the child’s home. The nurse develops strong working relationships with colleagues within the acute and community settings e.g. paediatric medicine, general practice, community paediatric services, disability services, nursing services, specialist adult palliative care home teams, and voluntary services such as Jack and Jill, Laura Lynn, etc. Two additional Children’s Outreach Nurses were recruited in 2017, one in Donegal and one in Dublin. A third new nurse will be appointed in Kerry in 2018.
The Consultant Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Palliative Care leads the specialist paediatric palliative care team in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Preparations are under way to recruit a second consultant paediatrician with a special interest in children’s palliative medicine who will be based in Temple Street. This post will be funded by the IHF for the first year, and by the HSE thereafter. The Children’s Hospital Group has agreed that the posts will be located in the New National Children’s Hospital when opened.
A business case has been submitted to the HSE’s office for Nursing and Midwifery Service Development for the continuation of the training courses in Crumlin on caring for children with life-limiting conditions. There is a commitment to provide training to meet the needs of community based adult palliative care teams and hospital based paediatric medical and nursing staff.
The IHF and Laura Lynn have agreed to fund a national coordinator for children’s palliative care for a three-year period. Discussions are underway with the Children’s Hospital Group and the appropriate Integrated/Clinical Programmes on the job description and the full integration of the role into paediatric services.
With regard to the recommendation on the provision of adequate and needs based respite services, discussions have commenced with HSE Primary Care and Disability Services on the integration of children’s palliative care with existing and future in-home and out-of-home services.
The HSE is addressing the lack of available and standardised bereavement care in conjunction with the IHF. A scoping exercise is required to identify existing services and gaps in service provision.
As highlighted by the Evaluation, integration with disability services, primary care, complex care, the new National Children’s Hospital and the paediatric clinical care programme is being pursued as a key part of the implementation of the recommendations.
1109. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the most recent agreement made with an organisation (details supplied) in respect of drug pricing; the duration of the agreement; the estimated annual savings to the State; the arrangements in respect of the funding of new medicines; the savings achieved to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37860/17]
View answer1277. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the savings that will accrue to his Department in 2018 arising from the agreement with an organisation (details supplied); and the way in which this is accounted for in the fiscal space calculations. [38963/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1109 and 1277 together.
The new four-year Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines, signed in July 2016, which is available at http://www.ipha.ie/alist/ipha-hse-agreement.aspx is an agreement between the State and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), and is expected to deliver approximately €600 million in savings over the lifetime of the Agreement from IPHA companies and €150 million in savings from non-IPHA companies. These savings have been taken into account in the 2017 HSE National Service Plan.
The new Agreement contains a number of features which represent clear additional value over the terms of the previous 2012 Agreement. The reference basket of countries used to set prices in Ireland has been expanded from 9 to 14 countries and, importantly, includes lower cost countries. For the first time, the Agreement provides for an annual price realignment, which will ensure that the prices of medicines in Ireland reduce in line with price reductions across the reference countries. This will ensure the State achieves better value for money on the cost of medicines as prices in other basket countries are adjusted downwards over time. In addition, the Agreement secured a 30% reduction in the price of biologic medicines when a biosimilar medicine enters the market.
At the date of signing, the IPHA Agreement was forecast to deliver savings up to €750 million from IPHA and non-IPHA companies.
The figures were calculated on a full year basis as follows:
IPHA Savings*
|
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
|
€120 m |
€160 m |
€200 m |
€270 m |
*Figures are rounded and subject to annual review as part of the annual estimates process based on the most up to date pricing data at that time.
The HSE included a savings target of €148m in the National Service Plan 2017 for drug related savings arising from the agreement and the launch of a biosimilar for Embrel in 2016.
As set out in section 6.1 of the agreement the addition of new medicines to the Reimbursement List will be made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and by reference to Schedule 1, the Principle and Processes for the Assessment of New Medicines in Ireland. The new agreement is fully aligned with the 2013 Act.
The HSE has been requested by my Department to provide an update on the savings made up to 1 September 2017 in both the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) and Acute Hospitals and when this work is complete I will arrange to have detail in this regard furnished to the Deputy.
1110. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37862/17]
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.
1112. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is unfair that the drugs payment scheme threshold is the same for an individual person living alone as it is for a family; his plans to change this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37865/17]
View answerThe Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual co-payment on the Drugs Payment Scheme and reducing prescription charges for medical card holders. 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.
1113. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a reply will issue to the proposal raised by a person (details supplied) in relation to providing much needed respite for persons with disabilities in County Louth, in view of the lack of respite services in this county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37866/17]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1114. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if additional funding can be provided to enable a service provider in County Cork to provide additional hours for a person (details supplied) to attend an adult day service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37870/17]
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.
1115. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [37873/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37879/17]
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.
1117. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37899/17]
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.
1118. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners working in Kildare town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37900/17]
View answer1119. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if there will be an increase in the number of general practitioners working in Kildare town in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1118 and 1119 together.
As these questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1120. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the action taken when a general practitioners moves from an area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37902/17]
View answer1121. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the average length of time a town waits for a new general practitioner to be assigned when the previous general practitioner retires or moves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37903/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1120 and 1121 together.
As these questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37909/17]
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.
1123. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the level of funding to implement the national clinical programme for heart failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37917/17]
View answerAs this is a matter relating to services, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1124. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the proportion of spending on cardiovascular health here; the spending relative to the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37918/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1125. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the levels of resources for the implementation of national plans and strategies relating to the national cardiovascular policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37919/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1126. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the collection of reliable epidemiological data on heart failure; his further plans to develop a national audit on heart failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37920/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1127. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a national rapid access community diagnostic service for new onset heart failure; his further plans to make better use of diagnostics, such as natriuretic peptide testing and echocardiography; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37921/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
