Written Answers Nos. 391-414
392. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop and implement a new oral health strategy as recommended by an organisation (details supplied); his views on whether a new national dental health and oral hygiene programme is needed in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39172/17]
View answerThe National Oral Health Policy, which the Department of Health is currently developing, includes a comprehensive needs assessment. It is due to be completed later this year and will inform future provision of oral health services.
393. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health when discussions on the provision of first responder schemes between the National Ambulance Service and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management are expected to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39174/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
394. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be transferred to the rehabilitation centre in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39177/17]
View answerAs 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.
395. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be given an appointment for an assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39179/17]
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.
396. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on his Department's regulations with regard to the cost of so-called extras being levied on residents of nursing homes and their families. [39183/17]
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.
397. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be given a date to have open heart surgery performed in St James's Hospital. [39186/17]
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.
398. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39197/17]
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.
399. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of alcohol consumption statistics to differentiate between the total alcohol consumption per capita greater than 15 years of age of the population and the total alcohol per capita greater than 15 years of age consumption in litres of pure alcohol of tourists visiting here in each of the years 2014 to 2016 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39211/17]
View answerThe Health Research Board (HRB) is the lead agency in Ireland responsible for supporting and funding health research, information and evidence.
The HRB has informed the Department that they do not collate data on alcohol consumed by tourists visiting Ireland. The table below sets out national alcohol consumption figures for those aged 15 and over, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Year |
Ireland's Adult (15+) Per Capita Alcohol Consumption Litres of pure alcohol |
|
2014 |
11.00 |
|
2015 |
10.93 |
|
2016 |
11.46 |
400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39233/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
401. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the transport charges which have been incurred by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39236/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
402. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a knee operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39268/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
403. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); the way this person was missed on the primary school dental scheme; if they can now be urgently seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39271/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
404. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an assessment appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork can be expedited. [39284/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.
405. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if dental services will continue to be delivered at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39287/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
406. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if his Department will facilitate a transfer of a person (details supplied) to a nursing home closer to their family in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
407. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the amount the relaunched HPV awareness campaign is costing; if a public relations company has been contracted to boost this campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39311/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
408. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider removing funding from a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39313/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
409. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a public relations company is involved in the new HPV awareness campaign; if so, the cost of this contract; the duration of the contract; if there was a tender process; the number of companies that applied for the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39314/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
410. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if funding can be provided for a person (details supplied) with special needs for a taxi to transport them to and from a training centre. [39321/17]
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 provision of transport to adults with a disability attending HSE-funded day services is not a core health service, and the HSE endeavours to ensure that all service users access public transport, including rural transport services, if possible. This is in keeping with the principle of mainstreaming with a clear focus on ensuring persons with a disability have access to the normal range of services and participate in community life as far as possible. In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass, so there should be no additional cost burden at an individual level.
However when all other options are exhausted, and a person cannot avail of a day service because they do not have transport to attend, some transport is provided by disability service providers on a case by case basis as resources allow. Service providers are continuously reviewing their transport arrangements to ensure that they are used as effectively and equitably as possible within available resources. This may result in the provision of a reduced quantum of service to the service user, and the HSE does its best to provide transport in certain cases without reducing services. Service providers continue to keep the matter of transport under review.
The HSE has committed to establishing a high level cross divisional working group this year to rationalise the provision of transport and to maximise equitable access and efficiencies. The HSE also intends to liaise with the National Transport Authority and disability service providers to explore ways in which the Authority’s services could assist people with disabilities. The National Transport Authority has a total of 17 Transport co-ordinating units called Local Link which provide safe secure and reliable Public Transport services in local and rural areas of Ireland through a combination of scheduled Public Transport services and door to door services. The HSE plans to explore the opportunities these units may provide to people with disabilities to access day services and participate in the social, educational and economic life of their local communities.
As the remainder of the Deputy's 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.
411. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will approve treatment abroad for a person (details supplied); and if the original approach to the HSE will be approved. [39326/17]
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 HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
412. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place a follow-up care plan for a person (details supplied); and if the HSE will be instructed to engage immediately with this person and their family. [39327/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent comments of a person (details supplied) in which they referred to some of the HPV vaccine campaigns as acts of emotional terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39333/17]
View answerCervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and is linked to high risk Human Papilloma virus (HPV) types. In 2009 the National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended HPV vaccination for all 12 year old girls to reduce their risk of cervical cancer and in September 2010 the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of second level schools.
Unfounded claims have been made of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women - there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine causes long term illnesses.
However, the spread of inaccurate information concerning the safety and effectiveness of vaccines in the media means, that for many the perceived risks of vaccines appear to outweigh the risks of diseases. The claims concerning the HPV vaccine has led to a significant drop in uptake rates from 87% in 2014/15 to 72% in 2015/16 and provisional figures indicate that the uptake rates in 2016/17 fell further to 50%.
This significant drop in uptake rates of the HPV vaccine will have significant consequences for some of the girls who do not receive the vaccine. The Irish Cancer Society estimates that the recent drop in the rate of uptake to 50% will have the following consequences:
- 1000 girls will require invasive therapy to prevent the pre-cancerous form of HPV;
- A further 100 girls will develop cervical cancer and will require life altering treatment; and
- The death of at least 40 girls with cervical cancer who did not receive the HPV vaccine.
It is important that parents receive accurate and credible information to enable them to take a fully informed decision concerning HPV vaccination.
The HSE recently launched their information campaign for HPV vaccination as part of the 2017/18 Schools Immunisation Programme. This launch is part of an extensive media campaign coinciding with the start of the programme in September 2017. The focus remains on providing accurate information in relation to the safety of the HPV vaccine, and to increase the uptake rate in girls as part of the schools immunisation programme. It includes a comprehensive range of materials for parents, schools and medical practitioners.
I fully support the information campaign and its aim to increase uptake of this important vaccine.
414. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the plans, additional funding and resources that are being put in place nationally by his Department and the HSE to better care for the estimated 3,500 persons who will develop Alzheimer's disease each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39336/17]
View answerThe Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014, with the objective of increasing awareness, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention and developing enhanced community based services.
In parallel with the Strategy, the Department of Health and the HSE agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This Implementation Programme represents a combined investment of €27.5m, with the Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m and the HSE €15.5m.
A National Dementia Office has been established in the HSE to drive implementation of the Strategy across health and social care services. The Department of Health chairs a National Dementia Strategy Monitoring Group to monitor and advise on Strategy implementation.
The Department and the HSE are working on a mid-term review of the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy which will identify the achievements so far and set out the further work that is required to implement the Strategy over the next 12 months and beyond. The funding needed for the ongoing implementation of the Strategy can only be considered in the context of the Estimates and Budget process. The mid-term review will assist in identifying further actions required and will be helpful in the context of budgetary considerations.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on the plans and resources aspect of the Parliamentary Question as soon as possible.
