Written Answers Nos. 342-361
345. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners both in post and vacant in community health care organisation, CHO, area 8 who have signed up to the free general practitioner service for the under sixes scheme; the number in local health office, LHO, area Longford and Westmeath; the number of these that persons in the catchment area of Mullingar can access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41439/17]
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.
351. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners in community health care organisation, CHO, area 4 who have signed up to the free general practitioner service for the under sixes scheme; the number in local health office, LHO, Cork south Lee; the number of these that persons in the catchment area of Mahon can access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41446/17]
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.
357. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners in community health care organisation, CHO, area 3 who have signed up to the free general practitioner service for the under sixes scheme; the number in local health office, LHO, Tipperary north east Limerick; the number of these that persons in the catchment area of Thurles can access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41453/17]
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.
360. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the drug ocrelizumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis; if the drug is being assessed by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE; and if not, if it will be assessed in the near future. [41461/17]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
361. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new 100-bed unit at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41462/17]
View answerThe Capital Programme announced in January 2016 provides for the replacement and refurbishment of 90 public nursing homes across the country over the next five years, including St. Mary's Hospital, Drogheda. Under this Programme it is proposed to deliver a new build community nursing home by 2020. This will replace existing beds where the physical environment requires substantial improvement.
Significant work has been undertaken by the HSE in determining the most appropriate scheduling of projects over the multi-annual period from 2016 to 2021, within the phased provision of funding, to achieve compliance and registration with HIQA. All health care infrastructure developments, including this development, must comply with DPER guidelines and EU directives and will require a lead-in time to complete the various stages. These stages include appraisal, project brief, design feasibility, detailed design, some of which may overlap, the review of costing estimates and finalisation of financing.
