Wednesday, 11 Oct 2017

Written Answers Nos. 133-152

Maternity Services

Questions (133)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding maternity care in a situation in which a person that has opted for a level of care, private or semi-private, finds herself delivering at a premature date; if the baby inherits the level of care of the mother or if they can be treated as a public admission, therefore alleviating admission costs from the mother (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43102/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Private health insurance can cover some or all of the costs associated with maternity services, depending on the level of insurance cover held. It is the responsibility of the insured person to review their level of cover to ensure they are aware of the specific terms and conditions of their particular policy.

As the question relates to the delivery of maternity services, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my private office, who will arrange to follow-up the matter on your behalf.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (134)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

134. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans for a primary care centre in Ballymahon, County Longford. [43103/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Parliamentary Questions

Questions (135)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

135. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure more expedient replies to Parliamentary Questions from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43104/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department consistently answers more Parliamentary Questions than any other. A significant number of these, as they relate to service matters or individual queries are referred to the HSE for answer. Questions referred to the HSE should be answered within 10 working days.

To October 5, this year 9,024 PQs were received by the Department, 6,342 of which were referred to the HSE. 74% of referred PQs have been answered within the 10 working day timeframe. I can assure the Deputy that the HSE is aware of its responsibility to provide comprehensive, accurate and timely responses to parliamentary questions.

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Questions (136)

Clare Daly

Question:

136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if a meeting will take place between the head of the corporate pharmaceutical unit in the HSE and a company (details supplied) in order to approve kuvan for those with PKU. [43117/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (137)

Martin Ferris

Question:

137. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment at the urology department at Mercy hospital, Cork. [43118/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (138)

Barry Cowen

Question:

138. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [43119/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (139)

Joan Collins

Question:

139. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied). [43121/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (140)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

140. Deputy Timmy Dooley 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. [43124/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Questions (141)

John Curran

Question:

141. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health further to the intervention by the HSE to ensure that the cohort of persons receiving Respreeza would continue to do so for an additional initial period of two weeks, the long-term arrangements being made to ensure the continuation of this treatment for this group of persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43140/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Medicinal Products

Questions (142, 143)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

142. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 695 of 27 September 2016, the uptake in the number of persons trained to administer adrenaline auto-injectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43147/17]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

143. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that all teachers have a basic understanding of administering adrenaline auto-injectors in emergencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43148/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.

In October 2015, my predecessor, Minister Leo Varadkar T.D., signed regulations which allow certain prescription-only medicines, including adrenaline auto-injectors, to be administered by trained members of the public in emergency situations. It is important to note that these regulations do not in any way change the existing ‘good Samaritan’ rule, which allows any member of the public to assist a person in distress to administer a medicine which has been prescribed to them. Equally, these regulations in no way diminish the responsibility or the importance of people continuing to carry the medicines that they need to manage their own health needs.

In order for an organisation to avail of an emergency medicine without the need for a prescription, they must first register with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and undergo a training course accredited by the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC).

This register is publicly available through the Emergency Medicines Portal on the HPRA website and can be found at: www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/emergency-medicines/emergency-medicines-search/results.

There is currently a total of 14 organisations, and 21 accountable persons, listed on the register for Emergency Medicines. Each organisation may register more than one site and more than one accountable person.

Prescription only medicines (POMs) are so designated because there are safety concerns about these medications. The administration of a POM should not be done lightly and should only occur following appropriate training. A decision to undergo training on the use and administration of an emergency medicine rests with individual organisations.

Schools can obtain additional information on the management of anaphylaxis from organisations such as the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which has published guidelines for teachers on its website; one section of these guidelines deals specifically with the management of anaphylaxis at school. The provision of training to teachers is a policy matter for the Department of Education and Skills.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (144)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

144. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will have eye surgery in University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43160/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider 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.

Hospital Charges

Questions (145)

Alan Kelly

Question:

145. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons with haemochromatosis require several venesections per year and are paying €80 per venesection; his plans to provide free venesections to persons that have haemochromatosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43161/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The €80 charged referred to by the Deputy is the statutory daily charge (up to a maximum of €800) where a person has been referred to a hospital for an in-patient service, including that provided on a day case basis. Where venesection is classed as a day case procedure, and is not carried out in an out-patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies. Medical card holders are exempt from this charge.

Also, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) operates a haemochromatosis clinic in the Stillorgan Blood Donation Clinic and sees approximately 600 patients there annually. The IBTS has also commenced provision of a programme for hereditary haemochromatosis patients in their D'Olier Street, Dublin and St. Finbar's Hospital, Cork clinics. These clinics provide phlebotomy free of charge to patients who have a prescription from their treating clinician.

Question No. 146 answered with Question No. 125.

Ambulance Service Funding

Questions (147)

Brendan Smith

Question:

147. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 435 of 11 July 2017 and 789 of 11 September 2017, when additional resources will be provided to upgrade and improve ambulance services in view of a further incident (details supplied) of a totally inadequate response time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43172/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospital Services

Questions (148)

Brendan Smith

Question:

148. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 3 October 2017, the number of persons availing of this service in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Cancer Screening Programmes

Questions (149)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 21 September 2017, the reason for the poor performances for persons categorised as urgent being triaged within two weeks in breast health clinics (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that they meet the national target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The eight Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics, plus the satellite service which operates in Letterkenny University Hospital, provide high quality diagnostic services to patients with symptoms indicating possible breast cancer. The national target for Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics is that 95% of all urgent referrals are offered an appointment within 10 working days of the date of receipt of a referral letter. While many hospitals are meeting the national urgent breast target, there are a number of reasons why hospitals may miss the target on a monthly basis, including capacity issues, recruitment issues and access to necessary support services.

A review of Cancer Rapid Access Clinics and Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics across all cancer centres has been undertaken by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme. A Rapid Access Clinics Improvement Plan was prepared following this review. The plan identifies 26 recommendations to be implemented across the 24 Rapid Access and Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics, with the aim of improving performance against the national targets.

Implementation of the recommendations is underway. The National Cancer Control Programme will continue to work closely with the broader HSE, the Hospital Groups, the individual hospitals and the clinical teams in this regard. Performance of the three breast cancer services to which the Deputy refers will be addressed as part of this process.

Health Strategies

Questions (150)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of an updated child health programme to replace the best health for children programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43193/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A significant amount of work has been undertaken by the Health Service Executive in recent years to update the child health programme which is now called The National Healthy Childhood Programme. The new programme takes account of notable developments in newborn screening, emerging evidence on developmental surveillance and increased evidence of effective health promoting interventions, as well as the changing policy and strategic context set out in recent policy documents such as:

- Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025;

- Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures - The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020; and

- Creating a Better Future Together - The National Maternity Strategy 2016 - 2026.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with more detailed information on the Programme.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (151)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rates of uptake of the BCG vaccine for each local health office and HSE area; the reason for the low uptake in HSE west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43194/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

There is currently a worldwide shortage of BCG vaccine. The vaccine has not been available in Ireland since the end of April 2015. Consequently, BCG vaccination clinics in HSE Clinics and Maternity hospitals have been postponed.

There is only one licensed supplier of BCG vaccine to Ireland. The manufacturer has had difficulties in the production of the BCG vaccine. Since this problem became apparent, the HSE National Immunisation Office has been in regular contact with the manufacturer to ascertain when the vaccine might be available. The HSE also asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which licenses and regulates all human medicines in Ireland, to source an alternate supplier of the BCG vaccine. Efforts have been made to find a company who can provide the vaccine for use in Ireland which satisfies all the HPRA requirements on safety and efficacy but no suitable alternative BCG product has been found.

The supplier has indicated that supplies of the vaccine are not expected to be delivered into Ireland until early 2018. When there is confirmation of the date of new supply, the HSE will be guided by the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee on its administration.

Young Farmers Scheme Eligibility

Questions (152)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

152. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the terms and conditions of the national reserve and young farmers schemes 2017 with regard to the maximum area eligible for entitlements; the supports that will be in place for young farmers that will exceed the maximum area eligible for entitlements based on the opinion that the eligible area would match that of 2015; if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43040/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Applications under the 2017 National Reserve are currently being processed and payment to successful applicants is scheduled to commence in early December 2017 following the payment of the balancing payments under the Basic Payment Scheme. These balancing payments  are due to commence on 1st December.  The final allocations per applicant under the 2017 National Reserve will not be determined until all applications have been processed and the amount of funding required for all successful applications has been finalised.