Written Answers Nos. 715-736
715. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of section 39 agencies under the Health Act 2004; the number of employees in these organisations; and the number of whole time equivalents. [54568/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
716. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the allocation in 2017 of funding for salaries for section 39 organisations. [54569/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
718. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an appointment with the local CAMHS service. [54576/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
719. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for occupational therapy. [54577/17]
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.
720. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the budget allocation in the 2018 HSE service plan for the Cork University Maternity Hospital obstetrics and gynaecology service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54578/17]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that additional funding is being made available for Cork University Maternity Hospital in 2018. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the specific details requested.
721. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of women currently waiting for inpatient and outpatient gynaecology appointments in Cork university maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54579/17]
View answerThe NTPF published the most recent waiting list figures for Dec 2017 on 12 January. This information is available on the website www.NTPF.ie.
The total number of people on the IPDC Gynaecology waiting list in Cork University Maternity Hospital is 425.
The number of people on the Outpatient Gynaecology Waiting List for Cork University Maternity Hospital is 3,790.
722. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on the reimbursement of a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54581/17]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In reaching a decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may have been sought by the HSE, including, for example, advice from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The NCPE Health Technology Assessment was completed in July 2017 estimated on the basis of the price originally proposed that a budget of in excess of €65 million over 5 years would have been required to support reimbursement of palbociclib (Ibrance). They did not recommend reimbursement.
The HSE has engaged with the company in question in relation to pricing and budget impact and the outcome of those commercial discussions is being carefully considered.
The HSE assessment process is ongoing and the HSE will take into account any relevant expert advice when making its decision, in line with the 2013 Act.
723. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the status of a position at Letterkenny University Hospital (details supplied); if the current holder of the post is employed on a locum or permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54582/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
724. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 12 December 2017, if the action being taken on foot of the correspondence received has been communicated to the person by his Department or the agency under the remit of his Department; and if the fact of action being taken on foot of the correspondence received has been communicated to the person concerned. [54583/17]
View answerThe person concerned is aware of the action being taken by the agency concerned on foot of the correspondence received.
725. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, PPCI, service at university hospital Waterford; the way in which this service will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54585/17]
View answer727. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his views on whether extending the opening hours of the cath lab at university hospital Waterford for PPCI requires an additional laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54587/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 725 and 727 together.
Funding of €0.5 million was allocated in 2017 for cardiology services in University Hospital Waterford (UHW), as recommended in the Herity report, to increase planned cath lab sessions by 20%. I requested that the HSE maximise the benefit for patients from the €0.5m funding in respect of both additional sessions at the existing cath lab and the temporary use of a mobile cath lab for a specific period. The mobile cath lab has been deployed for the short term provision of cardiac diagnostic angiogram services on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford from 2 October 2017 for a period of 20 weeks and is currently providing a scheduled diagnostic angiography service on a 3 day per week basis.
The HSE has advised that the process for the recruitment of staff in order to support extension of the operating hours of the existing cath lab by 20%, as recommended in the Herity report, has commenced with the increase in hours of the existing cath lab to come into effect once the contract for the mobile cath lab ceases (after 12 February, 2018).
Furthermore, in July 2017, I agreed to expedite the commencement of the national review of all PPCI services, encompassing the South East region. One of the guiding principles for this review is to strive to provide a PPCI service that can deliver clinical outcomes on a par with international standards. The Steering Group for this National Review has now been established and the first meeting will occur on 31 January 2018. The Chair of the Steering Group is Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University. The National Review aims to report to the Minister within 12-18 months of its first meeting. The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services will examine all activity in cardiac catheterisation laboratories nationally. This will include the activity data from the mobile lab in UHW.
726. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hours and days the cath lab at University Hospital Waterford was out of commission or not in use during the normal opening hours for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Interventio, PPCI, (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the reason for it being out of commission or not in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54586/17]
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.
728. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons at University Hospital Waterford waiting for stented procedures or intervention procedures in each of the years 2015 to 2017, by year, month, volume and wait times in bands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54588/17]
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.
729. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if an examination has commenced on compliance with consultants' contracts in which they work part of their time in HSE publicly-funded hospitals; the arrangements in place to ensure that consultants who are expected to work a certain amount of hours actually do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54595/17]
View answerSection 20 of the 2008 Consultant Contract gives the employer of the consultant full authority to take all necessary steps to ensure a Consultant's practice shall not exceed the agreed ratio of public to private practice. Responsibility for reporting individual consultant compliance was devolved to the Hospital Groups in 2014. The main reason for this is to ensure local accountability. Hospitals know their consultants and the work they deliver.
I have asked the HSE to ensure that more robust measures are in place in 2018 to make sure all consultants comply with their contractual obligations. My Department is working closely with the HSE to find a solution to ensure compliance is monitored more effectively and remedial action pursued where required.
On 21 December the Director General advised the Secretary General of the structures currently in place in the context of the HSE's Performance Accountability Framework with monthly performance meetings between the Hospital Groups and their individual hospitals and the expectation that Groups review public/private mix and consultant contract compliance as part of the monthly engagement. He also advised that further assurance processes with the Groups were being put in place to confirm contract compliance, including written annual confirmation that: reports are provided to consultants monthly, there is appropriate review by the clinical director, processes are in place locally to determine compliance with contracted hours.
My Department has also engaged with the HSE in response to some broader issues which the HSE has raised concerning oversight of the contract, including the impact of the Health (Amendment) Act 2013 and the need for hospitals to collect private patient income. However, the HSE has already been advised that those issues do not affect the implementation of measures required to ensure robust governance and monitoring of compliance with the contractual provisions applicable to consultants engaging in private practice, with remedial action pursued where required. A meeting between my Department and the HSE on the immediate requirements regarding monitoring of compliance at the individual consultant level and the broader issues is to take place shortly.
I have also established an independent group, chaired by Dr. Donal de Buitléir, to examine the impact of separating private practice from the public hospital system. This Group has now commenced its work and is to conclude by the end of next summer. This was one of the key recommendations of the Sláintecare Report.
730. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that counties Sligo and Leitrim are suffering due to the fact that there is no staff cover for essential services such as speech therapy, paediatric physiotherapy and occupational therapy in situations in which a key staff member is out on maternity leave or sick leave or has moved to another position (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54600/17]
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.
731. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if the clinical lead consultant psychiatrist for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, in counties Sligo and Leitrim is only available for the service one day per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54647/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
732. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment for surgery at Letterkenny University Hospital; if, in the event that a cancellation should arise, an appointment will issue to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54648/17]
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 the Deputy directly.
733. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting admission to County Wexford nursing homes; the average waiting times for persons awaiting admission to nursing homes in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54654/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
734. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his Department will make up the shortfall in funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) by the HSE lottery grant scheme in 2017 which will prevent it from implementing projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54655/17]
View answerMy Department no longer operates a National Lottery Scheme and the Minister for Health has no role in relation to the Health Service Executive's National Scheme.
735. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will employ medical professionals who specialise in Lyme disease in view of the fact that the number of persons diagnosed with the disease has increased over the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54656/17]
View answerAs the hiring of medical professionals is a service matter, this PQ has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
736. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason venesection and phlebotomy therapy is a free treatment in St James's Hospital, Dublin for haemochromatosis patients and not a free treatment in all hospitals; his views on whether this is discriminatory based on location; his further views on whether there is no justification for persons to pay an €80 fee for a 15 minute outpatient procedure which prevents organ damage and saves lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54658/17]
View answer749. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the charge for venesection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54738/17]
View answer751. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will review the recently introduced charge of €80 imposed by a number of hospital groups on persons with haemochromatosis who require venesection with a view to reversing the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54748/17]
View answer850. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to reimbursing the €80 charge that persons with haemochromatosis must pay if they do not hold a medical card for venesection procedures; if the petition from persons who are anxious for the charge to be removed will be responded to; if further consideration will be given to adding haemochromatosis to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55038/17]
View answer864. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a charge of €80 has been imposed on haemochromatosis patients requiring venesection; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that some haemochromatosis patients may need up to four venesections per month; the justification for this charge; his plans to abolish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55073/17]
View answer968. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide services for haemochromatosis sufferers; his further plans to provide funding and support to implement the recommendations of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1090/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 736, 749, 751, 850, 864 and 968 together.
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services, including consultant services, and to public out-patient hospital services. Under the Health (In-Patients Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, a person who has been referred to a hospital for an in-patient service, including that provided on a day case basis, will have to pay the statutory daily charge, currently €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 per year. On this 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.
My Department is currently examining arrangements for patients with Hereditary Haemochromatosis in the context of the recommendations set out in the HSE's 'Model of Care Report for Therapeutic Phlebotomy for Patients with Hereditary Haemochromatosis'.
