Written Answers Nos. 370-389
370. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the extent to which each of the recommendations of the emergency department task force report has been implemented, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2951/18]
View answerThe Emergency Department Taskforce (EDTF) was convened in December 2014 to provide focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by ED overcrowding. The EDTF Implementation Group, is co-chaired by the HSE Director General and the INMO General Secretary and meets on a regular basis to oversee implementation of the ED Taskforce Action Plan and monitor ED performance.
The HSE also provides the Secretariat for the EDTF and therefore I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly to provide an update on the status of the recommendations of this group.
371. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with physical and sensory disabilities who are on waiting lists for a personal assistance service; the number of hours it will take to clear the backlog; if his attention has been drawn to the lengthy periods persons with disabilities are waiting for a personal assistant service; his views on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2952/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
372. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if provisions will be made to include a glucodrate drink on the medical card scheme; if this treatment will be made available to a person (details supplied) in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2953/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
373. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of the drug Ocrevus to the reimbursement scheme; if a date for introduction has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2957/18]
View answer374. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the request to introduce a pilot reimbursement scheme to allow Ocrevus to be brought to persons as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2958/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together.
The 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.
375. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the policy and process for recruitment of hospital CEOs. [2959/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
376. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to complaints from whistleblowers regarding being penalised after making a complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; if there is a process available for staff who are of the view they are being penalised; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2960/18]
View answerWithout breaching confidentiality, I can confirm I have been made aware of cases where a person who has made a protected disclosure is alleging being penalised or harassed in their workplace as a result of making the protected disclosure.
Government policy is that protected disclosures and the relevant wrongdoings reported therein are taken seriously by public bodies. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 sets out that a worker making a protected disclosure will receive appropriate protections and cannot be penalised as a result of having reported relevant wrongdoings under the Act.
Section 5 of the 2014 Act provides protection for workers who disclose information in relation to the following wrongdoings:
a) The commission of an offence;
b) The failure of a person to comply with any legal obligation, other than one arising under the worker's contract of employment or other contract whereby the worker undertakes to do or perform personally any work or services;
c) A miscarriage of justice;
d) A danger to the health and safety of any individual;
e) Damage to the environment;
f) An unlawful or otherwise improper use of funds or resources of a public body, or of other public money;
g) An act or omission by or on behalf of a public body that is oppressive, discriminatory or grossly negligent or constitutes gross mismanagement; or
h) Information tending to show any matter falling within any of the preceding paragraphs (a) to (g) has been, is being, or is likely to be concealed or destroyed.
A worker must make a disclosure in the manner set out in the Act to be entitled to the protections of the Act. Different standards apply depending on the person or body to whom the worker makes the disclosure.
There is an onus on employers in public bodies under my aegis to assess any disclosure made, to conduct an investigation where warranted and to address all findings of that investigation that require attention. In doing so they must keep the identity of the individual confidential insofar as is possible and of course the person must not be penalised by their employer for reporting relevant wrongdoings. All public bodies, including the HSE have developed policies and procedures for dealing with protected disclosures.
If employers fail to protect the worker or if worker is penalised for making a protected disclosure, Part 3 of the Act sets out the protections and potential redress available. The Department of Public Expenditure's guidance notes that Procedures should include a commitment that penalisation of workers who make a disclosure will not be tolerated and workers who feel that they are being subjected to adverse treatment should report the matter immediately to management. The Procedures should further contain a commitment to assess / investigate such notifications and to take appropriate action (which may include disciplinary action against supervisors and co-workers) where necessary. The HSE includes this advice to its workers on its website. If a complaint is made by a person to the HSE of penalisation contrary to the 2014 Act, then that complaint will be dealt with, having regard to the continued obligation to protect the identity of the discloser under the Act.
In addition, if an employee feels that the employer has penalised him/her for making a protected disclosure, the employee may refer the matter to an Adjudicator of the Workplace Relations Commission. Generally speaking such action by the employer would encompass any action which could be interpreted as penalisation by the employer against the employee for having made a protected disclosure.
The Workplace Relations Commission has published a Code of Practice on Protected Disclosures Act 2014. The Code notes that p enalisation is defined in the Act and includes, for example, suspension/layoff/dismissal, demotion, transfer of duties, imposition of reprimand discipline or other penalty, unfair treatment, discrimination and harassment threat or reprisal. An Adjudicator will hear the case and issue a decision. A decision could declare that the complaint was not well founded, or if declared well founded, it could require the employer to take a specified course of action, including payment of compensation. The decision of an Adjudicator may be appealed to the Labour Court.
This Code is accessible at the following website: https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/Good_Workplace_Relations/codes_practice/COP12/.
377. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health when capital funding will be allocated for the new endoscopy unit, oncology unit, physical medicine unit, physical therapy unit and day procedure department at Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2989/18]
View answer378. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if funding for phase 3C of Naas General Hospital, County Kildare will be sanctioned in view of the extra bed capacity required in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2990/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
Health capital funding was outlined in the recently published Public Service Estimates for 2018 and the HSE is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2018-2021.
The Government is preparing a new National Development Plan for the period 2018-2027, which is expected to be published alongside and in support of the forthcoming new National Planning Framework, to sustain national economic and social progress over the long term.
As the Deputy knows, my priority is increasing capacity to improve access and I will shortly bring the capacity report to Government to feed into this process.
My Department has also referred your questions to the Health Service Executive and requested the HSE to reply directly to you in relation to capital developments at Naas Hospital.
380. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of involuntary admissions of persons to hospitals in which members of An Garda Síochána have been involved in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2995/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
381. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if a procedure for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2997/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
382. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding dental operations for each individual acute hospital or dental facility for each of the past two years, by hospital and facility; the waiting list for dental operations for each such year; the number of operations carried out; the number of persons treated; the number of operations cancelled; the number on the waiting list for children and adults; the waiting times of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
383. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when an MRI in University Hospital Limerick will be scheduled for a person (details supplied) in order for their surgery to proceed. [3022/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
384. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to provide supports for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3025/18]
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.
385. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [3029/18]
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.
386. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting list position of a person (details supplied) who is awaiting a long-term bed at a residential facility in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3033/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
387. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if treatment for haemochromatosis will be considered for inclusion in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/18]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
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.
388. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement the recommendations of the Ombudsman in relation to the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/18]
View answerThe Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) which is operated by the HSE is undoubtedly a vital service for Irish patients as it enables them to access health services in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland where access to those services is generally not available in Ireland. The ability of consultants to access a scheme that can harness the expertise and specialist services in other EU/EEA Member States on behalf of Irish patients is particularly important given the relatively small size of our population.
The recently published Ombudsman Report highlights that in the vast majority of cases the administration of the TAS works well but the Report does however highlight areas where the administration of the TAS can be enhanced and has subsequently made a number of recommendations in that regard.
The HSE has committed to establish a working group, that will include key stakeholders such as patient advocates, in order to progress these recommendations, and will remain in contact with the Ombudsman's office throughout the process. My Department will also liaise with the HSE following our examination of the findings of the Ombudsman's Report, which is currently underway.
389. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect a decision in respect of a medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3121/18]
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.
