Brendan Smith
Question:405. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the provision of a service (details supplied) will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21094/18]
View answerHealth Services Provision
Questions (405)
Written answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Medical Negligence Cases
Questions (406)
Jackie Cahill
Question:406. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the part of the health budget from which the funding to pay awards of the court for medical negligence cases and other cases brought against the HSE is issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21147/18]
View answerWritten answers
The management of clinical negligence cases taken against the State is delegated to the State Claims Agency which has a statutory mandate to investigate and manage these cases to completion.
Payments are made under Subhead J.5 of the Department of Health Vote 38, details of which are available on Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website www.per.gov.ie/en,rev/. The 2018 budget is €274m.
Nursing Staff Data
Questions (407)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:407. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist inflammatory bowel disease nurses employed; the number employed on the same date in 2017; and the estimated full year cost of increasing the number to 28 in line with international best practice. [21148/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
HSE Funding
Questions (408)
Mick Wallace
Question:408. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided by the HSE to a centre (details supplied) in each year since 2013, in tabular form; if his attention has been drawn to the high turnover in staff at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21149/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (409)
Thomas Byrne
Question:409. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for a person (details supplied) for a medical procedure will take place. [21162/18]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
HSE Funding
Questions (410)
Brendan Smith
Question:410. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional resources will be provided for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21163/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (411)
Robert Troy
Question:411. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason key staff in the ophthalmology department in the Regional Hospital Mullingar are not being replaced (details supplied). [21166/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (412)
Carol Nolan
Question:412. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/18]
View answerWritten answers
Medicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key health service objective. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical evidence.
Lidocaine 5% medicated plasters are licensed for localised relief of post-shingles pain in adults. This is the patch's only licensed use in Ireland. It has been reimbursed in the community drugs schemes since 2010.
Clinical concern arose when, from 2012 on, usage increased significantly, to the point where more plasters were being used in Ireland than in the entire UK National Health Service. In such situations, it is important and appropriate for clinicians to review usage and, in 2016, the HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) reviewed the use of the plasters. The review estimated that only 5-10% of prescribing was for the licensed indication.
From September 2017, following the clinical review, the HSE introduced a new reimbursement approval system for the patches, to support appropriate use and patient care. Under these arrangements, the patient's GP or consultant applies to the MMP for reimbursement approval on behalf of the patient. If an application is refused, the clinician may submit an appeal, making a clear clinical case for the patient, to the MMP. Information for patients and practitioners is on the HSE MMP website at www.hse.ie/yourmedicines.
The decision to introduce a new reimbursement approval process is a matter for the HSE and you will appreciate that, as Minister for Health, I cannot intervene in individual cases. However, I fully support the objectives of the HSE Medicines Management Programme.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (413)
Micheál Martin
Question:413. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in his Department assigned solely or primarily to work on North-South issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/18]
View answerWritten answers
A Principal Officer heads up the International and Research Policy Unit in my Department and is supported by an Assistant Principal Officer, a Higher Executive Officer and Executive Officer. These officers have co-ordination of north south issues included in their area of responsibilities. In addition, individual Units within my Department work on specific north south issues as required.
HSE Funding
Questions (414)
Seamus Healy
Question:414. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will request funding from the HSE towards the establishment of stroke survivor groups in south County Tipperary and the engagement of co-ordinators to facilitate this process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21276/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (415)
Mary Butler
Question:415. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21277/18]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
Hospital Equipment
Questions (416)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:416. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the date by which an MRI scanner will be provided for Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar; and the reason for the long delay in equipping the hospital with the scanner. [21293/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, my Department has asked the Executive to reply directly to you with regard to the provision of an MRI scanner at Mullingar Hospital.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (417)
Lisa Chambers
Question:417. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed at a centre (details supplied) in County Mayo; the capacity in which they are employed; the terms of contact of each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (418)
Lisa Chambers
Question:418. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists employed at a centre (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21297/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff Recruitment
Questions (419)
Lisa Chambers
Question:419. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the staff vacancies at a centre (details supplied) in County Mayo; the type of vacancies available; the length of time the posts have been vacant; when he expects them to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21298/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Data
Questions (420)
Lisa Chambers
Question:420. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended a centre (details supplied) in County Mayo in each of the years from 2015 to 2017, inclusive, and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21299/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (421)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21302/18]
View answerWritten answers
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 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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (422)
Michael McGrath
Question:422. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 23 January 2018, if funding is available for a project (details supplied) in 2018; and, if so, the timeframe for same. [21303/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, my Department has asked the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy with regard to the proposed capital works at An Tuath Nua training centre at COPE, Montenotte, Cork.