Darragh O'Brien
Question:615. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of the drug Ocrevus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30665/18]
View answerMedicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (615)
Written answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an on-going basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I have been informed that Ocrelizumab for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) is currently undergoing a full pharmacoeconomic assessment by the NCPE.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (616)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:616. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30667/18]
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, since 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.
Question No. 617 answered with Question No. 555.
Work Permits Eligibility
Questions (618)
Brendan Smith
Question:618. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the outcome of discussions held with the nursing home sector regarding difficulties in recruiting staff and possible changes to employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30681/18]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the employment permit system rests with my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. In order to amend the policies underpinning the current system, it must be demonstrated that recruitment difficulties are due to shortages and not to factors such as pay and/or working conditions. It is important therefore that a detailed business case, which sets out the necessary data and evidence to justify the need for the nursing home sector to go outside the EEA to find workers, is provided.
Officials from my Department have agreed to meet with Nursing Homes Ireland, along with officials from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (who are currently reviewing the policies underpinning the current employment permits system) to focus on this matter. A date will be agreed shortly.
Elder Abuse
Questions (619)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:619. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no statutory protection for old and vulnerable persons with regard to adult neglect (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30694/18]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the health sector a number of measures are in place, or are being developed, to protect adults at risk of abuse and neglect.
The HSE published its national safeguarding policy and procedures, Safeguarding Vulnerable People at Risk of Abuse, in December 2014. This provides clear guidelines and procedures for staff to follow both in cases of suspected abuse and of neglect of vulnerable adults (including older people). This safeguarding policy was the first such HSE policy to encompass both elder abuse and neglect as well as concerns of abuse and neglect relating to people availing of disability services.
The HSE has established a number of structures to implement its national safeguarding policy. This includes a National Safeguarding Office, an advisory National Safeguarding Committee, Specialist Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each of the 9 CHO Areas, more than 1,500 designated safeguarding officers, and over 41,000 attendances at safeguarding policy and procedures training.
In December 2017 the Government approved the development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector. The policy will apply across the wide spectrum of the health sector, i.e. in the public, private and voluntary sectors, and will be supported by any necessary legislation.
A detailed review of the operation of the HSE’s operational safeguarding policy is at an advanced stage and is expected to be completed soon. The findings of the HSE’s safeguarding review will assist the Department of Health’s development of appropriate policy approaches for the wider health sector.
HIQA and the Mental Health Commission are currently in the process of jointly developing National Standards for Adult Safeguarding, with advisory input from the Department of Health among others.
Together these initiatives should greatly improve the safeguarding of adults at risk of abuse and neglect in the health sector.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (620)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:620. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of CBT assistance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30700/18]
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 Provision
Questions (621)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:621. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30702/18]
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
Mental Health Services Expenditure
Questions (622)
Pat Buckley
Question:622. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a single non-specialised mental health nursing position for out-of-hours care on an annual basis [30703/18]
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
Primary Care Services Provision
Questions (623, 624, 625, 626)
Gerry Adams
Question:623. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for primary care physiotherapy in County Louth; and the length of time these children have been waiting [30711/18]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:624. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the approximate waiting time for primary care physiotherapy in County Louth [30712/18]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:625. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent physiotherapists employed in primary care physiotherapy in County Louth; and the locations in which they treat patients [30713/18]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:626. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there are staff vacancies within primary care physiotherapy in County Louth; and if so, the recruitment that has taken place [30714/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 626, inclusive, together.
As these question(s) relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists
Questions (627, 628, 629)
Gerry Adams
Question:627. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for primary care occupational therapy in County Louth; and the length of time these children have been waiting [30715/18]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:628. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the approximate waiting time for primary care occupational therapy in County Louth [30716/18]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:629. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there are staff vacancies within the area of primary care occupational therapy in County Louth; and if so, the recruitment that has taken place [30718/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 627 to 629, inclusive, together.
As these question(s) relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Occupational Therapy Staff
Questions (630)
Gerry Adams
Question:630. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the qualifications of the HSE staff who are delivering occupational therapy courses for parents [30719/18]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Mental Health Services Funding
Questions (631)
Pat Buckley
Question:631. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing a minimum of one crisis house in each catchment area [30724/18]
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.