Written Answers Nos. 683-699
683. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the funding available for a meals-on-wheels service (details supplied) in order to acquire new equipment to provide this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30918/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30921/18]
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, 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.
685. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the review of HSE funding to an organisation (details supplied) that was announced in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30942/18]
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.
686. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been refunded by an organisation (details supplied) in response to his public call on it to do so in July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30943/18]
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.
687. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has funded an organisation (details supplied) to provide therapies at a school, but has allowed it to not do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30944/18]
View answer688. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the purpose for which an organisation (details supplied) spent the money allocated to it for therapies in a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30948/18]
View answer689. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) will be refused permission to provide therapies when the forthcoming in-school therapy project is rolled out in view of the fact that it was involved in denying therapies to pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30950/18]
View answer690. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE therapist will be allowed access to a school (details supplied) for the purpose of providing therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30952/18]
View answer691. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether in view of the failure to provide therapies by an organisation (details supplied) at a school as contracted it should continue to receive funding as a section 38 organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30955/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 687 to 691, inclusive, together.
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
692. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the drug ixazomib for a person (details supplied) will be covered by the HSE; if permissions that may be needed to cover the cost and use of the drug will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30959/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In Ireland the majority of patients’ access medicines through the publicly funded Community Drug Schemes.
In line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE and available through the community drugs schemes, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
As outlined in the Framework Agreement with industry, 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, 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 moneys involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
Following receipt and consideration of a rapid review dossier in January 2017, the NCPE recommended that a full HTA take place. The HSE commissioned a full health assessment on 23rd January 2017.
The company HTA dossier was received by the NCPE on 1st June 2017. The NCPE has published the details of its engagements on the HTA on its website and these are available at: www.ncpe.ie.
The NCPE health technology assessment report was received by the HSE on 18 December 2017 and it was reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group in March 2018 and again in June 2018.
Discussions with the manufacturer in relation to this application are ongoing.
693. 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 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30976/18]
View answer695. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if he will request those hospitals which have introduced an €80 charge for venesection procedures for hemochromatosis patients to cancel this charge in view of the fact that no such charge applies for dialysis and chemotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31016/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 695 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 (Amendment) Act 2013, 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.
There are a number of exemptions to the in-patient charge (including that provided on a day-case basis), as listed in the Health (Amendment) Act 2013:
- A person with full eligibility;
- A woman receiving services in respect of motherhood;
- A child who is no more than six weeks of age;
- A child receiving services in respect of a defect identified as a health examination held pursuant to the service provided under section 66;
- A person receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases prescribed under Part IV of the Health Act 1947;
- A person receiving services in respect of which service the person is deemed pursuant to section 45(7) to be a person with full eligibility;
- A person who pursuant to section 2 of the Health (Amendment) Act 1996, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, has contracted Hepatitis C directly or indirectly from the use of Human Immunoglobin Ant-D or the receipt within the State of another blood product or a blood transfusion.
My Department met with the HSE recently to discuss the provision of venesection services for hereditary haemochromatosis patients. A further meeting is scheduled for later this month.
694. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the importance of the provision of emergency care being available at Monaghan Hospital particularly in the case of a person (details supplied); his plans to enhance emergency services on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31010/18]
View answerThe establishment of Hospital Groups has enabled a better configuration of hospital services with benefits relating to safety, quality, access, cost and sustainable medical staffing. The structure ensures that Hospitals working together in a Group will be able to support each other, providing a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering less complex care, and ensuring that those who require emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in larger hospitals. The Smaller Hospitals Framework focuses in particular on the future role of smaller hospitals and outlines the wide range of services that can be provided within these smaller hospitals.
As a Model 2 hospital, Monaghan does not have a 24/7 Emergency Department, however, in line with the Smaller Hospitals Framework, Monaghan Hospital has a Minor Injuries Unit located on site which provide an important service to the local community.
I am committed to securing and further developing the role of our smaller hospitals with the expansion of services delivered in these hospitals, especially in services such as day surgery; ambulatory care; medical services and diagnostics.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to a review of Medical Assessment Units, Urgent Care Centres and Minor Injuries Units, including the Unit at Monaghan Hospital. Work on this review is progressing in 2017.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has been undertaking a significant and ongoing reform programme, to reconfigure the management and delivery of pre-hospital care services. This programme will ensure a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to additional annual investment in terms of ambulance personnel and vehicles. In that regard additional funding of €10.7m has been made available to the NAS in 2018. This includes €2.8m to fund new developments.
With regards to the individual named, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
696. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will receive an early date for an assessment and scopes at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, based on the referrals made by their general practitioner, who described their case as urgent. [31017/18]
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, 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.
697. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if there have been changes to the recruitment process for public health nurses in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31037/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
698. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to he fact that Rosslare Port is not a designated port for food imports from outside of the EU; his plans to make such a designation at the port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30113/18]
View answerRules relating to the import of food products from outside the EU are laid down in European legislation. Imports of such products can be divided into three categories; products of animal origin, products of plant origin and composite products (may contain materials of both animal and plant origin). Imports of food products coming from countries outside the European Union are subject to checks to verify compliance with European legislation.
In Ireland these checks are required to be carried out at ports or airports approved or designated for this purpose. The decision to seek approval or designation for this purpose is a commercial decision to be made by port and airport authorities, balancing the income to be derived from such imports against the costs of providing the necessary facilities required by the legislation.
My Department is always available for discussions with any port or airport authority interested in having such a facility. The outcome of Brexit negotiations may have implications for the volume of non-EU products imported through ports, including Rosslare. My Department is examining the potential implications of this in the context of its preparatory work for Brexit.
699. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in reviewing the effects of the heatwave with the local authorities, the planting of greater numbers of shade giving, soil protecting trees in public parks and in newer public parks especially will be promoted; if public bodies such a Waterways Ireland and the transport companies will be encouraged to co-operate with local authorities to encourage more tree planting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31013/18]
View answerIn the context of the current climatic conditions, the microclimate beneath a canopy of trees is typically cooler and moister than that in the open, and this makes woodlands and forests attractive places to visit during the current hot weather. Ideally, such places should be part of the neighbourhood, and it is for these (and other) reasons that my Department operates the NeighbourWood Scheme.
The NeighbourWood Scheme, which is funded by the Government under the Forestry Programme 2014-2020, offers financial support for community groups working with local authorities, to develop attractive woodland amenities close to where people live. Funding is available towards the establishment of new neighbourwoods on open ‘greenfield’ sites, the silvicultural enhancement of existing woodland already used as neighbourwoods (or proposed for development as neighbourwoods), and the installation and upgrade of appropriate recreational facilities within certain areas.
These neighbourwoods vary greatly in size and location, from forests in the countryside and on the outskirts of villages, towns and cities, to woodlands located in more built-up areas. The resulting benefits are numerous and far-reaching. Neighbourwoods provide accessible opportunities for recreation and regular exercise, and offer people ‘time-out’ and contact with the natural world and the changing seasons. They also deliver a wide range of environmental benefits, providing vital habitats for wildlife, removing atmospheric carbon, promoting air quality and improving the visual landscape, to mention just a few.
The new neighbourwood amenity at Vartry, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, which was officially opened last month by the Taoiseach and my colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle, highlights the opportunities available to local communities to avail of financial support under the NeighbourWood Scheme. Further details on the Neighbourwood scheme can be found on my Department's website.
