Michael Healy-Rae
Question:585. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35491/18]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (585)
Written 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.
Haddington Road Agreement Implementation
Questions (586)
Clare Daly
Question:586. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 28 June 2018, if the Health Service Executive, HSE, can provide evidence that the attention of all employees, both in acting positions and not successful in the first round of the Haddington Road agreement, was drawn to circular 17/2013 and the appeals process when it was released; and if so, if he will furnish the evidence. [35493/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (587)
Robert Troy
Question:587. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for an angiogram for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35495/18]
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.
Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation
Questions (588)
James Browne
Question:588. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to designate, define and regulate formally the title of assistant psychologists in a similar manner to physiotherapists, counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35501/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 currently provides for the statutory regulation of sixteen designated health and social care professions. Regulation under the Act is primarily by way of the statutory protection of professional titles by confining their use solely to persons granted registration. The structure of the system of statutory regulation comprises registration boards, a committee structure to deal with disciplinary matters, and a Health and Social Care Professionals Council with overall responsibility for the regulatory system.
These bodies are collectively known as CORU and are responsible for protecting the public by regulating health and social care professionals in Ireland. CORU is also charged with the promotion of high standards of professional conduct, professional education, training and competence among the registrants
The grade of Assistant Psychologist is not an established grade in the Irish healthcare system. This grade has been introduced in the HSE on a two-year pilot basis only. Decisions in relation to the future of the grade will be made on completion of the pilot. Therefore, there are no plans at present to regulate the title of Assistant Psychologist.
Mental Health Services Data
Questions (589)
James Browne
Question:589. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent psychiatrists in each local health office, LHO; the number recommended under A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35503/18]
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.
Home Care Packages Provision
Questions (590)
Hildegarde Naughton
Question:590. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the home care or other supports available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35504/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospitals Data
Questions (591)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:591. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 380 and 381 of 19 June 2018, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35507/18]
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.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (592)
John Brassil
Question:592. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no specific budget for orphan drugs as committed to in the drugs and rare disease policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35512/18]
View answerWritten answers
In Ireland the majority of patients access medicines through the publicly funded Community Drug Schemes.
The 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 including clinical benefit and cost effectiveness and does not include a separate ruleset or budget provision for orphan drugs.
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.
Home Care Packages
Questions (593)
John Brassil
Question:593. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the reason the agreed timeframe of 1 June 2018 has not been adhered to following an agreement on revised contracts for Health Service Executive, HSE, home carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35513/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
Transport Support Scheme
Questions (594, 756)
Joan Collins
Question:594. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when the health (transport support) Bill will be initiated. [35516/18]
View answer
Tony McLoughlin
Question:756. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to replace the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant scheme (details supplied) in view of the fact that it has been closed to new applicants for over five years to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36022/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 756 together.
The Deputies will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013.
My colleague, the Minister for Health and I brought a Memorandum to Government on proposals for a new Transport Support Payment Scheme towards the end of the last Dail session. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided to withdraw the Memorandum from the Cabinet Agenda at the time. A new Transport Support Payment Scheme remains a priority and we intend to revert to Government with revised proposals to reflect the discussions at that Cabinet meeting and further discussions between ourselves, in due course.
It is important to note that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, remains in place. This scheme provides VRT and VAT relief, an exemption from road tax and a fuel grant to drivers and passengers with a disability, who qualify under the relevant criteria set out in governing regulations made by the Minister for Finance. Specifically adapted vehicles driven by persons with a disability are also exempt from payment of tolls on national roads and toll bridges. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responsibility for this particular scheme.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport support schemes available to persons with disabilities in the State and on-going work is being carried out by Government Departments, agencies and transport providers to further improve access to public transport services. Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of public transport for people with a disability.
Nursing Staff Provision
Questions (595)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:595. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a return to 24-7 nursing cover on Bere Island to ensure the future sustainability of the island community will be authorised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35517/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Home Care Packages
Questions (596)
John Brassil
Question:596. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive, HSE, and a union's (details supplied) briefing sessions have not taken place in counties Cork, Kerry and Kildare and western areas of County Wicklow in respect of home carers' revised hours; the areas in which briefings have taken place; the reason some staff have not been advised of their contracted hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35518/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (597)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:597. 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. [35519/18]
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. 598 answered with Question No. 560.
Hospital Deaths
Questions (599)
Clare Daly
Question:599. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if a root cause analysis was carried out by University Hospital Limerick into the death of a person (details supplied) who died in 2017 of sepsis. [35537/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Hospital Mortality Rates
Questions (600)
Clare Daly
Question:600. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if University Hospital Limerick has carried out an audit of its sepsis survival rates and mortality rates to establish if early detection and survival rates of sepsis are in line with best practice. [35538/18]
View answerWritten answers
The National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) in the Department of Health has published a National Guideline on Sepsis ‘Sepsis Management, National Clinical Guideline No.6’ in 2014 which was accredited by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This guideline is available on the National Patient Safety Office (NPSO) page of the Department of Health website.
Ireland was a co-sponsor for the International Resolution on Sepsis, agreed at the World Health Assembly in 2017. The HSE National Sepsis Programme produces an annual report on Sepsis outcomes, which is available on the HSE website.
As this is a service matter, the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Acquired Infections
Questions (601)
Clare Daly
Question:601. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the family of a person (details supplied) was notified that carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae, CPE, was detected prior to his death; and if CPE was recorded on his death certificate. [35539/18]
View answerWritten answers
My sympathies are with the family on the loss of their loved one. As Minister for Health, I cannot comment on individual specific cases, however should the family have queries regarding their loved one's care, they should contact the HSE directly.
Hospital Acquired Infections
Questions (602)
Clare Daly
Question:602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if, following the death of a person (details supplied) in University Hospital Limerick in early 2017, an alert was issued to persons with cystic fibrosis attending the hospital as to the dangers of carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae, CPE, for persons with this condition; and if the HSE or his Department has carried out a risk assessment regarding the risk to other cystic fibrosis patients from the super bug CRE both in University Hospital Limerick and throughout the health service. [35540/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, we have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Deaths
Questions (603)
Clare Daly
Question:603. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the coroner was ever notified that extended spectrum beta-lactamases, ESBL, was a significant factor in the death of a neonate in the maternity unit in University Hospital Limerick prior to 2015. [35541/18]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the information sought by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Question No. 604 answered with Question No. 584.