Friday, 7 Sep 2018

Written Answers Nos. 766-784

Home Help Service Data

Questions (766)

Mary Butler

Question:

766. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for home help hours in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36041/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 767 answered with Question No. 761.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (768)

Mary Butler

Question:

768. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an assessment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36045/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Questions (769)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

769. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an application for funding for orthotics by a person (details supplied) will be considered. [36052/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medicinal Products Prices

Questions (770)

Gino Kenny

Question:

770. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund the drug Spinraza, which has been approved here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons with spinal muscular atrophy who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of trying to cover the costs themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36053/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Nusinersen (Spinraza) is for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

An application for the reimbursement of Nusinersen (Spinraza®) is currently being processed by the HSE. No decision has been arrived at as yet as the statutory assessment process is still ongoing.

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.

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 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.

Health Care Infrastructure Provision

Questions (771)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

771. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the status of proposals to redevelop a training facility (details supplied) in County Donegal for adults with intellectual disabilities; if the HSE has formally appraised and assessed an application for capital funding in respect of the project; if so, if approval for the project has been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36056/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly you in relation to this matter.

Long Stay Residential Units

Questions (772)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

772. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if all documents sought by his Department in regard to revised HSE proposals concerning the retention of long-stay residential care beds at community hospitals in County Donegal have now been received; if so, if these revised plans will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36057/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Department of Health is considering the revised HSE proposals concerning the three community hospitals in question in County Donegal which were received in August.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (773)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

773. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if an application for funding submitted by management at Letterkenny University Hospital to reopen the hospital's short stay ward will be approved; if so, when the facility will commence operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36058/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In the light of the Health Service Capacity Review which recommends that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds which could be frontloaded in 2018 and into 2019 and 2020 to alleviate overcrowding in our hospital Emergency Departments.

My Department has received proposals from the HSE, which identify in the region of 600 additional acute beds and 270 additional residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020. These proposals are being considered by my Department.

HSE Reviews

Questions (774)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

774. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 387 of 3 October 2017, if the review carried out within CHO area 1 into in-home and facility-based respite care provision for children with life-limiting conditions and their families, as referenced therein, has now been completed; if the review's findings will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36059/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Paediatric Services

Questions (775)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

775. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children with complex needs in receipt of paediatric home care packages by CHO area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36060/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (776)

Seán Fleming

Question:

776. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when equipment will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36071/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Finian McGrath)

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (777)

Martin Ferris

Question:

777. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment at the South Infirmary Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36072/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Simon Harris)

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 Services Funding

Questions (778)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

778. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if all national clinical leads for the HSE national clinical programmes are freed from conflicts of interest by ensuring that they declare whether they are in receipt of pharmaceutical funding for advisory or other work. [36078/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (779)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

779. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the planned tenure of each hospital clinical director post; and if post holders have exceeded that tenure. [36079/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (780)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

780. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if an annual commissioning plan for additional hospital beds will be brought forward with regard to the national development plan and the health service capacity review. [36080/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Capacity Review indicates that Ireland has among the highest acute bed occupancy rates in the developed world at 94%, significantly ahead of the OECD average of 77%.

The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for a major increase in capacity across the health system, including the development of new dedicated elective-only hospitals in Dublin, Galway and Cork. The aim of these elective-only hospitals is to both increase capacity and to provide for a better separation of scheduled and unscheduled care.

Increasing capacity alone will not address the challenges faced, but on the basis of significant reform over the next 10-15 years, the report recommends an additional 2,600 acute beds by 2031. The NDP provides for the full complement of beds by 2028 - 3 years ahead of schedule.

As a first step toward implementing the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review recommendations, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds which could be frontloaded in 2018 and into 2019 and 2020 to alleviate overcrowding in our hospital Emergency Departments.

My Department has received proposals from the HSE, which identify in the region of 600 additional acute beds and 270 additional residential care beds, to be phased in between 2018 and 2020. These proposals are under consideration by my Department.

The implementation of this proposal will require a mix of capital investment, including a programme of modular builds. A key element of the proposal is the identification of the workforce requirements and the development of plans to meet these requirements. I have now signed off on a submission in relation to these proposals. The next steps in relation to the resourcing of the plans are currently under consideration within the Department.

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Questions (781)

Micheál Martin

Question:

781. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if selective dorsal rhizotomy procedures are available under the treatment abroad fund for persons with cerebral palsy. [36081/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation 883/04, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulation 987/09, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of form E112 (IE) where the treatment is:

- Among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation,

- Not available in Ireland,

- Not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease.

All patients in conjunction with their Irish based public referring hospital consultant have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the State. Each application to the HSE TAS is reviewed individually on its own merits and there are no restrictions on a person making an application to the HSE TAS for review and decision. Each application is for an individual episode of care unless otherwise specified by the consultant on the application form.

Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The presence of a particular illness or condition is not of itself criteria for availing of treatment abroad.

Health Services

Questions (782)

Micheál Martin

Question:

782. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the supports available for persons with cerebral palsy who wish to avail of selective dorsal rhizotomy. [36082/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (783)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

783. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if the provision of a second home help to assist a person (details supplied) will be sanctioned. [36084/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Abortion Services Provision

Questions (784)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

784. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from a group (details supplied); if he will meet the group to discuss its concerns relating to the provision of abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36088/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Minister Harris has agreed to meet with this organisation on 13 September.