Written Answers Nos. 362-381
362. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of the 2010 contract agreed between a company (details supplied) and the national cervical screening programme, CervicalCheck; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43211/18]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to a contract for operational service delivery, and I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
363. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the new guidelines for the fair deal scheme will come into effect; and the detail of the changes to the financial assessment for the scheme and changes to the way in which assets are assessed. [43219/18]
View answerThe proposed policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), to cap contributions from farm assets at 3 years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset, has been approved by Government. I hope to progress the legislation in the Oireachtas in the autumn session. My Department is working on the development of draft Heads of Bill while considering a number of ancillary policy and operational matters which may need to be addressed in the proposed legislation.
The impact of potential changes to the NHSS will be considered in the context of the HSE's 2019 National Service Plan, with changes expected to take effect next year following the legislative process. It is intended that this proposed policy change, the 3 year cap, will be extended to eligible existing participants in long term residential care so that they are not disadvantaged, but that there would be no retrospective recoupment of contributions for those who have paid contributions over and above the 3 year period.
364. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for scoliosis surgery in UCHG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43229/18]
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.
365. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive surgery as required in UCHG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43230/18]
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.
366. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the reason there has only been one scoliosis surgery carried out in UCHG in 2018 in view of the fact that seven persons are on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43231/18]
View answerThe Saolta Hospital Group has advised that scoliosis surgery is currently carried out at University Hospital Galway (UHG). To date this year UHG has carried out one scoliosis surgery and there are currently seven patients awaiting scoliosis surgery at the hospital.
The Saolta Hospital Group advises that the waiting list for spinal surgery is a priority for UHG and work is ongoing to ensure that arrangements are in place in order to facilitate the level of complexity involved in relation to spinal surgery for patients with scoliosis.
At present, Saolta advises that UHG has limited capacity to undertake elective spinal procedures but is actively working on developing the elements required to support the service including inpatient beds, high-end equipment, theatre capacity, and staffing from within existing resources.
367. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the length of time the first person that is on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery in UCHG has been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43232/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
368. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a matter (details supplied); his plans to invest in this unit in County Cavan; the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43239/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
369. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for an escort for a bus in relation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43240/18]
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.
370. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for respite care for their child by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43241/18]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
371. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment from Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43242/18]
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.
372. 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. [43243/18]
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.
373. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the estimated and-or expected HSE overspend for the full year to 31 December 2018; if he will provide the breakdown as opposed to the budget of the areas in which the overspend occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43244/18]
View answer424. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated overrun in health for 2018; the areas of the healthcare system and geographies the overrun is allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43636/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 424 together.
The Department is engaging closely with the HSE to ensure that every effort is made to maximise cost containment and cost avoidance measures and identify a series of mitigating actions that do not impact on the ability of the HSE to deliver on the planned activity levels set out in the NSP 2018. While it is anticipated that there may be some areas that will experience overruns in 2018, it is too early yet to be definitive in terms of the final out turn for the health services at year end.
A number of areas within the HSE are contributing to the overspend year to date.
1. A private patient income shortfall arising from the campaign by the private health insurers to dissuade their policyholders from using their insurance when admitted through an ED
2. Non achievement of the tranche 3 of the VIP programme
3. Higher level of State Claims Agency payouts than budgeted for
4. PCRS driven by costs and demand for drugs (in particular Hi Tech and LTI drugs)
5.Higher level of spend on national reform projects
6. Higher level of spend on service areas (Acute and social care)
7. Other smaller items, such as overseas treatment, winter response
The overspend in the service areas is driven by a number of factors, including non achievement of VIP tranche 2, higher levels and higher complexity of demand, costs associated with meeting national standards, emergency placement over level funded.
The actual overspend in these areas manifests as both overspend in pay and non pay.
A Supplementary Estimate will be provided in 2018 to the HSE, and this funding will carry forward into 2019.
374. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans for a new cancer centre in County Cork in view of An Bord Pleanála's refusal to grant Mercy University Hospital permission for same; the location in which the new centre will be built; when the centre will be open for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43254/18]
View answerCork University Hospital is currently the designated cancer centre for the south-west region. The proposed new building in Cork is a project undertaken by the Mercy University Hospital Foundation; my Department has had no role in the development of this project.
375. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the meetings and dates on which he met with stakeholder organisations and professional bodies (details supplied) in relation to the implementation of termination of pregnancy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43255/18]
View answerThe following meetings took place regarding the implementation of the expanded service for termination of pregnancy:
- 1 June —Terminations for Medical Reasons Ireland;
- 14 June — Opposition Members Briefing;
- 13 September — START (Southern Taskgroup on Abortion and Reproductive Topics);
- 2 October — Stakeholders Meeting (HSE, Medical Council, RCPI, ICGP, IOG, IFPA, START, and Well Woman's Clinic)
- 2 October — National Women's Council of Ireland.
I am pleased to say that Dr. Peter Boylan has been appointed by the HSE to assist with their preparations with the implementation of arrangements for termination of pregnancy and related services. Dr. Boylan's role will include consultation with key stakeholders, in particular he will play a key role in liaison with medical colleges to ensure robust clinical guidelines are developed to support the delivery of the service.
376. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason the timeline for rolling out the HPV test by October 2018 was missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43256/18]
View answerI gave approval earlier this year for a switch to HPV testing as the primary cervical screening test, with cytology as a reflex test. This change will improve the sensitivity of testing, reducing the number of false negatives arising, although it is important to be clear that false negatives will always be part of any cervical screening programme.
This change in testing remains a priority, but it must be implemented in a way that prioritises quality and safety. Work on this complex project is well under way, with the intention of making the switch to HPV screening as soon as possible. Funding to implement the switch, and to extend HPV vaccination to boys subject to completion of the Health Technology Assessment currently under way by HIQA, has been allocated in Budget 2019, underlining the Government’s commitment to these essential projects.
377. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a long-term stay bed will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [43268/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
378. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the contract situation between the HSE, his Department and a laboratory (details supplied); if a new laboratory will be chosen to test smear test slides instead of the laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43282/18]
View answerScreening saves lives. CervicalCheck has been successful in reducing cervical cancer rates in Ireland and, as Dr Scally stated in his report on the issues relating to CervicalCheck, which was published on the website of my Department on 12 September, continuation of the screening service in the coming months is of crucial importance. Dr Scally's report provided welcome reassurance about the quality management processes in the laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck, and confirmed that he found no reason why the existing contracts for laboratory services should not continue until the new HPV regime is introduced.
The HSE has now advised that Heads of Agreement have been signed with the laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck, to extend their contracts pending the introduction of HPV testing as the primary screening test. This allows for the continuation of the service without interruption.
The switch to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism for the CervicalCheck programme will involve a reconfiguration of the laboratory work involved, and will be subject to a tendering process for any work carried out outside the public sector.
