Written Answers Nos. 687-710
687. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1468 of 24 July 2018, if he will follow-up in relation to an inquiry regarding TACT (details supplied) and other matters relating to the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45505/18]
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.
688. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 27 June 2018, the status of the HSE’s investigations on the provision of a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45507/18]
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 medicine reimbursement. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a product to be reimbursed in the community drug schemes, it must apply to the HSE to have the product added to the reimbursement list.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, including 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 may be multi-million euro investments on an ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
The NCPE completed an HTA on 29 August 2018 for ocrelizumab for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. It recommended that ocrelizumab not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments.
On 4 October 2018, the NCPE completed its assessment of ocrelizumab for the treatment of early primary progressive multiple sclerosis. It did not recommend reimbursement for this indication.
The HSE has advised that it is in discussion with the applicant in relation to the reimbursement of ocrelizumab. Any decision it makes on reimbursement will be taken in the context of expert advice received and the statutory criteria set out in the 2013 Act.
689. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has had the medication prescribed for them by a general practitioner and consultant restricted in quantity by the HSE and-or medical card managers; if the medical direction being followed by the person outweighs the view and direction of others not medically qualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45517/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
690. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to replace the specialist bariatric nurse who retired from Galway University Hospital in June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45519/18]
View answer691. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to appoint a senior dietician and a clinical psychologist to the bariatric unit in GUH in line with the recommendations of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45520/18]
View answer692. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to develop a new bariatric unit on the site of unit 4 in Merlin Park as agreed by the hospital board in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45521/18]
View answer693. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he plans to take to deal with the consistent deprioritisation of patients who need urgent bariatric surgery leading to specialist surgeons not having access to theatre for these operations thus leading to negative outcomes for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45522/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 690 to 693, inclusive, together.
The query raised is a service matter and I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
694. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an appointment to see a paediatric physiotherapist in County Laois; the length of time they have been waiting; and the number of children waiting zero to three months, three to six months, six to nine months, nine to 12 months and longer than 12 and 24 months, respectively, in tabular form. [45525/18]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
695. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the corrective measures and remedial actions being taken in response to recent inspection report findings by the Health Information and Quality Authority at Letterkenny University Hospital which found repeated incidents of poor governance and on-site leadership in the area of medication safety and risk management; the improvements made in relation to on-site governance arrangements to ensure the quality and safety of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45527/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
696. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the statutory funding or grant aid available to voluntary food banks and soup kitchens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45529/18]
View answerThe Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are responsible for addressing the health and social care needs of the population.
The HSE provides funding to voluntary organisations to provide health and social care services via Service Level Agreements. These agreements do not include the provision of foodbanks and/or soup kitchens.
Funding for food banks is provided by the Department of Social Protection through the FEED programme.
697. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the wait time for outpatient appointments at Mayo University Hospital and Galway University Hospital in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45531/18]
View answerIn relation to the question raised by the Deputy, the following table contains the Outpatient waiting list figures for December 2012-2017 respectively and for September 2018. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised that it only started collecting accurate Outpatient data towards the end of 2012 and therefore, do not have any data in respect of 2010 and 2011.
Outpatient Waiting List Figures
|
- |
0-3 months |
3-6 months |
6-9 months |
9-12 months |
12-15 months |
15-18 months |
18+ months |
Total |
|
Galway University Hospital |
||||||||
|
21/12/2012 |
11,537 |
5,688 |
4,215 |
3,210 |
3,156 |
2,686 |
14,231 |
44,723 |
|
31/12/2013 |
11,039 |
5,783 |
4,698 |
2,428 |
502 |
399 |
639 |
25,488 |
|
31/12/2014 |
12,096 |
6,222 |
4,486 |
4,094 |
2,334 |
1,630 |
3,146 |
34,008 |
|
31/12/2015 |
12,263 |
5,748 |
4,430 |
3,412 |
1,923 |
626 |
867 |
29,269 |
|
31/12/2016 |
12,277 |
6,912 |
5,095 |
3,754 |
2,666 |
1,668 |
2,435 |
34,807 |
|
31/12/2017 |
12,469 |
6,723 |
5,074 |
4,014 |
2,897 |
2,372 |
4,855 |
38,404 |
|
30/09/2018 |
13,151 |
7,243 |
4,493 |
3,805 |
2,849 |
2,290 |
5,772 |
39,603 |
|
- |
||||||||
|
Mayo General Hospital |
||||||||
|
21/12/2012 |
2,734 |
1,351 |
1,051 |
861 |
512 |
514 |
2,163 |
9,186 |
|
31/12/2013 |
2,704 |
1,024 |
684 |
271 |
125 |
58 |
217 |
5,083 |
|
31/12/2014 |
2,657 |
836 |
691 |
473 |
352 |
267 |
458 |
5,734 |
|
31/12/2015 |
2,612 |
797 |
586 |
543 |
432 |
113 |
198 |
5,281 |
|
31/12/2016 |
2,671 |
1,108 |
726 |
614 |
471 |
354 |
977 |
6,921 |
|
31/12/2017 |
2,708 |
1,091 |
710 |
645 |
628 |
569 |
2,170 |
8,521 |
|
30/09/2018 |
2,459 |
1,352 |
785 |
522 |
461 |
363 |
2,354 |
8,296 |
698. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for diagnosis of endometriosis here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45532/18]
View answer701. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the wait time for surgery once a patient is diagnosed with endometriosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45535/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 701 together.
Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures is a priority for the Government.
The HSE in accordance with the advice of the National Women and Infants Health Programme has confirmed that endometriosis is the medical term given following medical testing/diagnosis. The HSE can only provide figures and wait time for specific procedures and/or specialties and not for medical diagnosis.
The HSE further advises that it can only provide waiting times for specific surgical procedures that are used not only in the treatment of endometriosis but within the wider gynaecology specialty.
699. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to supply funding for the training of endometriosis excision specialists here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45533/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
700. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of women here diagnosed with endometriosis by county and the stages of the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45534/18]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
702. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not being provided with a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, mental health assessment despite one having been requested by their parents. [45541/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
703. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if a full medical card covers the cost of a blood test at a general practitioners in which the general practitioner has agreed and signed a patient's medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45544/18]
View answerUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances.
This is a matter of concern for me as it has long been the position, under successive Governments, that no user charges should apply to GP services provided to GMS and GP visit card patients. If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office.
If the patient in question has applied for, but not yet been approved, for a medical card, then he/she would not be entitled to receive services under the medical card scheme until such time as the application has been processed and approved by the HSE.
704. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to staff shortages the ACCESS programme for mental health care for persons in homelessness at Conyngham Road, Dublin 8 has closed to new referrals; the rationale for same; his plans to resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45547/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
705. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the alternative care being offered to homeless persons with mental health care needs following the closure of the ACCESS programme at Conyngham Road, Dublin 8 to new referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45548/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
706. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the full complement of staff required to operate the ACCESS programme for mental health care for persons in homelessness at Conyngham Road, Dublin 8; the number of vacant roles; the length of time each has been vacant, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45549/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
707. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an application for assessment under the community ophthalmic services scheme by a person (details supplied) will be reassessed with a view to granting an assessment in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45555/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
708. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45566/18]
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.
709. 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. [45567/18]
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.
710. 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. [45568/18]
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.
