Written Answers Nos. 366-385
366. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons living with diabetes for the past five years, in tabular form; the estimated percentage number requiring non-healing wound care per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47781/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
367. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied). [47782/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
368. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to engage with other members of the BeNeLuxA group to negotiate jointly to obtain reimbursement for Spinraza similar to that completed by the Netherlands and Belgium earlier in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47786/18]
View answerIn July 2018, two members of the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy (Belgium and the Netherlands) completed a joint negotiation for the reimbursement of nusinersen (Spinraza). However, this joint negotiation process commenced when Ireland had only opened negotiations with Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg on joining the existing collaboration between these four countries. As a candidate country, Ireland was not notified, due to confidentiality arrangements, that negotiations were occurring for the reimbursement of nusinersen and we were not party to the negotiations and proceedings that occurred.
As the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas has put in place a robust legal framework in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, which gives full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on the reimbursement of medicines, taking account of a range of objective factors and expert opinion as appropriate.
The Act specifies the criteria for making reimbursement decisions, which include the clinical and cost effectiveness of the product, the opportunity cost and the impact on resources available to the HSE.
The HSE received an application for the reimbursement of nusinersen in July 2017.
The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted a health technology assessment on nusinersen and did not recommend its reimbursement at the submitted price.
The application is being considered by the Rare Diseases Medicinal Products/Technology Review Committee and the HSE Drugs Group and is due to be considered by the HSE Leadership Team shortly, following which the final decisions will be notified.
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 ongoing basis. This can lead to protracted deliberative processes, which are usually bound by strict confidentially clauses at the insistence of applicant companies.
369. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [47790/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
370. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health when he expects the HSE service plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47808/18]
View answerAs provided for under legislation (Health Act 2004 as amended), my Department must write to the Health Service Executive to notify it of its allocation for 2019 not later than 21 days after the publication by the Government of the Estimates for Public Services. The legislation further provides that, on receipt of the letter of determination, the Executive has 21 days to prepare and submit its Service Plan for 2019 for my approval. The Health Act allows me to extend the period provided to the HSE to prepare, adopt and submit its Service Plan, if required. The letter of determination issued from my Department on 17 October, 2018 and the HSE are currently in the process of preparing the 2019 National Service Plan. A request to extend the submission date for submission of the NSP to my Department to 30th November has been received from the HSE which I have approved.
Following the submission of the draft National Service Plan, the legislation provides 21 days for me to examine the proposed plan and where necessary to seek amendment to, or approve, the plan. The National Service Plan must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of its approval. Once the Service Plan is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
371. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants that have been recruited to date in 2018; the estimated number to be recruited in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47809/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
372. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the maternity strategy; if they are ahead or behind recommended timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47810/18]
View answerImplementation of Ireland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 - is being led by the National Women & Infants Health Programme on a phased basis. The Programme, which was established to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, has developed a detailed Implementation Plan which I was pleased to launch in October 2017. The Plan is presented under the Strategy's four strategic priorities and details how each of the 77 actions will be implemented, on an incremental basis. The Plan represents another essential building block to provide a consistently safe and high quality maternity service.
In response to your query regarding timelines for the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
373. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47811/18]
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.
374. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on home support programmes in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2018; the projected expenditure for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47812/18]
View answer375. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons approved for home support and awaiting the commencement of the service in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average time between approval of home support and such support being made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47813/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
376. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that there will be a substantial increase in funding for home support in counties Cavan and Monaghan in view of the unacceptable delays in persons being provided with such necessary services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47814/18]
View answerFollowing the recent Budget announcement, the HSE and officials from the Department of Health have commenced the process of developing and agreeing the HSE National Service Plan 2019, which will set out, in detail, the type and quantum of services to be delivered in 2019 including in relation to services for older people.
377. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied). [47815/18]
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.
378. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces to help reduce and eliminate obesity within their respective forces. [47817/18]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the universal implementation of my Department's national Obesity Policy and Action Plan is continuing for the benefit of public health.
A 'Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland agenda.
This Policy, which takes a ‘whole system’ approach, covers a ten-year period up to 2025.
The Department of Health has established an Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group, comprising of officials from a range of other Departments as well as key academic and health agency representation. It is comprised of representatives from the following Departments and Agencies: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Department of Children and Youth Affairs; Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; Department of Education and Skills; Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government; University College Cork; the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; the Health Service Executive (HSE) - including the National Clinical Lead for Obesity; and Safefood.
Sub-groups on Reformulation and on Healthy Eating have been established as initial priority areas for action. Work has commenced on a Roadmap for Reformulation of foods and drinks to reduce sugar and fat content.
In addition, a voluntary code of practice for food and beverages promotion, marketing and sponsorship has also been developed involving representatives from the food industry, advertising sector, statutory agencies, and various Government Departments. This Code was published in February and work is underway to operationalise it.
The OPAP recommended that proposals be developed relating to the rollout of evidence based fiscal measures, including a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks, in support of healthy eating. As the Deputy is aware the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax commenced on the 1st of May. It represents a positive step in our national policy to deal with the problem of obesity. In addition, the development of legislation for calorie posting to support people to make healthy choices is underway by the Department of Health. Currently, a behaviour study on how best to make the posting of calories meaningful to customers and more likely to impact on their behaviours is being finalised.
A HSE national Clinical Lead for Obesity was appointed in 2017. This appointment will be important in further advancing the implementation of many of the recommendations in the OPAP including the development of a national integrated service model for the health and social care of overweight and obese people and for developing quality assurance guidance for obesity services.
Furthermore, under the broader Healthy Ireland agenda, a number of other major initiatives support the Obesity Policy:
- The National Physical Activity Plan is one of the key developments arising from Healthy Ireland, and implementation of that Plan is well underway in collaboration with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and a range of other stakeholders.
- The Healthy Ireland 2018 Communications campaign aims to encourage people to make a small, healthy change under three themes – Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Mental Wellbeing, and we are working with a range of national and local partners to deliver a range of communications and citizen engagement activities.
- The Healthy Ireland Fund, which was initiated in 2017 has supported a range of actions at both national and local level, which aim to support the Obesity Policy and the Physical Activity Plan.
- A national Healthy Workplace Framework is in development, in conjunction with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and a range of other stakeholders. This Framework, which is expected to be published in 2019, will support and foster initiatives to promote employee and workplace health and wellbeing within both public and private sector.
Finally, the question of targeted programmes along the lines suggested by the Deputy are matters for those Departments concerned in the first instance.
379. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 28 June 2018, the waiting lists for mental health supports and services for children in direct provision. [47826/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
380. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 28 June 2018, the waiting lists for mental health supports and services for adults in direct provision. [47827/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
381. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the average number of acute hospital beds available in public hospitals in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by inpatient and day case, in tabular form. [47828/18]
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.
382. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age and resident in County Wexford awaiting an ENT consultation; the number waiting longer than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47837/18]
View answerWith regard to the matter raised, officials of my Department are collating the data requested and will provide it directly to the Deputy.
383. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS appointments that have taken place in hotels or hired offices owing to a lack of accommodation to date in 2018, by county or LHO, in tabular form; the cost for each CHO of renting, hiring or leasing such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47841/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
384. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS appointments provided in each CHO in which one or all of the medical staff providing the service was temporarily redeployed from another CHO to date in 2018, in tabular form. [47842/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
385. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS appointments provided in each CHO at weekends by staff employed during the week in another CHO to date in 2018, in tabular form. [47843/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
