Written Answers Nos. 354-371
354. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of new buildings and services at Youghal and Midleton community hospitals, respectively; the progress over the past 12 months; his plans for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48910/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of capital projects in the health services, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.
355. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment for a cataract operation will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and the reason they have not been called to date as promised at the time of their assessment [48914/18]
View answer
356. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when a place will be made available for a person (details supplied) in a community home in Kilkenny city; his views on whether persons fitting this profile should be given priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48916/18]
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.
357. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding paid to an organisation (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for services in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason a sustainable long-term care plan was not put in place; the reason the family has had no support services for the past 11 years; if a long-term plan for funding will be put in place by the HSE in agreement with the person's mother; and if the matter will be expedited. [48917/18]
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.
358. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [48918/18]
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.
359. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of times since 2012 the Health Insurance Authority has reported that overcompensation has occurred through the risk equalisation scheme; the amount of overcompensation that was estimated; the steps that were taken to rectify the situation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48923/18]
View answerSection 7F of the Health Insurance Act 1994, as amended, sets out the detailed rules that apply to the Health Insurance Authority in assessing whether an insurer, that is a net recipient from the Risk Equalisation Fund, has been overcompensated by the Risk Equalisation Fund.
No insurer has been assessed by the Health Insurance Authority as being overcompensated since the legislation was enacted in 2009.
360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to tackle muscle dysmorphia also known as bigorexia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48926/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
361. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for a person (details supplied) to see an occupational therapist. [48929/18]
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.
362. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans for a residential home to be opened seven days a week (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48930/18]
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.
363. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a new home care staff member will be assigned to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48934/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1761 of 24 July 2018, the position regarding service provision at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48950/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have again asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the report of the investigation conducted by a person (details supplied) into allegations regarding children’s dental services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48955/18]
View answerAs the report was commissioned by the HSE, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
366. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the specific contracts available to staff employed by the child and adolescent mental health services in south west County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48971/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
367. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the wait time for women waiting on smear test results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48975/18]
View answer368. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of smear test slides waiting to be viewed; the reason for the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48976/18]
View answer369. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking in cases in which slides have not been read in time and therefore become unreadable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/18]
View answer370. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of CervicalCheck slides that have become unreadable since the beginning of the CervicalCheck scandal to date due to being left too long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48978/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 367 to 370, inclusive, together.
On 1 May this year, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considers that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. CervicalCheck laboratory activity has since been significantly above normal levels. This is as a result both of these out of cycle smears and increased uptake generally, and has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. This is a priority concern for my Department.
The HSE has advised that, currently, receipt of results of smear tests may take up to 20 weeks, that it may take longer in a small number of cases, and that it is working closely with laboratories to address this issue.
Smear test samples must be sent to the laboratory and made into slides within six weeks of the smear test date. After six weeks, the sample is deemed expired and cannot be processed. In some cases, the increased volume has resulted in a delay transferring samples to slides. The HSE has advised that, since 30 July 2018, the majority of smear test samples are now transferred to slides within the six-week timeframe. The HSE has further advised that, in October 2017, there was a 0.25% rate of expired samples and vials. For the same period in 2018 the rate was 0.29%. Additionally, in some cases a sample may be insufficient.
Although every effort is made to avoid these situations from happening, it is inevitable that cervical screening programmes will sometimes encounter these issues. In such cases, a woman and her GP are advised of the need for a repeat test in three months’ time by letter from CervicalCheck.
In regard to the specific details sought in relation to numbers of slides, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
371. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the cost of prescribed medicinal cannabis for a person (details supplied) with multiple sclerosis will be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48981/18]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Sativex is not currently reimbursed in the community drug schemes. The HSE received a new application for the reimbursement of Sativex in February 2018. A rapid review by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics was completed on 3 April 2018 and a full pharmacoeconomic assessment was recommended to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of Sativex compared with the current standard of care. The HSE commissioned a full pharmacoeconomic assessment on 20 April 2018.
Medical practitioners and patients are encouraged to consult the Department of Health website for information on cannabis-based products and authorised cannabis-based medicines, including clinical guidance on the use of cannabis-based products. This information can be found at the following website: health.gov.ie/blog/publications/cannabis-for-medical-use/.
