John Curran
Question:334. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the status of the guidelines and strategic statement on hidden harm. [52697/18]
View answerSubstance Misuse
Questions (334)
Written answers
The Government's strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025.
The strategy acknowledges that substance misuse affects not only those who have developed a drug problem, but also their families and communities. Children of parents who misuse substances are more likely to be at a higher risk of physical, psychological and emotional harm.
Action 1.3.9 of the strategy is to mitigate the risk and reduce the impact of parental substance misuse on babies and young children. The HSE and Tusla Child and Family Agency are the lead agencies in delivering this action.
The HSE and Tusla Child and Family Agency have established the national hidden harm project to inform service planning and improve services for children living with and impacted by parental problem alcohol and other drug use. This project has resulted in a Strategic Statement: ‘Seeing Through Hidden Harm to Brighter Futures’ and a ‘Hidden Harm Practice Guide’
I and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone TD, will launch both documents in January 2019.
Substance Misuse
Questions (335)
John Curran
Question:335. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of opioid substitution treatment outside prisons. [52698/18]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE maintains the Central Treatment List, which is a register of all clients in receipt of opioid substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Ireland.
As at 30 September 2018, the latest month for which figures are available, 9,666 individuals were in receipt of opioid substitution treatment outside of the prison setting.
Question No. 336 answered with Question No. 330.
Drug Treatment Programmes Data
Questions (337, 338, 339)
John Curran
Question:337. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time from opioid substitution assessment to exit from waiting list or treatment commenced. [52700/18]
View answerJohn Curran
Question:338. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who sought drug treatment and rehabilitation services by county or local health area in each of the past five years and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52701/18]
View answerJohn Curran
Question:339. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who accessed drug treatment and rehabilitation services by county or local health area in each of the past five years and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52702/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces
Questions (340)
John Curran
Question:340. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the budget for drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation projects in each of the past five years; the projected budget for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52703/18]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE's National Service Plan 2018 sets out the type and volume of health and social care services to be provided by the Health Service Executive in 2018, having regard to the funding allocated.
The HSE's allocation to Task Forces in 2018 is in the region of €22.6 million, this includes one off funding of €0.25 million. In addition, Task Forces are being consulted by the HSE on the provision of €0.71 million in one off funding for priority projects and services in CHO areas in 2018.
In 2018 over €5.25 million was allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces by the Department of Health under the 'Drugs Initiative'. It is expected a similar amount will be allocated in 2019. Core funding for Drug and Alcohol Task forces has remained the same for the past five years.
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will be notified of their 2019 funding allocations as soon as the HSE National Service Plan for 2019 has been approved by the Minister for Health.
Implementing the health-led national drugs strategy continues to be a Government priority. The HSE national service plan for 2019 prioritises funding for integrated treatment services for co-occurring mental health and substance abuse concerns, improved healthcare services for people who are homeless and have addiction needs and greater access to services for those affected by drug and alcohol addiction in hospitals and communities.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to its budget for drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation projects in each of the past five years.
Hospital Staff Data
Questions (341)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:341. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the CEO or equivalent of each hospital and each hospital group on 1 January 2014, 1 January 2015, 1 January 2016, 1 January 2017, 1 January 2018 and 1 December 2018; the number of these who received their appointment following an open competition; the number holding the position in an acting and or temporary capacity; the appointed persons on each date who subsequently have been appointed to other roles within the HSE or hospitals; the details of such subsequent appointments; and if these subsequent appointments were the result of an open competition in each public and voluntary hospital, in tabular form. [52704/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
Assisted Decision Making
Questions (342)
John Brassil
Question:342. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the decision support service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52705/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 which provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties, is the policy responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality. I understand that the Deputy also has a parliamentary question on the Decision Support Service (DSS), which was established by the 2015 Act and is located within the Mental Health Commission, down today to the Minister for Justice and Equality who sets out the position in relation to the DSS.
I should add that the commencement of Part 8 of the 2015 Act, which provides a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives, is a matter for this Department. The Minister for Health, under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 517 of 2016), brought some provisions of Part 8 of the Act into operation on 17 October 2016. The provisions commenced in Part 8 were the definition of “Minister” in section 82; the definitions of “code of practice” and “working group” in section 91(1); and section 91(2). The commenced provisions provide for the establishment by the Minister for Health of a multi-disciplinary group to advise in relation to codes of practice on advance healthcare directives. The multi-disciplinary group has been set up and is currently finalising its recommendations.
Assisted Decision Making
Questions (343)
John Brassil
Question:343. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the drafting of the regulations and codes of practice required under Part 8 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52707/18]
View answerWritten answers
Part 8 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 provides a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives (AHDs). An AHD is a statement made by a person with capacity setting out his or her will and preferences regarding treatment decisions that may arise in the future when he or she no longer has capacity.
Section 91 of the Act relates to the development of a code of practice to accompany the AHD provisions. On 17 October 2016 I established a multidisciplinary working group to prepare a detailed series of recommendations for the Director of the Decision Support Service, in relation to the code of practice under section 91(2) of the Act. This process is ongoing and in anticipation of its completion I commenced the remainder of section 91 on 17 December 2018 [S.I. No. 527 of 2018], which will enable the Director of the Decision Support Service to progress the preparation of the code of practice on the AHD provisions, based on the working group’s recommendations, and in accordance with the specific process outlined in the Act.
Once completed the final code of practice can be published by the Director with my consent.
The development of the code of practice to accompany the AHD provisions is a key piece of work in facilitating the subsequent commencement of Part 8 in its entirety.
Given the clear interconnections between Part 8 and the provisions within the rest of the Act, officials in my Department will continue to engage closely with the Department of Justice and Equality and the Director of the Decision Support Service to ensure that an expedient, coherent and coordinated approach is taken to the commencement of the provisions within the Act, including those in Part 8.
Long-Term Illness Scheme
Questions (344)
Seán Fleming
Question:344. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to allow the FreeStyle Libre system under the long-term illness scheme for persons with type 1 diabetes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52708/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Health Services
Questions (345)
Seán Fleming
Question:345. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position date regarding a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52710/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
Health Services Provision
Questions (346)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:346. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 20 September 2018, when a response will issue to an interim reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52712/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have been advised by the HSE that a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 131 has issued to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Questions (347)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:347. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his views on the rate of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis here; his further views on the benefits offered by the use of irritable bowel disease, IBD, nurse specialists in the treatment and management of these conditions; the number of IBD nurse specialists here; his plans to broaden the number of IBD nurse specialists; when further recruitment of IBD nurse specialists is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52726/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Provision
Questions (348, 368, 378)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:348. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce free contraception to all women (details supplied) in view of the introduction of a new general practitioner led abortion service in January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52743/18]
View answerJohn Brassil
Question:368. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide free contraception to all women in line with the target to make women’s healthcare a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52901/18]
View answer
Brendan Griffin
Question:378. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52912/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 368 and 378 together.
Work is continuing on planning for the implementation of the ancillary recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. This includes exploring issues associated with enhancing access to contraception, with a view to developing evidence-based policy in this area.
Preparations are ongoing for the initial expansion of free access to condoms in 2019. Condom use has the advantage of reducing both crisis pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
Patient Safety
Questions (349)
Bríd Smith
Question:349. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 7 November 2018, if he will request further clarification from the HSE on issues (details supplied) from its reply. [52746/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Care of the Elderly
Questions (350)
Niamh Smyth
Question:350. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a local placement will be ensured for a person (details supplied) in Castleblayney within the care pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52752/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Disability Services Provision
Questions (351)
Brendan Griffin
Question:351. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52754/18]
View answerWritten answers
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.
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Consultant Recruitment
Questions (352)
Alan Kelly
Question:352. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment of consultants to fill posts in public hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52756/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
Hospitals Data
Questions (353)
Alan Kelly
Question:353. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the status of the most recent audit by his Department or on its behalf of the implementation of the 80:20 ratio of public to private practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52757/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.