Written Answers Nos. 630-649
630. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the building projects approved by county; the amount of funding provided to date for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54400/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
631. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the mental health nurse vacancies by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54401/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
632. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the future plans of his Department and the HSE for an association (details supplied) and the provision of its services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54407/18]
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.
633. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of recorded violent assaults on general practitioners and their staff in the course of their work over the past ten years, either at their practice premises, on home visits or at out-of-hours centres, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54408/18]
View answer634. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the measures he plans to introduce in the new GMS contract to ensure the protection of general practitioners from violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54409/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together.
The safety of people who provide health services is of paramount importance. It is a complex issue as those being cared for may not always have the capacity to be responsible for the actions they carry out.
Currently there is no data available on the number of violent assaults on general practitioners and their staff.
As the Deputy will be aware, talks between the State and the IMO the on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the current GMS contract are ongoing. There is a wide range of issues being discussed and I expect that the issue of patients presenting with violent behaviour will be considered in this context.
I look forward to positive and productive engagement with all parties concerned. In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in position to give further details while engagement between the parties is under way.
635. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if consultants must send a letter of application for each prescription for medicinal cannabis; and the time in which it takes to process same. [54410/18]
View answerIrish-based medical practitioners who wish to prescribe cannabis-based products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) require a Ministerial licence issued under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2016 in order to do so.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the granting of such a licence must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a medical consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
Ministerial licences are time limited. The initial licence is valid for a period of twelve weeks and subsequent licenses in respect of the same patient are valid for 24 weeks.
It is also important to note it is unlawful for a prescriber to issue a prescription for a controlled drug unless it complies with the requirements for controlled drugs prescriptions specified in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Health website contains detailed information on medical cannabis, including clinical guidance on the use of medical cannabis and details on how a medical practitioner may apply for a Ministerial licence. This information can be found at:
health.gov.ie/blog/publications/cannabis-for-medical-use.
636. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if consultants choosing to prescribe medicinal cannabis under the existing licensing system are assuming personal liability for possible negative side effects on their own personal insurance; and if the HSE does not accept possible liability in relation to same. [54411/18]
View answerUnder existing arrangements consultants in public hospitals are covered by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) in respect of the prescription of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) based products for a patient under their care provided that the consultant is permitted to do so under a licence granted by the Minister for Health under the Misuse of Drugs Acts and where he/she has exhausted all other treatment options for that patient.
In relation to private consultants the CIS covers the excess over the indemnity ceilings (or CAPS) set by the State for private indemnifiers of consultants working in private practise settings. Effectively, the private indemnifier's liability in respect of any claim is capped at the relevant indemnity ceiling and the State assumes responsibility for any amount in excess of the cap. Consultants in private hospitals should check with their Medical Defence Organisations to establish that such organisations will cover them up to the Caps limit in cases where they are considering prescribing THC-based medicines for a patient, under licence from the Minister and where he/she has exhausted all other treatment options for that patient.
637. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if in order to apply for a licence for medicinal cannabis a consultant is required to go through an exhaustive list of conventional medications (details supplied). [54412/18]
View answerUnder the Misuse of Drugs legal framework, it is open to a medical practitioner to apply for a Ministerial licence for medical cannabis for the treatment of a patient under his or her care.
It is important to note that the decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis treatment, for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
In late 2016 I requested the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to carry out a review of the scientific evidence of the potential medical use of cannabis. The HPRA report was published in February 2017. In this report the HPRA advised that cannabis should only be made available for the treatment of patients with specified medical conditions which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments, and where there is at least modest evidence that cannabis may be effective and such patients should be under the direct supervision of an appropriately trained and experienced medical consultant.
I would strongly advise that the Deputy and any persons interested in the use of cannabis for medical purposes to consult the Department of Health website which contains detailed information on the matter, including information on the types of cannabis products and the specified medical conditions for which they may be used to treat, as well as clinical guidance on its use. This information can be found at the following website:
health.gov.ie/cannabis-for-medical-use.
638. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); if an appointment will be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54414/18]
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.
639. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [54417/18]
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.
640. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a 20-week anomaly scan for all expectant mothers at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [54418/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
641. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the supports available for persons with an eating disorder; his views on the case of a person (details supplied) raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54420/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
642. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason a response has not issued to a person (details supplied) in relation to ambulance call out times in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54422/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
643. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a respite house and services at a location (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54423/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
644. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if home help will be sanctioned in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54429/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if the use of debt collection agencies for the collection of debts to the health service will be discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54433/18]
View answerPatient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the annual National Service Plan.
These charges typically include:
- Out-patient charges;
- Emergency Department charges;
- Daily in-patient charges; and
- Long-term stay charges.
There are cohorts of people who are exempt from these charges, including, but not limited to persons with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks, children suffering from diseases prescribed under section 52 (2) of the Act, and persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases.
In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private accommodation charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.
Non-collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.
646. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 745 of 7 September 2018, the reason for the delay in appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54434/18]
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.
647. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if regular mental health services were available over the Christmas 2018 period in hospitals nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54445/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Minister as soon as possible.
648. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours allocated in County Kildare in the past five years in tabular form. [54450/18]
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.
649. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of orthodontists employed by the HSE to cover County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54451/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
