Written Answers Nos. 127-147
127. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there were ambulance stations in the north-east region over the night of 20 February and early hours of 21 February 2019 at which ambulance personnel were present without an ambulance; and if so, the locations at which this occurred. [9895/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
128. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by the National Ambulance Service; and the number of full-time and part-time staff, respectively employed in the service. [9896/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
129. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of staff that retired from the National Ambulance Service in 2018; and the number recruited in 2018. [9897/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
130. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if the National Ambulance Service operates a text system to offer overtime to ambulance staff; if so, the number of texts sent across the State to staff in 2018 to offer overtime shifts; and the number of texts sent in each region in 2018. [9898/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
131. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if it is National Ambulance Service policy for ambulance staff rostered to an ambulance station to leave their shift to cover an overtime shift in another location in response to a text [9899/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
132. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans to alleviate the waiting times being imposed on children and their parents when availing of State-provided orthodontic care, particularly those who have been categorised as having a high level of need for orthodontic treatment but have been subjected to a waiting time of 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9906/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
133. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for State-provided orthodontic care in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the number that have been categorised IOTN 5 as having a high level of need for orthodontic treatment but have been subjected to a waiting time of 24 months; the number of orthodontists assigned to tackling general waiting lists in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the number assigned to tackling the IOTN 5 waiting lists in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
134. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if an assessment of need appointment will be brought forward for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/19]
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.
135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the location of a new facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/19]
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.
136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed further on the grounds that they suffer from MS, had a medical card which they relied upon and have a long medical history with a view to taking into account their dependability on medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
137. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to approve the FreeStyle Libre scanner for children with diabetes under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9913/19]
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.
138. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to add further illnesses to be covered under the long-term illness list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9914/19]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that it is proposed that the LTI Scheme would be included as part of a review of the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
139. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the reason the octuvite lutein MacuShield tablet is no longer available under the general medical services scheme for persons over 60 years of age; his plans to reinstate the tablets onto the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9915/19]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
140. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9917/19]
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.
141. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of the cervical results for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9918/19]
View answerThe HSE advises that the results of a cervical screening test (smear test) are sent to the GP or clinic of the woman who took the test, and that the HSE then writes to the woman to let her know when her results are available.
In May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that she should have a further test as part of her reassurance, to access such a further test without charge. This decision was made in good faith to address the considerable fears of the many anxious women in Ireland, following issues which had emerged in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme.
In the months since then, there has been a significant increase in the volume of women presenting for smear tests. This includes women who have availed of the out of cycle tests, but also a greater number of women presenting for scheduled screening. This increased level of engagement with the programme is welcome. However, the increased demand has undoubtedly put pressure on lab capacity and turnaround times.
The HSE has been working actively with the labs to manage this issue and to improve turnaround times for smear tests. In addition, the HSE is aiming to source additional screening capacity, which would improve the turnaround time of results; however, sourcing capacity and resources is a global challenge as countries start to move to primary HPV screening, which vastly reduces the requirement for cytology screening staff. The HSE is currently developing a capacity plan, which will take account of available capacity and expected demand, with the aim of bringing the programme into stabilisation this year. This is a priority concern for my Department and the HSE.
The HSE advises that the CervicalCheck Programme has recently agreed with laboratories to prioritise those slides which originate from women who attended colposcopy, as this cohort of women are considered to have the most serious need.
The HSE also advises that the natural history of cervical cancer would indicate that the disease would normally develop over a period of 10 to 15 years. Due to this very fact, it is important that any woman of screening age attends for cervical screening each and every time she is invited to participate. The HSE has advised that in this context, a delay in the return of cervical screening results, whilst undesirable, is not necessarily dangerous and poses a very low risk to women.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this specific case.
142. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when the Spinraza treatment will be made available to SMA suffers in view of the fact it is the only treatment available for this condition and it has been approved for funding across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9951/19]
View answer146. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the decision to reimburse the drug Spinraza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9977/19]
View answer147. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health when persons suffering with SMA can expect to receive a decision as to the reimbursement of the drug Spinraza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9978/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 146 and 147 together.
The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The Act specifies the criteria to be applied in the making of reimbursement decisions which include the clinical and cost effectiveness of the product, the opportunity cost and the impact on resources that are available to the HSE.
I am advised by the HSE that an application for the reimbursement of Nusinersen (Spinraza) was considered by HSE Leadership at its meeting on 12 February 2019.
Following detailed consideration of the application, the HSE Leadership made the decision that it was unable to recommend reimbursement of Spinraza and concluded that the evidence for clinical effectiveness is still quite limited and that the current price proposed by the manufacturer was not a cost-effective use of resources.
The HSE has written to the company involved and informed them of the proposal to refuse reimbursement at the current price offering. Under the requirements of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the company now has 28 days to respond or make representations to the HSE’s proposed decision.
The HSE remains open to considering any new evidence or information which emerges regarding the clinical effectiveness or price of this medicine.
143. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [9954/19]
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.
144. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [9972/19]
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.
145. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive neurology results. [9975/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
