Written Answers Nos. 96-113
96. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to recognise a condition (details supplied) as a disability; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and suffering caused as a result of the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14535/19]
View answerFibromyalgia is a syndrome associated with wide-spread pain and fatigue. It is labelled a syndrome as fibromyalgia is a collection of signs, symptoms and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause. Fibromyalgia is not classified as a disability and there are currently no plans for the reclassification of fibromyalgia.
97. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has had that person's transport to hospital cut. [14537/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
98. Deputy John Brassil 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. [14539/19]
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.
99. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [14541/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
100. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [14542/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
101. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of new technologies that have yet to be approved by the NTPF for tackling waiting lists; the bodies that have made the applications for the use of technologies; when a technology (details supplied) is likely to be approved by the NTPF for use on patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14543/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by officials in my Department and will be provided to the Deputy directly as soon as it becomes available.
102. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [14548/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
103. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14549/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14550/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
105. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if an urgent intervention and appropriate follow-up with the HSE regarding the failure of child services, including CAMHS, to intervene properly and speedily in the case of a person (details supplied) will be carried out. [14553/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
106. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if it is a medical radiologist or a dentist holding a level 9 higher degree in dental and maxillofacial radiation such as the qualification held by the current dental adviser to the medical exposure radiation unit that should take clinical responsibility in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14555/19]
View answerThe European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 256 of 2018) transpose the medical provisions of the Basic Safety Standards Directive 2013/59/Euratom.
The Regulations place an obligation on an undertaking to ensure that all medical exposures take place under the clinical responsibility of a practitioner.
A person is prohibited from taking clinical responsibility for an individual medical exposure unless the person taking such responsibility is (a) a registered dentist within the meaning of the Dentists Act 1985, (b) a registered medical practitioner within the meaning of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, or (c) a person whose name is entered in the register established and maintained by the Radiographers Registration Board pursuant to section 36 of the Health and Social Care Practitioners Act 2005. Furthermore the Regulations require that an undertaking provides for a clear allocation of responsibilities for the protection of patients , asymptomatic individuals, carers and comforters, and volunteers in medical or biomedical research from medical exposure to ionising radiation.
A dentist taking clinical responsibility for making 2-dimensional radiation exposures must be in compliance with the European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018 and the Dental Council guidelines on the use of ionising radiation for dental purposes.
107. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics will be instructed to perform an analysis of the challenges relating to conscientious objection within the healthcare service; the reason the council has not published an analysis since March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14560/19]
View answerNo decision has been made regarding the next topic on the work programme for the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics. The National Advisory Committee on Bioethics last met on 24 September 2015. The most recent work published by the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics was the opinion document on nudging, which is entitled “Nudging in Public Health – An Ethical Framework”. This document was published in April 2016.
108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to providing an extra evening carer in the case of a person (details supplied), with particular reference to the need to have two carers at the same time in view of the person's health circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14566/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
109. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for overseas registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Board by a person (details supplied). [14567/19]
View answerAs this question refers to an operational matter, it has been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
110. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of the Spinraza treatment for SMA patients here who are sufferers of the degenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14569/19]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. The Minister for Health has no role or powers in relation to such matters.
Following detailed consideration of an application for the reimbursement of Spinraza and lengthy engagement with the company, the HSE recently decided that it was unable to reimburse Spinraza. The HSE concluded that the evidence for clinical effectiveness was still quite limited and that the price proposed by the manufacturer was not a cost-effective use of resources.
On the 21 February the HSE wrote to the company informing them of the HSE’s proposal to refuse reimbursement of Spinraza at the current price offering. Under the terms of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the company had 28 days to come back to the HSE with a new proposal.
I am advised by the HSE that the manufacturer, Biogen has been in contact with the HSE and has notified them that it intends to submit full and final representations.
To facilitate Biogen’s request, the period for representations was temporarily extended to enable the company to submit their representations. This is in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The company has said that it will submit its representations to the HSE this week and the HSE will give these new representations their immediate attention.
111. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a group (details supplied) will be provided dates for immunisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14571/19]
View answerAs the question relates to a service issue, I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
112. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when the results of the review to determine the next steps for reimbursement of the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14581/19]
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.
113. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the services and activities that a centre (details supplied) provides; if the HSE has plans to set up such a centre in County Kerry to be funded centrally by the Department; if similar activities on an ongoing basis for children with autism will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14582/19]
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.
