Written Answers Nos. 109-128
109. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason another consultant has not been allocated to the diabetic adult services team in Cork University Hospital in view of the fact that one consultant clinic is closed to new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22955/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
110. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if a psychologist will be appointed in Cork University Hospital to assist children come to terms with their diabetes diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22956/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
111. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to allocate more dieticians to the diabetic services team in Cork University Hospital in view of the fact that there is one and a half dieticians at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22957/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when occupational therapy and an appointment for a child psychologist will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22963/19]
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.
113. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if medical equipment can be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22964/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
114. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the HPV vaccine is to be extended to boys; when the report of the health technology assessment being carried out by HIQA in respect of the HPV vaccine for boys will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22966/19]
View answerThe National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which is comprised of experts from several specialties, including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health, which makes recommendations to my Department on vaccination policy in Ireland. Its recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. NIAC made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys.
On foot of NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) in relation to extending the national immunisation schedule to include human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of boys. HIQA completed the HTA in Q4 2018 and published its report on its website on 7 December 2018.
The HTA recommended that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine. Inclusion of a catch-up programme for males in sixth year in school as part of a gender neutral programme was not considered a cost-effective option and therefore not recommended. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys and introduce a 9-valent HPV vaccine starting in September 2019.
The HSE National Immunisation Office is developing information materials and a communication strategy for a gender neutral HPV programme which will be available for parents and healthcare professionals in advance of the start of the gender neutral programme.
115. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses employed to assist with persons who have Parkinson's disease; his plans to employ more nurses in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22967/19]
View answer116. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to assist persons with Parkinson's disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22968/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
Health services are provided and funded by the HSE. The objective of the HSE, as stated in the Health Act, is to use the resources available to it in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.
The HSE National Service Plan 2019 was published on 20 December 2018. The Service Plan sets out the type and volume of services that the HSE will provide for a budget of over €16 billion.
Each year the HSE sets out the type and volume of health and social care services that it will provide in its National Service Plan, having regard to the level of funding provided to it. It includes a National Scorecard of priority areas to be reported against and a National Performance Indicator suite which sets out a wide range of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) against which progress is reported on throughout the year.
KPIs fall into one of four key quadrants:
- Finance, Governance and Compliance;
- Workforce;
- Access and Integration;
- Quality and Safety.
As the Deputy's questions relate to the provision of services, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
117. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health when he expects the outcome of a review in relation to admissions policy for a psychiatric hospital (details supplied); if the review has yet commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22972/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
118. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if it is policy not to provide low or medium-support hostel accommodation for persons with mental health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22973/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
119. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will seek funding in budget 2020 to provide resources for the establishment of a dedicated department at a university hospital here to treat persons with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders to be led by a specialist consultant on the conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22975/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
120. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the needs of persons with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders; his plans to improve services for persons with the conditions in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22976/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
121. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [22981/19]
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.
122. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number and types of surgical procedures and treatments carried out in 2018 and to date in 2019 by each public and private hospital under the NTPF scheme; the number by each public and private facility contracted under the fund; the quantum and types of procedures and treatments provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22990/19]
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.
123. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22991/19]
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.
124. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take regarding the new in loco parentis rule which means that parents who are carers cannot leave their children with a qualified nurse unless another competent nurse to be present is nominated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23000/19]
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.
125. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 5 February 2019, the progress he has made in examining the disparity of home support services for the elderly in CHO area 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23036/19]
View answerImproving access to home support is a priority for Government. Over the past four years we have seen a considerable increase of nearly €140 million in the budget which has grown from €306 million in 2015 to almost €446 million in 2019. Over 53,000 people will receive more than 18 million home support hours this year, including intensive home care packages to 235 people.
Despite this significant level of service provision, the demand for home support continues to grow. The allocation of funding for home supports across the system, though significant, is finite and services must be delivered within the funding available.
Arrangements for home supports have developed over the years with a significant local focus although it is acknowledged that there may be a considerable variation in access to services in different parts of the country. There is also a considerable demand for home support services over and above existing service levels.
The HSE has assured the Department that those people who are on a waiting list are reviewed, as funding becomes available, to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resources and as determined by the local front line staff who know and understand the clients’ needs, and who undertake regular reviews of those care needs to ensure that the services being provided remain appropriate.
We are aiming to improve home support services so that people can remain living with confidence, dignity and security in their own homes. While the existing service is delivering crucial support across the country, it is recognised that home support services need to be augmented to better meet the changing needs of our older population. The Department is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop a new stand-alone, statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services.
The allocated Home support budget for Community Healthcare Organisation Area 7 is approximately €54.5m which is an increase of almost €6m on last year’s allocated budget and the HSE target is to deliver 2.1m hours to 6,192 people. As the allocation of home supports is is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
126. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he has met the new Director General of the HSE since his appointment. [22675/19]
View answerYes, I have met with Paul Reid, the new Director General, since his appointment. I have had a one to one meeting as well as attending the Joint Committee on Health with Mr. Reid on 22 May last.
127. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if there are circumstances in which a refund can be sought by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23050/19]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Department of Health agree a set level of funding for the NHSS with the HSE each year having regard for the demand for the Scheme and the overall fiscal position. The 2019 budget for NHSS is €985.8m. In order to manage the demand for the Scheme over a 12 month period, the HSE has a target of maintaining the wait time for funding approval at no more than 4 weeks. This target has consistently been achieved since April 2015 and it is a significant reduction from the October 2014 wait time of 15 weeks. The target of 4 weeks for approval of funding remains a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. State support can only be paid once a financial assessment has been completed and authorised.
The National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the NHSS provide that State Support and the Nursing Home Loan should be paid in respect of qualified applicants from either the date that the application is approved, or date of admission to the nursing home whichever is the later. Therefore in the case where an applicant is already residing in a nursing home when they apply for State support through NHSS this support will be paid from the date that the application is approved and cannot be backdated to the admission date.
This provision enables the HSE to manage the budget and commitments under the Scheme over a 12 month period, ensuring that long-term residential care remains accessible and affordable for those that require it.
128. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures in place to detect disease on imported bees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22924/19]
View answerWe all recognise the important role bees play within agriculture and for biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In support of this role, my Department implements the animal health requirements for trade in bees (Apis mellifera and Bombus spp) between EU Member States that are contained in Council Directive 92/65/EEC (as amended). This Directive harmonised rules for intra-Community trade and established the animal health guarantees for trade between Member States. Rules governing checks on imports contained in Council Directive 90/425/EEC also apply.
All imports of bees from other EU Member States must be notified to my Department 24 hours before the consignment’s arrival in this country. A Health Certificate must accompany each consignment of bees which must be certified by the competent authority in the Member State of origin. This health certificate ensures bees are healthy and free of disease and is checked for compliance by my Department before entry of the imported bees into Ireland. Consignments of bees that do not have a Health Certificate accompanying them are destroyed.
It is important to note that bees may not be imported directly into Ireland from countries outside the EU.
