Written Answers Nos. 460-480
460. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25442/19]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
461. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25450/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
462. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to a service (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25451/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
463. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to a centre (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25452/19]
View answerThis is a service related question and has been referred to the HSE for answer.
464. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to an association (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25453/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
465. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to a group (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25454/19]
View answerSection 39 of the Health Act 2004 makes provision for the HSE to provide assistance to bodies that provide services similar, or ancillary to, services that the HSE may provide. These organisations provide a broad range of services and are governed by Service Level Agreements with the HSE.
The HSE also operates a National Lottery funded scheme under which it provides grants to health agencies and other organisations. As decisions on the provision of both Section 39 and National Lottery funding are a matter for the HSE, I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy's question.
466. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25455/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
467. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of financial support provided to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25456/19]
View answerThere is no record of any funding being provided to The Galway Sick Kids Foundation in the past five years.
468. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of need will be carried out on a child (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ongoing delays in the case are causing distress to the family involved; his views on the delays in assessment of need applications in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25459/19]
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.
469. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the person or company that is the marketing authorisation holder for sodium valproate marketed here as Epilim; if the Health Products Regulatory Authority is the body that granted the marketing authorisation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25476/19]
View answer470. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if liability has been established as to the person or body responsible for the failure to prevent pregnant women and their unborn children contracting foetal anti-convulsant syndrome as outlined in the report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25477/19]
View answer471. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a compensation fund is being made available to those affected by foetal anti-convulsant syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25478/19]
View answer472. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a reason has been established as to the reason there was a delay in notifying Irish users of sodium valproate, known as Epilim, regarding risks associated with its use; the reason information on the risks to pregnant women was first included in UK in 2002 but the same information did not appear here until 2008 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25479/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 469 to 472, inclusive, together.
Sanofi is the current marketing authorisation holder for Epilim (sodium valproate) in Ireland. Sodium valproate was first authorised for use in Ireland in 1975 by the Health Products Regulatory Authority's predecessor organisation, the National Drugs Advisory Board.
Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome (FACS) is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that can affect some babies if they are exposed to certain anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) in pregnancy. As the Deputy is aware, there is evidence that certain AEDs, including valproate medicines, are associated with an increased risk of birth defects, including congenital malformations and developmental delays. There are no plans at present to establish a compensation fund for people affected by FACS in Ireland.
The Deputy's statements concerning the information and recommendations on sodium valproate use provided in Ireland since 2001 are factually inaccurate. Following the Joint Committee on Health debate on sodium valproate in April 2018, both the Health Products Regulatory Authority and Epilepsy Ireland wrote to the committee's chairman to correct certain inaccurate statements made during the Joint Committee debate.
473. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 which have not yet commenced; and the timeline to which he is working for the commencement of each [25480/19]
View answerOn 12 November last, I commenced 23 of the 31 sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. The effect of that commencement includes:
- From 12 November 2019
- Alcohol advertising in or on public service vehicles, at public transport stops or stations and within 200 metres of a school, a crèche or a local authority playground will be prohibited.
- Alcohol advertising in a cinema will be prohibited except around films with an 18 classification or in a licensed premises in a cinema.
- Children’s clothing that promotes alcohol will be prohibited
- From 12 November 2020
In mixed retail outlets alcohol products and advertising are confined to one of the following:
- an area separated by a 1.2 metre high barrier, or
- units in which alcohol products are not visible up to 1.5 metres height, or
- up to three units that can be a maximum of 1 metre wide by 2.2 metres high.
In addition alcohol products can be contained but not be visible in a unit behind the counter.
- From 12 November 2021:
- A prohibition on alcohol advertising on a sports area during a sporting event, at events aimed at children or at events in which the majority of participants or competitors are children.
- Alcohol sponsorship of events aimed at children, events which the majority of participants or competitors are children and events involving driving or racing motor vehicles is prohibited.
The provisions yet to be commenced are as follows:
- Sections 4 (Applicant to provide written notice to the Executive) and 19 (Broadcast watershed) require consultation with external stakeholders prior to commencement. That consultation is ongoing.
- Section 10 on Minimum Unit Pricing requires a revised Government Decision before it can be commenced as the Government Decision in 2013 which approved the implementation of a minimum unit pricing regime did so on the basis of a similar regime being introduced simultaneously in Northern Ireland.
- Sections 12 (Labelling of alcohol products and notices in licensed premises) and 13 (Content of advertisements) will be commenced following the finalisation of the regulations related to those measures. Those regulations are being developed and will be finalised after assessment at EU level.
- Section 10 (Repeals) cannot be commenced until regulations under section 23 (Regulations relating to sale and supply of alcohol products) are assessed at EU level and finalised.
- Sections 18 (Advertisements in publications) and 21 (Review of operation of section 13 to 20) can be commenced only after all advertising sections of the Act have come into operation.
474. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the dual diagnosis clinical care programme in the absence of a clinical lead; the amount of the budget that has been spent and remains, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25482/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
475. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if women who are eligible for the review of cervical cancer slides by a body (details supplied) are not being included in the review due to the fact their slides cannot be found; if so, the number of women this has happened to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25488/19]
View answerThe Independent Expert Panel Review of Cervical Screening is being led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the HSE is providing logistical support to RCOG in completing its review. This has included an extensive consent process, which concluded in February 2019, and the complex transfer of over 1,700 slides to the review laboratory, which began on 31 January. The process of transferring slides closed on 7 June, to allow for completion of the Review by the end of August, as planned.
While over 96% of requested slides have been transferred, some difficulties were encountered by laboratories in either locating slides or in retrieving slides which had been sent out for external independent review at the request of individuals concerned/solicitors acting on their behalf. This means that just under 4% of slides had unfortunately not been transferred to the Review by the deadline of 7 June and cannot therefore be included.
These slides fall into two categories;
- 10 women, who have a total of 29 slides, which have already been sent for external independent review at the request of the individuals concerned, or solicitors acting on their behalf
- 30 women and the next of kin of 1 woman, who have a total of 36 slides that were not retrieved by laboratories by the 7th June.
These women, or their next of kin, will now receive a partial report (if they have other slides included in the Review) or no report (if the unavailable slide was their only one in the Review).
All of the concerned women and their families were contacted last week by the HSE, the HSE having received confirmation of the final position from the laboratories earlier that week.
While the deadline for inclusion of slides in the RCOG review has now passed, laboratories will continue to search for slides not yet located and the HSE have been engaging closely with them in this regard.
476. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health his views on whether his Department and the HSE will spend more than the budgeted voted expenditure in 2019; his further views on whether his Department will require a Supplementary Estimate for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25490/19]
View answerMy Department is engaging in ongoing dialogue with both the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the financial performance of the Health Service Executive year to date, including consideration of the projected outturn for the year.
These discussions are ongoing and until they are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome.
477. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours provided in each local health office area for each month to date in 2019, in tabular form; and the way it compares against the target for each month [25503/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
478. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the cost in 2019 of the agreement for healthcare support assistants to be paid for the time it takes them to travel to persons' homes; the estimated full year cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25504/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
479. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of all inpatient and outpatient wait times in the south east in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by speciality in tabular form; the wait times in periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25505/19]
View answerReducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. Last year saw considerable improvement in the number of patients waiting for procedures. As a result of increased activity and the ongoing collaboration between the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), the number of patients waiting for an Inpatient or Day case procedure fell to 70,204 in December 2018, from a peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a reduction of over 18% in the overall number of patients waiting for a procedure. The number of patients waiting more than 3 months fell by more than 17,700, or 31% in the same period .
The impact is particularly notable when one considers the improvements to the Waiting Lists for those particular specialties which were the focus of the Inpatient/Daycase Action Plan in 2018. These include the numbers waiting over 3 months for a Cataract procedure which fell by 55% from July 2017 to the end of December 2018; the numbers waiting 3 months for a tonsillectomy fell by 65% in the same period; and angiograms fell by 50%.
Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health, HSE, and NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published on 11th March. Under the Plan, the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will deliver 1.155 million elective inpatient and day case discharges at a value of €1.4 billion in 2019. The Scheduled Care Access Plan includes:
- detailed plans from the NTPF to fund 25,000 IPDC treatments; 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes and 40,000 first outpatient appointments.
- Projections by year end to reduce the overall number of patients on the Inpatient/Day Case waiting list (excluding GI scopes) from just over 70,200 in Dec 2018 to under 60,000;
- Within this overall reduction the number of patients waiting longer than 3 months will reduce from 40,200 at the end of 2018 to 31,000;
- It is also projected that for ten identified high volume procedures, including tonsillectomies, all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months will be offered treatment in 2019. These 10 procedures account for over a third of the active inpatient day case waiting list and represent 60% of NTPF planned activity in 2019.
A key element of the Scheduled Access Plan is the stabilisation of the Outpatient Waiting List. Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will aim to deliver 3.3 million outpatient appointments, of which approximately 1 million will be first appointments.
The plan also includes a target that the number of patients waiting for a first Outpatient appointment will fall from over 516,000 at the end of 2018 to under 509,000 by the end of 2019. This target takes into account the more than 800,000 new patients who will be added to the Outpatient waiting list in 2019; a figure that is based on trends for the previous two years.
While the meeting of short-term targets is always welcome, more can be achieved and, in this regard, the HSE, Department of Health and NTPF, under the Access Plan, will work together with the objective of developing medium-long term improvement initiatives for patient access to hospital procedures. This will include moving care to more appropriate settings and providing care at the lowest level of complexity such as providing ophthalmology in the community; maximising the use of Advanced Nurse Practitioner led clinics; and physiotherapists to manage orthopaedic clinics.
The data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the documents attached.
480. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 437 of 29 January 2019, when the national Traveller health action plan will be published in view of the fact a commitment was given to publish same by the end of March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25506/19]
View answerThe National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) contains a set of specific actions aimed at improving the situation for Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland.
Recommendation 73 of the NTRIS states that:
The Health Service Executive will develop and implement a detailed action plan, based on the findings of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study, to continue to address the specific health needs of Travellers, using a social determinants approach.
The HSE circulated a draft of the health action plan to stakeholders in March. I am advised that the HSE is currently considering the feedback received with a view to producing a final draft of the action plan as soon as possible.
I look forward to receiving the HSE action plan.
