Thomas P. Broughan
Question:130. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when the recruitment embargo will be terminated by the chief executive of the HSE. [45624/19]
View answerHSE Staff Recruitment
Questions (130)
Written answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
HSE Governance
Questions (131)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:131. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the likely impact on management and administration services in the HSE from the initiation of the proposed regional health area structures in 2020. [45625/19]
View answerWritten answers
A clear governance and accountability framework was identified as a key building block of Sláintecare by the Committee on the Future of Healthcare. As part of its recommendations in this area, the Committee called for the HSE to become a more strategic and patient-focused ‘national centre’ carrying out national level functions, and the establishment of regional bodies with responsibility for the planning and delivery of integrated care at a regional level.
I intend to return to Government next year with detailed proposals regarding the roles and responsibilities of the new regional areas. This will also detail the consequently revised role and function of the HSE ‘national centre’, which will determine any impact on management and administration requirements, both at central and regional level. These proposals will also outline a timeline for the establishment of regional organisations and any legislative changes required to realise the Sláintecare vision.
In the meantime, my Department will work closely with the HSE to continue to improve management and accountability of the health system. At the same time, there will be continued engagement with all key stakeholders to ensure that the reform process does not cause disruption to services and accountability.
Finally, I want to make clear that the proposed changes to health structures are only one element among many of the broader reform plans arising from the Sláintecare report. These proposals must be seen as part of the broader proposals in the 2019 Sláintecare Action Plan to support and develop a better health and social care service based on clinical and service integration, enhanced service capacity and delivery and improved governance, accountability and patient safety arrangements.
Cross-Border Health Initiatives
Questions (132)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:132. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of the cross-border directive in each year since its inception; the cost of reimbursements for same in each year since its inception; and the number of claims awaiting reimbursement under the directive as of 31 October 2019 or the latest date available. [45644/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
Counselling Services Provision
Questions (133)
Robert Troy
Question:133. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the counselling in primary care services available for persons in County Longford; if a replacement counsellor has been recruited for the service in Tullamore, County Offaly; his views on the fact that this position has been vacant since early June 2019; and his further views on the fact that patients are awaiting appointments in excess of nine months despite commitments from the HSE that no patients would be waiting longer than three months to access such services. [45645/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (134)
Pat Casey
Question:134. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to upgrade and refurbish St. Colman's Hospital, Rathdrum in view of the need to do so as stated by recent HIQA reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45646/19]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Home Care Packages Provision
Questions (135)
Niamh Smyth
Question:135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the home care hours approved for a person (details supplied) will be implemented in order that the person can return home in a safe environment and free up a nursing home bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45651/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Counselling Services Provision
Questions (136)
James Browne
Question:136. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a counselling appointment in primary care at the end of October 2019 or the latest date available by time periods (details supplied). [45652/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data
Questions (137)
James Browne
Question:137. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a child and adolescent mental health services appointment at the end of October 2019 or the latest date available by time periods (details supplied). [45653/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Psychological Services Waiting Lists
Questions (138)
James Browne
Question:138. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a psychology appointment in primary care at the end of October 2019 or the latest date available by time periods (details supplied). [45654/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data
Questions (139)
James Browne
Question:139. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units between 1 January 2019 and 31 October 2019 [45655/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Drug Treatment Programmes
Questions (140)
Micheál Martin
Question:140. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the review the HSE is undertaking of a charity (details supplied); the impact it may have on services it provides; if alternative arrangements are being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45680/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Drug Treatment Programmes
Questions (141)
Micheál Martin
Question:141. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding to a charity (details supplied) will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45681/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (142)
Niamh Smyth
Question:142. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was left with medical costs of over €800 when the person's medical card was being reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45683/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (143)
Michael Lowry
Question:143. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the position regarding anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide medication for the preventative treatment of chronic migraine; if the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics has completed its full health technology assessment on the medication erenumab; when erenumab and fremanezumab will be made available to chronic migraine patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45684/19]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, 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.
In line with the 2013 Act and the National Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines with industry, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE, it must submit an application to the HSE to have the medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is considered for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, including on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
In August 2018, the NCPE recommended a full health technology assessment (HTA) for erenumab (Aimovig), indicated for the treatment of chronic and episodic migraine in adults who have at least 4 migraine days per month when initiating treatment with erenumab.
On 30 September 2019, the NCPE completed its review and gave the following recommendations for erenumab:
- For chronic migraine, the NCPE recommended that erenumab be considered for reimbursement if cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments.
- For episodic migraine, the NCPE recommended that erenumab not be considered for reimbursement.
The final decision will take into consideration the NCPE's recommendation and the statutory criteria contained in the 2013 Health Act.
In April 2019, the NCPE recommended a full HTA for fremanezumab (Ajovy), indicated for prophylaxis of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month. On 26 September 2019, the NCPE received a submission from the manufacturer and its assessment is ongoing.
As outlined in the Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to add the medicine to the reimbursement list, agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine or refuse to reimburse the medicine.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (144)
Timmy Dooley
Question:144. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will have surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45688/19]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.