Paul Kehoe
Question:300. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46016/19]
View answerMental Health Services
Questions (300)
Written 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 Car Parks
Questions (301)
Denis Naughten
Question:301. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the matter of hospital parking charges; the status of the implementation plan; the next steps that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46020/19]
View answerWritten answers
Hospitals which charge parking fees are cognisant of the financial implications parking costs can have on patients and their families, particularly those with long-term illnesses. Some hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge, thus capping this expense. I understand that some hospitals also provide reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship.
I have made it clear I want to see progress made in this area and I am working with my Department and the HSE in this regard. As such, I requested the HSE to conduct a review of hospital car parking charges with a view to establishing clear national guidelines in the area. My Department and the HSE are currently engaging on a draft implementation plan to accompany the review report.
Electronic Cigarettes
Questions (302)
Michael McGrath
Question:302. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to regulate e-cigarettes; his further plans to restrict the areas in which they can be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46056/19]
View answerWritten answers
E-cigarettes are currently regulated under the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 271/2016). These Regulations transpose the EU Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU). Under the Regulations health warnings which advise consumers that e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is a highly addictive substance are mandatory. The Regulations also provide for mandatory safety and quality requirements for e-cigarettes and refill containers, including maximum nicotine concentrations for e-cigarettes containing nicotine, and maximum volumes for cartridges, tanks and nicotine liquid containers. The Regulations require e-cigarette manufacturers or importers to notify the Health Service Executive of all products that they place on the market and, if a manufacturer, importer or distributor has a reason to believe that a product is not safe, they are required to immediately notify the Health Service Executive and to explain what corrective action has been taken. In relation to advertising, the Regulations prohibit advertisements for e-cigarettes online, on television and on radio.
In late October I received Government approval to draft legislation which will prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes to and by persons under the age of 18. The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will also introduce a new licensing system for the retail sale of nicotine inhaling products.
E-cigarettes are not regulated under the workplace smoking ban, which was introduced on the basis of clear and unequivocal evidence that second hand smoke is harmful to non-smokers. That evidence base currently does not exist for the aerosol generated from e-cigarettes. However, evidence in relation to e-cigarettes is constantly evolving and in March of this year, I asked the Health Research Board to undertake a review of the evidence on the health harms of e-cigarettes, their effectiveness as an aid to smoking cessation and whether they act as a gateway to smoking tobacco products. The evidence review is expected to be completed in March 2020 and it will contribute to informing any future regulation in this area. It is also worth noting that individual organisations are free to introduce an e-cigarette free policy if they choose to do so and many have, including public transport providers and local authorities.
Primary Medical Certificates Applications
Questions (303)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:303. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no regional services for those attending primary medical certificate assessment appointments meaning all applicants to the scheme must travel to Dublin to attend the assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/19]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Palliative Care for Children
Questions (304, 305, 307)
Mary Butler
Question:304. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his views on the lack of palliative care for paediatric patients in the South/South West Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46065/19]
View answerMary Butler
Question:305. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the staffing structure within the palliative care team in terms of paediatric care in the South/South West Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46066/19]
View answerMary Butler
Question:307. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that children of all ages who are patients in need of palliative care in the South/South West Hospital Group have access to such care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46068/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 304, 305 and 307 together.
In December 2009 the Department of Health published Palliative Care for Children with Life Limiting Conditions: a National Policy. Containing 31 recommendations under 19 headings, the structures set out in the Policy are designed to meet the palliative care needs of children born with a life-limiting condition and their families across all care settings.
The policy states that the preferred location of care for these children is the home and recommends the development of hospice at home services.
To respond to the increasing demand for palliative care services for children, the HSE, with co-funding from the Irish Hospice Foundation, established a Children’s Palliative Care Programme including three elements: a consultant post, an education programme, and the appointment of clinical nurse co-ordinators.
A 2016 Evaluation of the Children’s Palliative Care Programme encouraged hospital groups to examine their provision of paediatric palliative care, and a national policy endorsement of the development of children’s palliative care as a speciality. Each hospital group and local HSE management is requested to provide each Clinical Nurse Co-ordinator with administrative support.
With regard to the Deputy's specific queries, as these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Palliative Care for Children
Questions (306, 308, 309)
Mary Butler
Question:306. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place for paediatric patients who require palliative care; the age at which children transition to adult care; the way in which such care is determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46067/19]
View answerMary Butler
Question:308. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the paediatric palliative care available by hospital by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46069/19]
View answerMary Butler
Question:309. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of children that required and received palliative care in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by CHO and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46070/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 308 and 309 together.
In December 2009 the Department of Health published Palliative Care for Children with Life Limiting Conditions: a National Policy. Containing 31 recommendations under 19 headings, the structures set out in the Policy are designed to meet the palliative care needs of children born with a life-limiting condition and their families across all care settings.
The policy states that the preferred location of care for these children is the home and recommends the development of hospice at home services.
To respond to the increasing demand for palliative care services for children, the HSE, with co-funding from the Irish Hospice Foundation, established a Children’s Palliative Care Programme including three elements: a consultant post, an education programme, and the appointment of clinical nurse co-ordinators.
A 2016 Evaluation of the Children’s Palliative Care Programme encouraged hospital groups to examine their provision of paediatric palliative care, and a national policy endorsement of the development of children’s palliative care as a speciality. Each hospital group and local HSE management is requested to provide each Clinical Nurse Co-ordinator with administrative support.
With respect to the Deputy's specific queries, as these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Question No. 307 answered with Question No. 304.
Questions Nos. 308 and 309 answered with Question No. 306.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (310)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:310. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health when the new higher income limits for medical card eligibility will come into effect (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46076/19]
View answerWritten answers
As announced in Budget 2020, medical card gross income limits for those over 70 will be increased to €550 per week for a single person aged over 70 (currently €500 per week) and to €1050 for a couple aged over 70 (currently €900 per week) and will apply from July 2020.
Drug Treatment Programmes Data
Questions (311)
John Curran
Question:311. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if further details of the 793 residential places available for the treatment of persons with drug addiction problems will be provided; the number of beds directly provided by the HSE; the number that are sourced from private provision; the location of the 19 inpatient unit detoxification beds; the breakdown of the 127 community based residential detoxification beds and the 625 residential rehabilitation beds by LHO; the location of the four adolescent residential detoxification beds and the 18 adolescent residential beds; and the number of beds available under such headings in each of the years 2015 to 2018, in tabular form. [46077/19]
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.
Departmental Reports
Questions (312)
Shane Cassells
Question:312. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by his Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46094/19]
View answerWritten answers
The information the Deputy requested is set out in the following table:
|
Act |
Date of Post Enactment Report |
|
Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 |
21/07/2015 |
|
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2017 |
26/04/2018 |
|
Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Act 2017 |
11/12/2018 |
|
Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2016 |
06/11/2019 |
|
Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2017 |
06/11/2019 |
In addition, my Department has responsibility for Part 4 of the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017 and inputted in relation to Part 4 in the post-enactment report on the Act laid by the Department of Justice and Equality in 2018.
Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that I have asked my officials to monitor compliance with Dáil Standing Order 164A.
Departmental Funding
Questions (313)
Mary Butler
Question:313. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when an allocation will be made to a support centre (details supplied) under the community and voluntary support grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46101/19]
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.
Nursing Home Accommodation Provision
Questions (314)
Alan Kelly
Question:314. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to build a new nursing home to replace a home (details supplied) and maintain the provision of long-stay beds in Roscrea, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46102/19]
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.
General Medical Services Scheme Data
Questions (315)
Róisín Shortall
Question:315. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 23 October 2019, the number of persons eligible for the GMS and drugs payment scheme, respectively, by LHO area in each of the years 2008 to 2011; and the number of persons that availed of the long-term illness scheme by LHO area in each of the years 2008 to 2011 (details supplied). [46103/19]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Health Services Provision
Questions (316)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:316. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when the statutory home care scheme will be piloted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46116/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to the introduction of a statutory homecare scheme by the end of 2021. As part of this, work is on-going to determine the optimal approach to the development of the scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms and in 2019 work has focussed on the design of the scheme, the options for regulation, and a review of existing services.
Of the additional €52m allocated in Budget 2020 for home support services, a proportion of this funding will be used to test a reformed model of service delivery in 2020 at pilot sites. My Department is currently working with the HSE to identify the pilot sites and to agree the approach to testing.
I expect to be in a position to provide further details in January 2020.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (317)
Pat Deering
Question:317. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be seen in the gastroenterology clinic of St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. [46117/19]
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.
Departmental Funding
Questions (318)
James Browne
Question:318. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if funding will be will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46119/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (319)
Niamh Smyth
Question:319. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting for occupational therapy and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46120/19]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.