Seán Canney
Question:543. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation to reform the Mental Health Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41764/20]
View answerProposed Legislation
Questions (543)
Written answers
I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Mental Health Act 2001. The Department of Health is currently finalising heads of bill to significantly amend and update mental health legislation, taking into account the 165 recommendations of the Expert Group Review of the 2001 Act, which was informed in part by a public consultation, a comprehensive submission by the Mental Health Commission, and Ireland’s domestic and international commitments, such as the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The provisions of the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2018 are also being incorporated into the draft heads of bill.
There are over one hundred sections in the draft heads. The Department has included detailed information under each head to allow for expert input from the Mental Health Commission and the HSE to be provided prior to publication, to allow the Department the opportunity to address any concerns as early as possible in the process. The draft heads of bill propose to extensively amend and update existing mental health legislation, moving from what has been described as a paternalistic approach in existing statute, to a more person centred, human rights-based approach. The Department is currently awaiting further input from the HSE, which is expected in early December and plans to finalise the draft heads prior to submission for internal legal advice, and to the office of the Attorney General, as required, in early 2021.
A new Part of the Act related to children is being advanced separately, and the Department has approached the HSE, the Mental Health Commission, the Ombudsman for Children and the College of Psychiatrists for their expert opinions on the draft heads. The Department received the Mental Health Commission’s initial input in June 2020, and further observations in November. The Department expects to receive submissions from the other stakeholders in early December 2020, and will then finalise the draft heads related to children at the same time as the rest of the heads.
Disability Services Data
Questions (544)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:544. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the assessment of need waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41897/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services Data
Questions (545)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:545. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have undergone the initial assessment process and are awaiting intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41900/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (546)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:546. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital and community care consultants that are without permanent specialists (details supplied); the number of these positions that are available in counties Cork and Kerry; the number of patients on waiting lists in counties Cork and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41071/20]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this service matter as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (547)
Patricia Ryan
Question:547. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a system to allow Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to apply for medical cards on behalf of constituents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41077/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (548)
Patricia Ryan
Question:548. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce an automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41078/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended).
The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
To qualify for the LTI, a person must be ‘ordinarily resident’ in the Republic of Ireland. Applications are made directly to the HSE by completing the Long Term Illness Scheme application form.
I wish to advise the Deputy that under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act does not provide for automatic eligibility based on having a particular disease or illness.
Medical Cards
Questions (549)
Patricia Ryan
Question:549. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the anomaly in which amounts awarded toward children's glasses vary depending on the area they live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41079/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (550, 557)
Patricia Ryan
Question:550. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will include all blood tests in the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41080/20]
View answer
Brendan Griffin
Question:557. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the reason general practitioners are being permitted to charge medical card holders for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41135/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 557 together.
Persons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition and the HSE has advised GPs accordingly. This has been advised to GPs by the HSE.
The GP chronic disease management programme which is being phased in from this year will involve the ongoing monitoring of patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care.
If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
Medicinal Products
Questions (551)
Patricia Ryan
Question:551. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health when duodopa will be available to patients under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41081/20]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Abortion Services Provision
Questions (552)
Carol Nolan
Question:552. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of cases in which a woman received a scan to confirm the gestation of pregnancy since the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41098/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Data
Questions (553)
Carol Nolan
Question:553. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if there is data available on the number of pre-born children diagnosed with cleft lip, cleft palate and clubfoot for the period 1 January 2019 to date; if so, if he will make such information available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/20]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (554)
Carol Nolan
Question:554. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to a consultancy firm (details supplied) by his Department from 1 January to date in 2020, including consultancy work on the deterioration of the mental health of the population since the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41101/20]
View answerWritten answers
To date in 2020, the company in question has not received any payments in relation to mental health issues arising from Covid-19.
Health Services Access
Questions (555)
Niamh Smyth
Question:555. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when day services for a person (details supplied) will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41129/20]
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 Waiting Lists
Questions (556)
John Paul Phelan
Question:556. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the delay in relation to the provision of paediatric rheumatology services for children and particularly children with Down's syndrome (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41130/20]
View answerWritten answers
I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, were deferred in response to the pandemic. CHI at Crumlin have recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing. Currently, Consultant Rheumatologists are seeing a number of patients in the outpatient suite including urgent patients and those who were deferred during the early phases of COVID-19.
CHI has further advised that there is an active recruitment campaign for an additional Rheumatology Consultant underway. This addition to the medical staff will allow for an increased number of patients to be seen, diagnosed and treatment initiated, as part of the comprehensive Rheumatology service.
CHI has advised that patients with Down Syndrome who present to Rheumatology services with suspicion of arthritis are clinically assessed and diagnosed by the clinical team.
Question No. 557 answered with Question No. 550.
Brexit Preparations
Questions (558)
Brendan Griffin
Question:558. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41137/20]
View answerWritten answers
The UK’s withdrawal from the EU has implications for healthcare arrangements that currently operate under the EU legislative framework, including those arrangements covered by the Cross Border Directive (CBD). With effect from 1 January 2021, the provisions of the CBD will no longer apply to the UK. My officials are giving detailed consideration to the implementation of a unilateral CBD type arrangement which will provide that Irish residents can continue to access services provided by private health service providers in the UK post the end of the Transition Period. This includes consideration of transitional arrangements for the current EU CBD scheme should they be necessary.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (559)
Thomas Pringle
Question:559. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of doses of the anti-Covid-19 drug remdesivir that have been stockpiled through the EU agreement with a pharmaceutical firm (details supplied); his plans to administer same; the cost of the stockpiling to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41150/20]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland has not been involved in, or party to any stockpiling arrangements in relation to Remdesivir. We have however been a participant in the European Joint Procurement Exercise Framework Contract through the European Commission for Remdesivir. National guidance has been in place since March 2020 on the use of Remdesivir in Irish hospitals. The HSE monitor hospital demand for the drug based on admissions and predicted clinical need, and purchase stock as required. Supply is, and has been, adequate to meet demand and there is no requirement to stockpile.
Ireland continues to support the WHO Solidarity Trial, an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19, launched by the World Health Organization and partners.