Written Answers Nos. 681-702
681. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list as of 30 November 2020 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 months and more than 12 months; and the number waiting for each category aged zero to 17 and more than 18 years of age by each LHO, in tabular form. [41818/20]
View answerThe 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.
682. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list as of 30 November 2020 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged zero to four, five to 17, 18 to 64 and more than 65 years of age for each category by LHO, in tabular form. [41819/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
683. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric rheumatologists working in the health service; his plans for expanding this number; the international recommended best practice ratio of paediatric rheumatologists to population and current ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41825/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
684. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the information on Down's syndrome-related arthritis provided to general practitioners; if provision has or will be made for the annual screening of children with Down syndrome to monitor the potential development of Down's syndrome-related arthritis and other conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41826/20]
View answerAwaiting reply from the Department.
685. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the position regarding maternity visitation at each hospital with a maternity function; the appointments including scan in which the mother can have a parent, partner or supporting visitor attend with them; if there will be a relaxation of restrictions under level 3; if guidance has been provided to hospitals regarding relaxation under level 3, 2, or 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41827/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
686. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting to see a consultant; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41828/20]
View answer687. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome-related arthritis on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting to see a consultant; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41829/20]
View answer688. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for a MRI; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41830/20]
View answer689. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome-related arthritis on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for a MRI; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41831/20]
View answer690. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for treatment by type of treatment; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41832/20]
View answer691. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome-related arthritis on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for treatment by type of treatment; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41833/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 686 to 691, inclusive, together.
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, including MRI, 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.
In relation to the provision of MRI services, the demand for specialist imaging has increased over recent years due to increased activity and acuity in CHI, as well as an increasing trend to utilise imaging in diagnosis and treatment. CHI have advised that, uniquely to Paediatrics, younger children and children up to 18 years old with complex needs may be unable to remain still in an MRI for the lengthy periods required to complete the scan, resulting in the requirement for a General Anaesthetic (GA) to be delivered by a Paediatric Anaesthesiologist. This limits the ability for these scans to be performed outside of CHI hospitals. CHI have confirmed to my Department that each request for an MRI scan is carefully examined by Consultant Radiologists who must prioritise, based on clinical urgency, each case in terms of access to the scanner.
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. A cohort of these patients will require an MRI scan based on the individualised clinical examination and recommendation.
With regard to waiting lists for MRI, the HSE advises that a pilot project commenced in 2016 by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division to progress the collection of national radiology waiting list data. The data is reported quarterly, and the attached table shows the waiting list by time band at CHI at the end of Quarter 3, 2020. Due to the nature of this data the HSE have advised that it is not possible to determine the proportion of the waiting list associated with specific specialties such as Rheumatology diagnosis or treatment.
In relation to waiting lists for Rheumatology Outpatient appointments and Inpatient and Day Case procedures the tables attached show the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) published figures at the end of October 2020. NTPF waiting lists are collected in respect of outpatient specialties and inpatient/daycase procedures. Waiting times can be examined in terms of the appointment or procedure that a patient is waiting for, however it is not possible to identify patients based on their clinical diagnosis.
Quarter 3 2020 waiting list for MRI at Children's Health Ireland
|
0-3 mths |
3-6 mths |
6-9 mths |
9-12 mths |
12-15 mths |
15-18 mths |
18+ mths |
Total |
|
886 |
487 |
507 |
400 |
290 |
255 |
504 |
3329 |
692. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the availability of paediatric rheumatologists here with the current waiting list being three years; if his attention has been further drawn to the particular concern for children with Down syndrome associated arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41854/20]
View answerI 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, including MRI, 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.
In relation to the provision of MRI services, the demand for specialist imaging has increased over recent years due to increased activity and acuity in CHI, as well as an increasing trend to utilise imaging in diagnosis and treatment. CHI have advised that, uniquely to Paediatrics, younger children and children up to 18 years old with complex needs may be unable to remain still in an MRI for the lengthy periods required to complete the scan, resulting in the requirement for a General Anaesthetic (GA) to be delivered by a Paediatric Anaesthesiologist. This limits the ability for these scans to be performed outside of CHI hospitals. CHI have confirmed to my Department that each request for an MRI scan is carefully examined by Consultant Radiologists who must prioritise, based on clinical urgency, each case in terms of access to the scanner.
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. A cohort of these patients will require an MRI scan based on the individualised clinical examination and recommendation.
693. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if an information leaflet on paediatric arthritis prepared in November 2019 will be distributed to general practitioners and health professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/20]
View answerAwaiting reply from the Department.
694. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when a new paediatric rheumatologist will commence; the location in which they will be based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41856/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
695. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the status of a drug being assessed for reimbursement (details supplied) by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41857/20]
View answer699. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 756 of 10 November 2020, the status of ,application submissions made to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in July 2020 regarding the reimbursement of epidiolex; if the process will be expedited; the reason the process has taken a long time in view of the vital importance of the medication, in particular for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41894/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 699 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licenced 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, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess a drug's clinical and cost effectiveness as a health intervention.
The HSE has advised that it received two applications in February 2020 for the reimbursement of Cannabidiol (Epidyolex®):
1. for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years of age and older.
2. for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Dravet Syndrome in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years of age and older.
In February 2020, the HSE commissioned the NCPE to complete rapid reviews with respect to each of these indications. The NCPE recommended full HTAs to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Cannabidiol compared with the current standard of care with respect to each of the above indications. On 16 March 2020, the HSE commissioned full HTAs for both of these indications.
Applicant submissions are required in order to proceed with commissioned HTAs. In July 2020, applicant submissions were received by the NCPE for both of the above indications and the HTAs are underway.
These applications will be assessed by the HSE in line with the 2013 Health Act.
697. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend on private ambulances by hospital for each year since 2000, in tabular form; the number of journeys made in each year; the effective cost per journey annually and on average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41865/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
698. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend on public ambulances by hospital for each year since 2000, in tabular form; the number of journeys made in each year; the effective cost per journey annually and on average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41866/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
700. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the details of the tenders for the supply of electricity, gas and other sources of energy to buildings under the control of his Department and the Health Service Executive; the financial value; the start and end dates; the amount and type of energy supplied in the five largest contracts by value; and if green procurement such as the level of greenhouse gas emissions featured in the awarding criteria. [41895/20]
View answerAs the lead tenant among four State Departments in Block 1, Miesian Plaza, my Department procured the supply of electricity and gas on behalf of all tenants. Costs are allocated between tenants on an agreed basis.
My Department engaged in a mini competition under an Office of Government Procurement (OGP) Framework for the provision of electricity supply to Government Departments. The contract commenced on 01 November 2019 and is due to expire on 31 October 2022. To date this year, the contract value is €378,540 of which €222,581 has been paid by my Department.
My Department also engaged in a mini competition under an OGP Framework Agreement for the Supply of Natural Gas to Central Government. The contract runs from 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2023. To date, the contract value is €49,410 of which €29,083 has been paid by my Department.
The award criteria used in the development of framework agreements are a matter for the OGP.
In relation to HSE procurements, as this is an operational matter, I have forwarded your query to the HSE and asked that they respond directly to you on this.
702. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the vacancy for a paediatric diabetic nurse at the Regional Hospital, Mullingar; if the recruitment process is still ongoing; when he expects this position to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41933/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
