Written Answers Nos. 793-812
794. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will extend eligibility to the long-term illness scheme for reimbursement of blood glucose test strips to all women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy; his views on the decision to remove them from the scheme; if he will now reverse the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46637/21]
View answerThe Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme 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.
Gestational diabetes is not a permanent or long-term illness and is, therefore, not covered by the Scheme. There are currently no plans to make specific provision for gestational diabetes under any new or existing health scheme.
However, there are other supports for access to medical approved items such as the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) and the General Medical Services Scheme (GMS) that would assist patients with gestational diabetes.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Patients may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
795. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46638/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
796. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the cost of the type 2 diabetes cycle of care programme since its inception; the number of persons who avail of the programme; the number of general practitioners who provide the programme; if the programme has been evaluated; if an audit of the programme has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46639/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
797. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the type 2 diabetes cycle of care programme to all persons with type 2 diabetes; his views on whether it is equitable that persons with type 2 diabetes without a GMS or general practitioner visit card but otherwise meet the HSE criteria for uncomplicated type 2 diabetes, to be managed in primary care, are excluded from the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46640/21]
View answerIn October 2015, the Diabetes cycle of care programme was introduced nationally by the HSE. Under this programme, adult GMS patients, those who hold a medical card or GP visit card, with a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes are eligible to be managed as part of the programme by their GP.
The 2019 GP Agreement introduced the chronic disease management programme for GMS patients who have one or more specific chronic diseases, of which Type 2 Diabetes is one. The structured programme commenced in 2020 and is being rolled out to all adult GMS patients over four years (2020 to 2023). This year the programme has been rolled out to those aged 65 years and over. The chronic disease management programme will replace the Diabetes cycle of care programme as it is rolled out.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependents may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. People who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card.
There is currently no plan to extend type 2 diabetes care under the chronic disease management programme to patients who do not hold a medical or GP visit card.
While Type 2 diabetic patients who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card are not eligible under the Diabetes cycle of care or chronic disease management programmes, diabetes is one of the conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under this scheme, patients with diabetes can receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness free of charge, regardless of whether they hold a medical card.
798. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE medicines management programme preferred blood glucose strips for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes evaluation to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes, who are over 21 years of age, based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46641/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide funding in the upcoming budget to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46642/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for the FreeStyle Libre device that were submitted by individual hospitals for persons with diabetes who are over 21 years of age; the number that were approved; the number that were refused in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; his plans to remove the age restriction on the FreeStyle Libre device; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46643/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
807. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the costs involved for the use of a hotel (details supplied) by the HSE since the Covid-19 pandemic to date; the services that were provided for those costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46672/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
809. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will consider extending the eligibility for breast screening and genetic testing to all women aged 25 and over considering the cost savings involved in the early detection of cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46714/21]
View answerI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service. In this regard and in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck is currently implementing an age-extension project that will see all women aged between 50 to 69 years being invited for routine breast screening.
In relation to consideration of any further age changes, it is vital we remember that breast screening is a population health screening measure. It is not an individual diagnostic test. The balance between the benefits of screening and the potential harms or risks to the population as a whole require careful, evidence-based consideration and balancing.
As with all our national screening programmes, BreastCheck delivers its services in line with international criteria for population-based screening programmes, which are kept under constant review. The balance between the benefits of screening and the potential harms or risks to the population as a whole require careful, evidence-based consideration and balancing.
Decisions about changes to our national screening programmes will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers the evidence for changes in a robust and transparent manner. The Committee’s role is to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly. This ensures policy decisions are informed by the best available evidence and advice.
The NSAC is currently finalising plans for its first ‘annual call’ which will be announced later this year. Applications for proposals for new population based screening programmes and modifications to existing programmes, such as a reduction in the age of those eligible for screening, will be welcomed from the public as well as the HSE, health professionals and other professional bodies. Further information on the 'annual call' will be published on the NSAC website.
810. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total amount that the State spent on personal protective equipment, which either never arrived or was not fit for use when it arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46720/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
811. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the estimated total cost of the construction of the new national children’s hospital to date; and the estimated final cost of construction for the hospital when it is completed. [46721/21]
View answerThe new children’s hospital (NCH) project, comprises the main hospital on a shared campus at St James’s, and two paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght University Hospital.
In 2018, the Government approved a capital budget of €1.433bn for the NCH project. This included the capital costs for the main hospital at St James's Hospital campus, the two Outpatient Department and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght campuses, equipment for the three sites, and the construction of the carpark and retail spaces.
There are a number of items not included in this investment figure as there was no price certainly for them and nor can there be, for some, for the duration of the project. These include construction inflation, the impact of Covid-19, statutory changes, any change in scope resulting in healthcare policy changes and the Employment Order. In addition, there remain risks beyond the control of the Development Board and the contractor, arising from Brexit, the global pandemic, global supply chain difficulties and shortages of construction raw materials. However, the contractor is working hard to mitigate those risks where possible.
Since the commencement of the NCH project construction, just under €805m has been drawn down for works on the project across the three sites.
Definitive updates on outturn costs cannot be provided due to the fact that there is a live contract in place and speculation on any costs would be detrimental to the Development Board’s commercial engagements.
Despite delays, the new children’s hospital building at St James’s is taking shape. The concrete frame was completed at the end of March which reaches the highest point in the building. This ‘topping out’ is an important milestone in any construction project. The façade to the building will be practically complete and weathertight by the end of 2021 and the internal fit-out of a range of clinical areas is progressing well.
The second paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Tallaght Hospital was substantially completed in early September 2021, in line with the contractor’s programme schedule, and then handed over to Children’s Health Ireland on 15 September 2021.
The new facility is expected to open in mid-November after a period of operational commissioning and equipping. This will further drive the shift towards ambulatory care provision. Together with the Urgent Care Centre, CHI at Connolly, these new facilities will improve access to urgent care for a significant number of paediatric patients. The opening of the second of the three new campuses, will mark another important milestone in the NCH programme and in the delivery of children’s services.
812. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of anti-social behaviour, fires or pipe bombs on the site of the new national children’s hospital; and if antisocial behaviour is having an impact on the construction of the hospital. [46722/21]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has advised my Department of a number of incidents that have arisen on the site of the new children’s hospital. Gardaí are investigating those incidents with the support of the primary contractor BAM, who is responsible for the site, and the NPHDB.
Since criminal investigations are ongoing no further comment can be made at this time.
