Written Answers Nos. 1501-1520
1501. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current wait time and length of wait for an MRI in Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19853/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In relation to the details requested by the Deputy, I have referred your question to the HSE and asked them to provide you with a direct response.
1502. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his and his Department's discussions with the Irish Dental Association in respect of the provision of appropriate dental services for medical card holders; the way that he intends to address the urgent crisis in counties Louth and Meath where over two thirds of registered dentists have left the GMS scheme since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19856/22]
View answerIt is regrettable that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) during the pandemic. Approximately 1,150 private dentists continue to hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of dental services to medical card holders, but that number is down about 300 since the start of the pandemic.
I have acknowledged immediate issues of concern with the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, which I am addressing as a matter of priority. Officials from my Department and from the HSE have held three rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association (IDA), the most recent on 2nd March when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the DTTS.
Following the consultation with the IDA on 2nd March, I have now given approval for significant fee increases to be paid to contracted dentists across a number of items, including the Dental Examination and Fillings. I have also approved the reintroduction of Scale and Polish for medical card patients on the DTSS. These new measures are designed to address access problems for patients, and address dentist’s concerns about the viability of the DTSS, while aligning the DTSS more closely with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by private dentists for PRSI patients.
These measures should amount to an additional investment this year of about €26 million over what was spent on the Scheme in 2021. My Department and the HSE will work together to quickly implement the changes to the Scheme for the benefit of patients
1504. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a case (details supplied); if he will urgently seek to have the home help hours revised upwards to the original amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19882/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1505. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that dentists providing care to medial card patients under the dental treatment services scheme has dropped by 40% since 2017 and by nearly 50% since 2012 (details supplied); the status of negotiations between his Department and an association on a revised medical card scheme; the plans his Department and the HSE have to ensure that patients in County Louth who have medical cards receive the timely treatment they need in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19884/22]
View answerIt is regrettable that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) during the pandemic. Approximately 1,150 private dentists continue to hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of dental services to medical card holders, but that number is down about 300 since the start of the pandemic.
I have acknowledged immediate issues of concern with the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, which I am addressing as a matter of priority. Officials from my Department and from the HSE have held three rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association (IDA), the most recent on 2nd March when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the DTTS.
Following the consultation with the IDA on the 2nd March, I have now given approval for significant fee increases to be paid to contracted dentists across a number of items, including the Dental Examination and Fillings. I have also approved the reintroduction of Scale and Polish for medical card patients on the DTSS. These new measures are designed to address access problems for patients, and address dentist’s concerns about the viability of the DTSS, while aligning the DTSS more closely with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by private dentists for PRSI patients.
These measures should amount to an additional investment this year of about €26 million over what was spent on the Scheme in 2021. My Department and the HSE will work together to quickly implement the changes to the Scheme for the benefit of patients.
1506. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a care plan for a child (details supplied). [19885/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1507. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be granted a licence. [19886/22]
View answerThe HPRA confirms that the hemp licence application referred to is completed. The licence has been issued by the Department of Health.
1508. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of money that was budgeted for recovery education; the amount that was spent in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19894/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1509. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on an application for reimbursement being considered by the HSE Drugs Group in relation to voretigene neparvovec luxturna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19895/22]
View answer1523. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 202 to 205, inclusive, of 2 March 2022, if he will provide an update on the possible reimbursement of gene therapy treatment, voretigene neparvovec luxturna, for the treatment of sight loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19931/22]
View answer1525. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2020 the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics refused reimbursement of the drug luxturna; if this decision will be reviewed given that there are no existing treatments for inherited retinal disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19939/22]
View answer1526. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if consultations have taken place to improve the cost effectiveness of the gene therapy treatment luxturna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19940/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1509, 1523, 1525 and 1526 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 licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost-effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
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 HSE has advised that on 23 September 2019 an application was received for the reimbursement of Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna) for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients with vision loss due to inherited retinal dystrophy caused by confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations and who have sufficient viable retinal cells.
On 29 October 2019, following the completion by the NCPE of a rapid review, the HSE commissioned a full pharmacoeconomic assessment with respect to this indication.
On 3 April 2020, the NCPE received the applicant’s submission for this assessment. On 18 September 2020, the NCPE completed its assessment and recommended that Voretigene neparvovec not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.
The HSE engaged in commercial negotiations with the applicant company in November 2020.
The HSE Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members and clinicians.
The HSE Drugs Group considered Voretigene neparvovec at its February 2021 meeting, and requested Patient and Clinician Engagement input via the Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) to assist the group in making its recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT) regarding reimbursement of Voretigene neparvovec.
The HSE has advised that, on 23 March 2021, the RDTRC held a meeting at which Voretigene neparvovec was the main agenda point.
The Committee met on 26 August and concluded its patient and clinician engagement with respect to Voretigene neparvovec. The Committee submitted a statement in December regarding this review for the Drugs Group’s consideration.
The Drugs Group has specifically requested a Prescribing Guideline to inform their deliberations. This guideline is currently under development. The Drugs Group will review the output of the RDTRC and the Prescribing Guideline with a view to making a recommendation at the earliest opportunity to the HSE EMT.
The HSE EMT is the decision-making body for the reimbursement of medicines under the Health Act 2013 and it will, following receipt of the outcome of the HSE Drugs Group's deliberations, make the decision on whether Voretigene neparvovec will be reimbursed.
1510. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in CAMHS that are filled or unfilled on a monthly basis from January 2021 to date in 2022, by CHO area, in tabular form: the reason for the empty beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19896/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1511. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health facilities from January 2021 to date in 2022; the dates they were admitted, by CHO area; the reason they were admitted, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19897/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1512. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19902/22]
View answer1513. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19903/22]
View answer1514. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders who received specialist inpatient treatment in a dedicated eating disorder service in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19904/22]
View answer1515. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders who received specialist inpatient treatment in a dedicated eating disorder service in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19905/22]
View answer1516. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders who were referred to non-eating disorder inpatient public acute mental health facilities in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19906/22]
View answer1517. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders who were referred to non-eating disorder inpatient public acute mental health facilities in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19907/22]
View answer1518. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders needing public specialist inpatient treatment in a dedicated eating disorder service who were referred to a private dedicated eating disorder service in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19908/22]
View answer1519. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who presented to the HSE looking for treatment for eating disorders needing public specialist inpatient treatment in a dedicated eating disorder service who were referred to a private dedicated eating disorder service in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19909/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1512 to 1519, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1520. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason PPE is no longer provided by HSE primary care centres to family carers while Covid is still in the community; and if he plans to reverse this decision for those on low income. [19910/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
