Written Answers Nos. 1208-1228
1208. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be issued to a person (details supplied) regarding their confirmed urgent referral to the urology clinic in UCG Hospital in Dec 2022. [47961/23]
View answerUnder 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1209. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the 109 recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism's final Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47977/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
1210. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to introduce legislation that bans the use of vaping products in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47982/23]
View answer1347. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the existence of a policy initiative within his Department addressing the concerning increase in vaping among primary and secondary school children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48673/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1210 and 1347 together.
The primary focus of policy and action in relation to e-cigarettes is to reduce uptake by children and young people.
My current legislative priority is the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, which will prohibit the sale of all nicotine inhaling products to children and introduce a requirement for a licence for their sale. The Bill completed Committee Stage on 12 October 2023. It is expected to be enacted in this legislative session.
I am also considering further comprehensive regulation of nicotine inhaling products. I will publish a consultation shortly examining a range of policy options to decrease their appeal, availability and use among young people, while considering their relative harm compared to combustible tobacco for adults who smoke. Regarding a prohibition on vaping on school campuses, the aim will be to progress this via cooperation rather than legislation, as is the case for smoking.
In addition to legislation, there are a number of initiatives and campaigns at local and national level that tackle the issue of youth vaping. The HSE has recently worked with the Department of Education to develop Junior Cycle SPHE modules on substance misuse, including e-cigarettes. The module for Second Year students focuses on raising awareness of the impact of ’roll your own’ cigarettes, vaping and e-cigarettes, and exploring the marketing techniques employed by tobacco companies.
Finally, my Department and the HSE work closely with Local Authorities to develop voluntary initiatives that promote smoke and vape free environments such as Not Around Us. These aim to further reduce the areas where smoking and vaping are present in daily life for young people.
1211. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the reclassification of a condition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48001/23]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These 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 LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
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 under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
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.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1212. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48014/23]
View answerIn response to your question, the details requested are set out per the table attached.
It is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and, in particular, when such an approach is felt to be more appropriate and cost-effective.
|
Year |
Consultancy Name |
Tender Process? Yes/No |
Timeframe of the contract |
Amount spent |
Description of the Project |
Desired output |
|
21/03/2018, 30/05/2018 |
McKinsey |
yes |
10 months |
€ 268,195.72 |
Development of a response to Slaintecare report |
Provision of business & management consultancy and other related services for the Irish Health Sector |
1213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if homecare workers employed directly by the HSE work Saturdays and Sundays; if weekend home support is provided entirely by external providers, approved by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48059/23]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1214. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient beds currently in five hospitals (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48085/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1215. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who has a full medical card, is being charged for blood tests by their GP surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48086/23]
View answerGP services are provided without charge to people who hold a medical card or GP visit card under the GMS scheme. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess.".
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for such blood tests.
In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of services provided under the GP Chronic Disease Management Programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
The issue of certain GPs charging GMS patients for necessary blood tests has been raised previously with the relevant GP representative body. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances.
Likewise, in regard to other services, it is a matter for the treating GP to determine in the case of each individual patient what is proper and necessary care. In circumstances where a GP, in the exercise of their clinical judgement, determines that a particular treatment or service requested by a patient is not clinically necessary, but the patient still wishes to receive the treatment, it is at the GPs discretion as to whether they impose a charge for providing the service/treatment in question.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes they have been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services or for a different service by their 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 a GMS patient, will contact the GP concerned and carry out an investigation into each complaint and, where appropriate, will arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
1216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the State can provide assistance in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48087/23]
View answerI understand the Deputy may be seeking further information on the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS).
The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The TAS is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland through the issue of form S2 (IE) where the treatment is:
• among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation;
• not available in Ireland;
• not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease;
• medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;
• a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment;
• provided in a recognised public hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form S2 (IE) and;
• is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.
The HSE provides further information for patients on the HSE TAS website:
www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/treatment-abroad-scheme/.
Patients are advised to contact the HSE TAS office directly, for advice on making an application for treatment abroad, in advance of travelling abroad. Contact details are available on the TAS Website. www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/treatment-abroad-scheme/.
In relation to the details supplied, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1217. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Kerry who currently accept medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48090/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the percentage of cervical screening samples that will be processed in the National Cervical Screening Laboratory at the Coombe, now that the service has resumed; the percentage that will continue to be outsourced to secondary laboratory contractors; the timeline he is working towards for increasing the number of cervical screening samples processed at the National Cervical Screening Laboratory and ending the overreliance on secondary laboratory contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48092/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1219. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the national school dentist scheme for 6th class children who have yet to be seen by a school dentist due to Covid (details supplied). [48095/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48100/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1221. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an MRI scan will be expedited at WUH for a person (details supplied). [48104/23]
View answerUnder 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1222. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if special hearings aids will be provided as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [48106/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1223. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation regarding medical card holders who wish to transfer from one GP practice to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48107/23]
View answerThe GMS scheme operates under a choice of doctor principle, meaning that patients who hold a medical or GP visit card have the freedom to choose their GP, or move from one GP to another, provided the new GP is willing to accept the patient to their panel, and that the GP concerned holds a GMS contract.
Patients who wish to change their GMS GP can do so via the “Change of GP form” available from the HSE website.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
1224. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 812 of 13 July 2023, for a breakdown of the more than 25,000 young people refused access to CAMHS since 2020; for a breakdown of the reasons they were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48109/23]
View answer1225. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 812 of 13 July 2023, how many of those refused access to CAMHS have a diagnosis of autism; if those with autism met the criteria of moderate to severe mental ill-health; and to comment on the policy of refusal to CAMHS in relation to those with a dual diagnosis of autism and mental ill-health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48110/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1224 and 1225 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1226. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on a presentation (details supplied); if children are being excluded from CAMHS because they also have a diagnosis of autism; the mental health supports that are available within CAMHS to young people with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48111/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1227. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if children with a dual diagnosis of autism and mental health will be included in the CAMHS Hub Pilot phase; his views on the criteria for being included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48112/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1228. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health how many primary care occupational therapists are in place in Rowlagh, Clondalkin, and Rosse Court, Lucan; and the average waiting time for an appointment for children in both locations. [48118/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
