Written Answers Nos. 228-38
228. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the recent findings of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs Drug Prevalence Survey for 2010/2011; his views on the finding that there were statistically significant increases in both the lifetime and last year prevalence of sedatives and tranquilisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50660/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have reviewed the latest Bulletin of the Drug Prevalence Survey 2010/11 on Sedatives, Tranquillisers & Antidepressants which was published by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs on 23 October.
The survey found that 13.9% of those aged 15-64 years used sedatives or tranquilisers in their lifetime, with 6.5% using these drugs in the past year. This shows an increase from 10.5% and 4.7% respectively from the previous survey in 2006/7. Appropriate use of sedatives and tranquilisers plays an important role in facilitating the health and well-being of many people. However, I am concerned about the health risks associated with their inappropriate or long-term use and their more widespread availability.
The survey findings will further inform my Department in the review of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations with a view to imposing additional controls on benzodiazepine and z-drugs. Legislative amendments being considered include the introduction of an offence of unauthorised possession as well as import and export controls on such drugs. It is also proposed to tighten the prescribing and dispensing rules applying to these drugs. I hope to bring forward legislative proposals in this area in the first half of 2013.
229. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if a memorandum has been issued by National Directors of the Health Service Executive (details supplied) to the effect that consultant posts are not exempt from the recruitment moratorium; the date on which this memorandum was issued; if there are circumstances in which vacancies in consultant posts are exempt from the moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50666/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra230. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if all current vacancies in consultant posts across the state have full locum cover; if there are any posts that do not have locum cover; if he will identify those positions which are not currently covered and which discipline and hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50667/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.
The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. The Employment Control Framework for the health sector sets out the numbers reduction target for 2012 and how the public sector wide moratorium is to be applied in the health sector. While the frameworks in recent years had exempted a number of grades from the moratorium, including consultants, the 2012 Framework does not specifically exempt any particular grade. Nevertheless, the HSE can make staff appointments, including consultant posts, once it remains with its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.
I take it that the memorandum referred to by the Deputy is a letter dated 20 July signed by National Directors of the Integrated Services Directorate and of Human Resources. That memorandum sets out the approach to health service recruitment to be taken in order to assist in addressing the serious budgetary situation facing the HSE. In particular, it outlines that except in a limited number of circumstances, all recruitment is to be paused with effect from the date of the letter.
As the filling of consultant vacancies, by locum cover or otherwise, is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry in that regard has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
231. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health his plans to assist those on gluten free diets in view of certain charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50670/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of reimbursable items. This includes gluten-free products. Many European countries do not pay for food products under their Health Service Arrangements – the logic being that all persons need to buy food.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf . Separate application forms are available for children.
For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, monies spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.
232. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to representations regarding St Micheal's House, Dublin 9; the impact that past cutbacks have had on the services offered by them to the community and the potential impact that further cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50671/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure on health services for people with a disability in 2012 will be around €1.4 billion.
In the case of disability services, the HSE National Service Plan 2012 provides for a 3.7% reduction in budgets but makes it clear that there is scope for achieving efficiencies of 2% or more through measures such as consolidation and rationalisation of back office costs. All providers will be expected to achieve some efficiency savings but the level of savings required will vary depending on the profile of the service provider, efficiency savings achieved to date and the scope for further savings. Some reductions in day services, residential and respite services will be unavoidable even with such efficiencies. The aim will be to tailor such reductions to minimise the impact on service users and families as much as possible.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
233. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.618 of 9 October 2012, if he will provide an update in relation to the future of the laundry service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, County Louth. [50676/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Health Service Executive were in communication with the Deputy in relation to this matter on the 10th October. As this issue is a service issue I have asked the Executive to update the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
235. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has considered allowing graduate speech and language therapists to conduct their mandatory supervised one year placement with the Health Service to allow graduates receive their qualification and make available more personnel in this area, and at a reduced cost to the State. [50689/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no requirement for graduate speech and language therapists to undergo a mandatory supervised one-year placement post qualification.
Students on existing Irish programmes which lead to recognised qualifications in speech and language therapy are facilitated by the Irish health service to undertake clinical placements during the course, and as part, of their education and training programme.
236. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has a policy on the location of its drug rehabilitation clinics. [50691/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn objective of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-16 is to develop a national treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users and to encourage problem substance users to engage with, and avail of, such services.
To this end the HSE provides a variety of drug treatment interventions to meet the needs of individual drug users. These include interventions to reduce drug-related harm such as needle exchange provision, together with evidence-based treatment options such as opioid substitution, counselling and community and residential rehabilitation initiatives.
The treatment settings utilised include:
- primary care through General Practitioners and community pharmacies;
- satellite clinics that facilitate opioid substitution through community pharmacies;
- treatment centres where opioid substitution treatment is dispensed on site; and
- residential rehabilitation facilities.
The HSE recognises that drug treatment should be provided at the lowest level of complexity, matching the patient's needs and as close to the patient's home as possible. In the past few years the HSE has systematically reviewed waiting lists with a view to maximising the utilisation of existing services and developing new services where required. Arising from this additional services have been made available in Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork, Tralee, Limerick and Dundalk, greatly enhancing the drug treatment options for people in these areas.
The HSE will continue to review the overall situation with a view maximising the availability of treatment for problem drug users in line with available resources.
237. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the reason a promised podiatry post at Waterford Regional Hospital, County Waterford, sanctioned in April 2012, will now not be filled, when it will be resolved; his view on the alternatives available to persons in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50696/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, therefore, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
238. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide for a package of supports for those affected by narcolepsy following the publication of the final report of the National Narcolepsy Study Steering Committee earlier this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50702/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Education and Skills to address the needs of those affected by narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination.
The HSE provides a range of services and supports to those affected including access to rapid diagnosis, clear treatment pathways, temporary medical cards and reimbursement of expenses incurred. Multi-disciplinary assessments which allow for the appropriate individualised health and educational supports to be put in place have commenced. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is also engaging with the HSE and with the individual schools and parents of children concerned to identify and provide educational supports for the children and adolescents affected.
My Department is considering all other possible supports which may need to be put in place for those affected. Any such supports require my approval and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I would like to assure the Deputy that this matter continues to be a priority for my Department.
