Written Answers Nos. 214-221
214. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure 24-7 nursing cover on Inisturk Island, County Mayo, in fulfilment of an earlier undertaking given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28535/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
215. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will review a submission that articulates the local views of a critically important sector in health care services here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28544/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will review a submission that articulates the national views of a critically important sector in health care services here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28545/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 674 of 28 May 2013.
217. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of children being treated for depression, anxiety and stress; the direction that is taken for treatment when a diagnosis is made; if he will provide the same information on patients between the ages of 18 and 25 years; if he will outline the guidelines pertaining to the management of these patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28551/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
218. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the mental health services in the Health Service Executive Dublin North East area for 16 to 18 year olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28552/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
219. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric patients who have been moved from psychiatric hospitals to community care settings since 2006, when A Vision for Change was published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28553/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who are still in psychiatric institutional care; the reasons for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28554/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
Data on the number of psychiatric patients who have moved from psychiatric hospitals to community care is not collected. Where necessary, care and treatment for such patients is mostly provided in the community through a variety of services including community mental health services, day hospitals, day centres and through home based treatment teams. Many other patients requiring mental health services outside the acute setting are accommodated in a variety of low, medium and high support hostels. There are approximately 2,790 beds in those settings. However, the latter groups do not necessarily come from discharges from the acute services.
The number of patents discharged from psychiatric units and hospitals during the period 2006-2011 is set out below:
|
Year |
Number of Discharges |
|
2006 |
20,098 |
|
2007 |
20,498 |
|
2008 |
20,603 |
|
2009 |
20,213 |
|
2010 |
19,614 |
|
2011 |
18,968 |
The data for 2012 is not yet available.
Significant progress has been made in closing the old traditional psychiatric hospitals and providing modern acute in-patient facilities in line with A Vision for Change. Progress has also been made in providing appropriate alternative continuing care accommodation for those service users who require such accommodation.
There continues to be a reduction in the bed capacity in the older psychiatric hospitals with 394 beds at the start of 2013 compared to 1,352 beds in such premises at the end of 2009. The HSE’s Service Plan 2013 commits to continuing to rationalise adult in-patient and continuing care provision in line with A Vision for Change and the reduction of a minimum of 102 acute in-patient beds by end 2013. In addition, there has been considerable decline in the number of patients resident in Irish psychiatric units and hospitals over recent years. A Census conducted by the Health Research Board on Irish Psychiatric Hospitals and Units shows that the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals and units on 31st March 2010 was 2,812 compared to 3,398 in 2006.
221. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health his views on the decision by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics to refuse to recommend funding for Pirfenidone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28558/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of pirfenidone and concluded that, at the submitted price, pirfenidone is not cost-effective for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie). The NCPE report is an important input to assist decision making and informs further discussions between the HSE and the manufacturer of the drug.
The HSE has had negotiations with Intermune (the manufacturer of pirfenidone) in relation to the pricing of pirfenidone and is examining an offer made by Intermune. The offer will be assessed in the context of the procedures for the assessment of new medicines as per the 2012 agreement between IPHA, the HSE and the Department of Health.
The HSE is carefully considering all the issues which arise in relation to the proposed benefits and costs of this medicine and expects to reach a decision in the near future.
