Written Answers Nos 179-184
179. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information regarding the categories of persons based on clinical assessment with the orthodontist on the orthodontic treatment waiting list; the basis for the different categories such as 4d, 5i, 4f, 4c, and all other categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48517/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the orthodontic treatment waiting list, on a county basis; the number of these persons that applied for treatment in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and earlier years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48518/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which orthodontic treatment requirements identified in the course of school medical examinations has been provided by way of follow-up; the waiting lists for such treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48547/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 179, 180 and 189 together.
The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Orthodontic referrals are generally received via the Public Dental Service school screening programme. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined in accordance with the Modified Index of Treatment Need. The dental health component has five categories ranging from 1 (no need for treatment) to 5 (great need). Further sub-divisions of these categories are substantially based in accordance with the causes of malocclusion, e.g. misalignment of teeth. Patients with the greatest level of need are provided with treatment.
At the time of assessment those with urgent clinical need are prioritised. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Information on waiting times is collated by the HSE by region and for the intervals as shown in the table only. The most recent information relates to the third quarter of 2013.
|
Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment |
1 - 6 months |
7 - 12 months |
13 - 24 months |
2 - 3 years |
Over 4 years |
TOTAL |
|
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster |
862 |
746 |
959 |
724 |
16 |
3,307 |
|
HSE West |
566 |
1135 |
1165 |
1200 |
61 |
4,127 |
|
HSE South |
326 |
963 |
495 |
1190 |
191 |
3,165 |
|
HSE Dublin North East |
341 |
631 |
864 |
1235 |
194 |
3,265 |
|
TOTAL |
2,095 |
3,475 |
3,483 |
4,349 |
462 |
13,864 |
181. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure reductions to the Health Service Executive service plan budget will not affect or delay patients receiving chemotherapy for bowel and pancreatic cancer in several Dublin hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48528/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe quality and safety of our health services, including cancer services, has been a focus over the past number of years and this will continue in 2014 in the context of the HSE Service Plan for 2014. I wrote to the HSE on Thursday 31 October to confirm that the Executive has until 15 November to submit its Service Plan. In that letter, I also conveyed to the Executive that my overriding priority is patient safety, with the next priority being to treat patients in as timely a fashion as possible. A key priority for 2014 will be to further support the eight designated cancer centres, within available resources, to maintain continued improvements in diagnosis, surgery and multi-disciplinary care.
I welcome the huge improvements that have been made in recent years, led by the HSE National Cancer Control Programme. It is very encouraging to note that five year relative survival for all cancers is rising and is now 56.4% for people diagnosed between 2003-2007, as compared with 49.6% for people diagnosed in 1998-2002. Clearly 2014 will be a very challenging year for the health services. In meeting this challenge, the goal, wherever possible, is to cut the cost of services rather than the level or quality of the services delivered, and to accelerate the pace of reform. The reform programme for hospitals, as set out in Future Health, aims to deliver more responsive and equitable access to services for all patients; to organise public hospitals into more efficient and accountable hospital groups, which can deliver better patient care for less cost; and to ensure that smaller hospitals continue to play a key role.
182. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when the EU new cross border directive will be implemented; the amount of funding provided to initiate same; the expected health care benefits to the Irish consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48532/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement to patients’ of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (regulation 883/04).
The Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country. However, it should be emphasised that the vast majority of EU patients receive healthcare in their own country and prefer to do so.
The Department of Health is continuing to work on the necessary statutory provisions to fully implement the Directive and draft legal provisions to put in place the statutory provisions for this Directive are being prepared and will be implemented as soon as possible. Nevertheless, there are administrative arrangements in place in respect of the key provision of the Directive in relation to a national contact point (NCP), which has been set up within the HSE. The email address is crossborderdirective@hse.ie.
The principle function of the NCP is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost, the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements. The NCP also has a responsibility to ensure that all enquirers are informed of the rights, if any, that they may have through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (regulation 883/04) and which may be more beneficial to them. Patients’ requiring information on Ireland's implementation of the Directive may access NCP information on the Cross Border Directive (CBD) through the HSE’s main website.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the budget for his Department for 2014 is adequate to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48541/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which, within his Department, it has been found possible to identify areas most likely to be affected by expenditure overruns having particular regard to previous experience; if any attempt has been made to identify such areas early in the financial year with a view to ensuring continuity of service throughout the entire year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48542/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.
The gross current budget for the Department of Health (Vote 38) for 2014 is almost €212m, a reduction of €20m on the 2013 allocation of €232m. This funding is for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Health and certain other services administered by that Office, including grants to research, consultative and advisory bodies. Clearly the budgetary restraints will prove challenging in 2014; however, with astute financial planning and management, I am confident that my Office will operate within budget and I do not anticipate any expenditure overruns on the Vote.
