Written Answers Nos. 730-753
730. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently being seen at the migraine clinic at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the waiting times for patients to see the consultant; his plans to improve the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3894/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
731. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of on-call hours provided at each ambulance base in the Dublin north-east region in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3900/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
732. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will re-examine the position in respect of, and not remove on appeal, a full medical card relating to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
733. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive continues to refuse medical card applications for those in receipt of the maximum rate of social welfare possible for their age when this is under €164 per week despite agreement between the Ombudsman and the Health Service Executive in 2012 that a person is to be considered financially independent when he or she is in receipt of income equivalent to or greater than the current standard rate of supplementary welfare allowance applicable to his or her age; the reason the guidelines have not been updated to reflect the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3916/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
734. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health when the construction of Corduff primary care centre will commence following a successful planning application to An Bord Pleanála. [3926/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE's response to you dated 24 January states that construction of the Corduff primary care centre is scheduled to begin in Q32014. For ease of reference a copy of that letter can be accessed via the following link:
735. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3927/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
736. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if research has been undertaken to establish any link between sugar and obesity; if he will consider introducing measures to regulate the sugar content of food and drink; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3928/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the auspices of the Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO), I set up a Steering Group to oversee the carrying out of a Health Impact Assessment on the health and economic aspects of introducing a Sugar Sweetened Drinks levy. Since completion of the HIA significant additional evidence has concluded that intake of free sugars or sugar sweetened beverages is a determinant of body weight, so this is an area that I believe merits further exploration. The World Health Organisation has stated that there is convincing evidence that a high intake of energy-dense micro-nutrient - poor foods, which would include sugar, promotes weight gain. In particular, there is strong evidence of a link between a high intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and obesity. For this reason I have forwarded proposals on this matter to Government. The Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) has made recommendations to me in a report on interventions and actions to reduce consumption of foods from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid, in accordance with the Healthy Eating Guidelines. An action framework has been drawn up and is being progressed.
737. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3929/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
739. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the cost of lifesaving drugs here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3941/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe prices of drugs vary between countries for a number of reasons, including different prices set by manufacturers, different wholesale and pharmacy mark-ups, different dispensing fees and different rates of VAT. In recent years, a number of changes to the pricing and reimbursement system have been successfully introduced in Ireland. These have resulted in reductions in the prices of thousands of medicines. The State has introduced a series of reforms in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical prices and expenditure. These have resulted in reductions in the price of thousands of medicines. Price reductions of the order of 30% per item reimbursed have been achieved between 2009 and 2013; the average cost per items reimbursed is now running at 2001/2002 levels.
The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 provides that from June 2013 the maximum price of all new medicinal products reimbursed under the community drug schemes will be set in accordance with the criteria set out in the Act. The Act also provides that the HSE must review all items currently reimbursable under the GMS and other community drug schemes (including prices) within three years to determine if they should remain on the reimbursement list and, if so, what price should apply. In addition, the Act introduces a system of generic substitution and reference pricing. This legislation will promote price competition among suppliers and ensure that lower prices are paid for these medicines resulting in further savings for both taxpayers and patients. It is estimated that reference pricing will yield €50 million in savings in 2014. Under the Act, the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is responsible for the assessment for interchangeability of medicinal products. Generic substitution will be introduced incrementally with the IMB prioritising those medicines which will achieve the greatest savings for patients and the State. The Board is in the process of reviewing an initial 20 groups of medicinal products, which equates to approximately 1,500 individual medicines. They include statins, proton pump inhibitors, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers.
The first List of Interchangeable Medicinal Products, containing groups of atorvastatin products, was published by the IMB on the 7th August 2013. The List has been updated since then by the addition of 12 more groups of medicinal products. The IMB is updating the List of Interchangeable Medicinal Products on an ongoing basis and it expects to complete the assessment of the first top 20 priority groups of medicinal products by end Quarter 1 2014. A second list of 20 priority groups of medicinal products has now been identified and it is expected the IMB will have completed assessment of these products in Quarter 4 2014. Details on when each group of medicinal products will be assessed for interchangeability will be published on the IMB website in due course (www.imb.ie).
Reference pricing involves the setting of a common reimbursement price, or reference price, for a group of interchangeable medicines. It means that one reference price is set for each group or list of interchangeable medicines, and this is the maximum price that the HSE will reimburse to pharmacies for all medicines in the group, regardless of the individual medicine’s prices. The first reference price for atorvastatin products was implemented on 1 November 2013 resulting in a 70% reduction in the price paid by the HSE for these products compared to May 2013. The second reference price for esomeprazole 20mg products was implemented on 1 January 2014 and the HSE expect to implement reference prices for esomeprazole 40mg on 1 February 2014 resulting in a 56% reduction in the price of these products compared to May 2013. The HSE also expect to implement reference prices for rosuvastatin products with effect from 1 February 2014 resulting in a 40% reduction compared to the prices paid in May 2013.
In addition, the consultation process is also underway in relation to three more groups of medicines which have been designated as interchangeable by the IMB – Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, and Pravastatin. It is expected that reference prices will be implemented for these groups of medicines with effect from 1 March 2014. The HSE will continue the process of setting reference prices for the remaining groups of interchangeable medicinal products published by the IMB in accordance with the processes and timelines set down in the legislation. It is expected that 80% by value of the off-patent market for prescribed medicines will be subject to reference pricing by end 2014 resulting in further significant reductions in the price of generic medicines. Reference prices will ensure that generic prices in Ireland will fall towards European norms.
740. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the level of ambulance cover in County Mayo on 29 and 30 June and 10, 21 and 28 July 2013; the way this level of cover compared with other dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3962/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
744. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the ambulance service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Ambulance Service (NAS) must treat, stabilise and transport a patient in an emergency situation to the nearest appropriate emergency department. The overriding concern of the NAS at all times is that timely and appropriate pre-hospital care is delivered to all patients. Ambulance personnel operate under very strict clinical practice guidelines. Staff are instructed to take all patients to the nearest appropriate hospital. However, where there is a clinical by-pass protocol in place for a hospital, for example in relation to a particular condition or as part of an escalation process, a patient may be taken to a more distant facility. The National Ambulance Service is acutely aware that, when dealing with any form of traumatic injury, a hidden, more serious injury may not be immediately apparent. Accordingly, a clinical decision may be taken, following diagnosis at the initial hospital, to transfer a patient to another facility more appropriate to the patient's needs. If the Deputy has information concerning specific incidents in which he feels patients were transported to an inappropriate hospital, I would invite him to supply my Department with the details and the matter will be examined further.
745. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be provided with a wheelchair. [3994/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
746. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a six-month wait for outpatient cardiology appointments at Cork University Hospital; and if this length of time is putting patients with heart problems at serious risk in the Health Service Executive south region. [4009/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
747. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if incidences of hospitalisation arising from reactions to the flu injection are recorded; if so, if he will provide these figures in tabular form for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4036/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraInfluenza is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus and affects people of all ages. Outbreaks of influenza occur almost every year, especially during winter time. Seasonal flu vaccination forms part of the Adult Immunisation Programme. Each year in line with World Health Organisation recommendations the vaccine changes to suit the strain of circulating virus. As the Deputy’s question relates to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for a direct reply.
748. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that an instruction has been given by the Health Service Executive to its physiotherapists that only clients who cannot walk will be supplied with orthotics in future as a result of cutbacks; if he intends to reverse the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4038/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within available resources. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion this year to fund its 2014 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities. As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
749. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the upgrade of medical cards from general practitioner only to full in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4046/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
750. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to include treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, EDS, under the treatment abroad scheme; his further plans to provide for the treatment of EDS here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4050/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation 1408/71, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations 574/72, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Within these governing EU Regulations and the Department of Health Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of Form E112 (IE). A decision is made on each application in accordance with this legislation and guidelines and on the basis of a review by clinical experts. The cost of the treatment is not a deciding factor when approving an application. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it.
The TAS allows for an Irish based medical consultant to refer a patient that is normally resident in Ireland for treatment, in a public hospital, in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, where the treatment in question meets the following criteria:
(a) The application to refer a patient abroad has been assessed and a determination given before that patient goes abroad.
(b) following clinical assessment, the referring Consultant certifies the following:
- They recommend the patient be treated in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland;
- The treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;
- The treatment is a proven form of medical treatment and is not experimental or test treatment;
- The treatment is in a recognised hospital or other institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner;
- The hospital outside the state will accept EU/EEA form E112 (IE).
and wish to confirm that applications for the Treatment Abroad Scheme are assessed on a case by case basis.
The HSE TAS processes applications on the basis of the treatment that the patient is being referred outside the state to receive, which is not available in Ireland. The presence of a rare illness, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, is not of itself criteria for availing of treatment abroad: most rare diseases are treated without the need for recourse to services in other jurisdictions. Patients, in conjunction with their Irish based public referring hospital consultant, have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the state through model form E112. Applications to TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. Approved applicants/patients' hospital treatment costs are covered through the issue of form E112 (IE) for the specific identified episode of care. Once a patient is discharged from a specific episode of care abroad, their care immediately reverts to their Irish based consultant.
Each application to the HSE TAS is reviewed individually on its own merits and there are no restrictions on a person making an application to the HSE TAS for review and decision. Previous approvals or declines are not used as an influencing factor on subsequent applications. Each application is for an individual episode of care unless otherwise specified by the consultant on the application form. Each application to TAS is processed and given a formal written decision. If that decision is one of decline, the reason for that decision is clearly outlined and the option of an appeal is afforded. Furthermore, as above the decision on an application does not restrict future applications for an individual patient or indeed other patients seeking treatment abroad that is not available in Ireland.
It is not possible to give a "blanket" statement on application s to TAS for patients with a particular condition, not least in relation to EDS where its presentation differs from patient to patient. As outlined above, applications are made in respect of a specified treatment not available in Ireland. The above is by way of providing foreground to the answer to Deputy McGrath's direct question. With regard to same, the HSE TAS does not encompass a list of specific treatments which are covered under the scheme. As above, each individual application is processed on its own merits and without the submission and of review of an application, no decision regarding a specific case can be given.
751. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding training allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4054/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
752. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his views on the suggested relationship between breast cancer screening and incidence (details supplied). [4060/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraBreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, is carried out in Ireland in line with EU Guidelines that are based on recommendation from the International Agency for Research on Cancer which is a WHO agency. BreastCheck's approach, involving a population-based ongoing call and recall system with outcomes being reviewed by two consultant radiologists, provides a quality service in Ireland. It has a clear commitment to providing transparent information to women invited for screening - with the benefits and limitations of screening clearly explained. Digital mammography is utilised as this is the most advanced method available, giving enhanced image quality and significant reductions in the radiation dose associated with screening examinations. While not all breast cancers can be found by mammogram, breast screening helps to identify cancers at an early stage when its easier to treat the patient, leading to less extensive surgical treatment, a better chance of a good recovery and improved quality of life.
Breast cancer survival in Ireland has improved significantly in recent years due to a combined approach of screening, symptomatic detection and improved treatment. Breast cancer 5 year survival is now estimated at 81.8% for people diagnosed between 2003-2007, up from 76.8% for people diagnosed between 1998-2002. Meanwhile, the latest projections from the National Cancer Registry indicate that the incidence of cancer, including breast cancer, in Ireland is expected to rise in the period up to 2040. They attribute this to demographic changes such as population size and an aging population.
753. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the funding the State provides, directly or indirectly, to treat and prevent gambling addiction. [4061/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
