Written Answers Nos. 561-80
561. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the services that are available to general practitioners for patients who require emergency GMS cover if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28399/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has an effective system in place for the provision of emergency medical cards for patients who are terminally ill, or who are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford. They are issued within twenty-four hours of receipt of the required patient details and the letter of confirmation of the condition from a doctor or a medical consultant. For persons with a terminal illness, no means test applies. Once the terminal illness is verified by a GP or Consultant, patients are given an emergency medical card for six months.
GPs have full electronic visibility of their GP visit/medical card panel of patients and have the facility to electronically allow temporary extension of eligibility for expiring cards where a sensitive renewal is appropriate, or where they are aware that a person is still availing of services but there may be something that prevents them from carrying out a standard review, e.g. a blind person with little family support. All GPs have appropriate electronic access to the medical card eligibility database and they do not have to confirm medical card details by contacting the HSE.
562. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/14]
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.
563. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the recruitment process behind appointing the project manager for the €150 million national maternity hospital project on St.Vincent's hospital campus; and if the job was advertised publicly. [28411/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
566. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to make a drug (details supplied) available to patients under the general medical card scheme and the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28424/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra572. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason the medication Fampyra for multiple sclerosis, MS, sufferers has been removed from the long-term illness scheme; his plans to reinstate this drug on the long-term illness scheme, in view of its effectiveness in treating MS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28454/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 572 together.
Fampridine (Fampyra®) was never available under the Long Term Illness Scheme. However, I understand that the manufacturer of Fampyra supplied the drug free of charge to some patients who were prescribed the drug by their clinician. The manufacturer has recently decided to stop supplying the drug free of charge and, as a consequence, these patients are now faced with financing the drug themselves if they wish to continue with this drug treatment. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes. The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine (Fampyra®) in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed 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 Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie).
The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. In these circumstances, the HSE has not approved the reimbursement of Fampridine under the GMS or other community drug schemes. However, I am aware that studies are ongoing to assess the wider impact of Fampridine on both walking and quality of life for persons diagnosed with MS. The results of these studies will contribute to the evidence base demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of the product which can be used to support future applications for its inclusion on the lists of reimbursable items supplied under the GMS and other community drugs scheme. The HSE has met with Biogen Idec recently to discuss a potential revised application. The HSE expects that Biogen Idec will submit a revised application. The HSE will then re-consider the application in as timely a fashion as possible in line with the agreed procedures and timescales for the assessment of new medicines.
567. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants that have applied for the vacant consultant dermatologist post at Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28425/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to an operational matter, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
568. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card review will be completed in the case of the spouse of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28431/14]
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.
569. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of further documentation in respect of a medical card application in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28432/14]
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.
570. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath is to lose their home care package of three hours per week at the end of June; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28433/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
573. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as a matter of urgency. [28457/14]
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.
574. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in arranging a hip replacement operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if he will expedite the matter. [28459/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him on this matter.
575. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date of a shoulder operation will be arranged at Kilcreene Hospital Kilkenny in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [28460/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him on this matter.
576. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be issued as a matter of urgency to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [28467/14]
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.
577. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will review the definition of anaphylaxis and include it under the long-term illness scheme, as is the case with diabetes, haemophilia, epilepsy and other diseases and medical conditions. [28472/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme. The conditions covered by the LTI Scheme are as follows: 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. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered under the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
578. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the establishment of a State-wide education programme to alert teachers, health care professionals, citizens and parents about the dangers of anaphylaxis. [28473/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnaphylaxis may arise from a wide variety of causes, including insect stings, food allergies and reaction to certain medications. It affects individuals in many different ways. General practitioners are in the best position to offer advice to sufferers and, where necessary, to refer them to hospital consultants, to advise on the use of adrenaline pens or other appropriate precautionary measures with regard to the precautions that should be taken in individual cases. My Department has no plans to introduce a state wide anaphylaxis programme as I am satisfied that GPs are best placed to provide advice to individual patients.
