Written Answers Nos. 460 to 476
461. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the list of the number of patients on trolleys or beds in corridors at Naas General Hospital for each of the past 20 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2755/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the specific query raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
462. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 16 December 2014, if he will clarify the regulation of counselling services; his views on the services provided outside CIPC provision; where Aspen fits in with the consolidation of CIPC services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2765/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPsychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.
The previous Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, wrote to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council in May of last year advising it of his intention, in the public interest, to designate by regulation the profession or professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act. The Act provides that the Minister for Health is obliged to consult with the Council in the first instance concerning a proposed designation. The Act also requires that interested persons, organisations and other bodies be given an opportunity to make representations to the Minister concerning a proposed designation. The Council has been asked to advise on a number of issues concerning the proposed designation and has been requested to take into consideration the report of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on the academic standards necessary for the accreditation of courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is an essential element as it would inform, for the purpose of registration, the assessment by the registration board, when established, of the qualifications of those currently in practice.
This is the first stage in the consultation process under the Act and the Minister hopes to receive the Council's report at an early date. He will then proceed to the next stage which will involve a much wider consultation when he has fully considered the Council's report. While a number of issues remain to be clarified including decisions on whether one or two professions are to be regulated, on the title or titles of the profession or professions, and on the minimum qualifications to be required of applicants for registration, the Minister hopes to be in a position to progress the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists this year.
I note the many excellent counselling services currently provided across the country by the both the HSE and voluntary sector. Counselling is provided across the health service including primary care, social care and within mental health. This type of service can be provided by a range of trained health professionals and delivered to meet a clinical need at either primary or secondary care level.
However, the provision of a quality counselling service across both primary and secondary care needs to be developed further, as resources permit. The Government, in keeping with its commitment in the Programme for Government to increase access to counselling and psychotherapy, has provided funding totalling €7.5 million to develop the Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) service, which works closely with the HSE Mental Health Service, under whose aegis this funding is provided. CIPC is one of a range of initiatives taken by the HSE to build the capacity of primary care to respond to mental health needs appropriate to primary care. I was pleased to note that the HSE in its National Service Plan 2015 has committed to "Reviewing and improving access to psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions in conjunction with the Primary Care Division" as a first step to further consolidate and direct counselling services generally.
In relation to the specific question relating to Aspen, as this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
463. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 419 of 16 December 2014, when his Department will respond to the European Commission under the EU technical standards directive 98/34/EC; if the legislative process can continue in advance of his Department's response to the European Commission; when he expects the legislation to be considered by the Dáil Select Committee on Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2770/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 was formally notified to the Commission and to Member States under the EU Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) and the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) on 17th June 2014. As the Deputy is aware, detailed responses on the proposed measures were received from a number of Member States. A response to these opinions is being drafted by officials in the Department of Health, in consultation with the relevant Government Departments, and will be submitted shortly. It is anticipated that the Bill will resume the legislative process in the Dáil during the Spring/Summer session 2015.
464. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to deal with the ongoing problem of delayed discharges because of a shortage of home care packages, nursing home places and under-funding of the fair deal scheme; the number of home care packages and fair deal cases that have been approved in each of the past three months with a breakdown per health area. [2771/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelayed discharges arise when a patient has been clinically discharged from an acute hospital but remains in an acute hospital bed, thus rendering that bed unavailable for patients who need admission. In Budget 2015 the Government allocated €25m to tackle the problem of delayed discharges and this additional funding is being applied across residential and community services to reflect the varying needs of patients.
Of this €25m:
- €10m has been allocated to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme which has resulted in 300 extra approvals and shortening the waiting time for approval from 17 weeks to 11 weeks;
- €8m is being used to augment short-term residential care capacity and has provided for 50 additional short stay beds which have been sourced from the private sector, 65 more are to come on stream in March 2015;
- €5m is being used for home care services which will provide 400 additional Home Care Packages to benefit 600 discharges across targeted hospitals; and
- €2m has been used to strengthen Community Intervention Teams which has facilitated 571 people to be seen in their own home and 14 patients to be discharged from the Dublin hospitals over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of January 2015.
The HSE is looking at every possible option for alternative accommodation, including vacant beds in private nursing homes to address delayed discharges. Since January 5th 2015, the HSE has been working to match patients whose acute care has been completed but who require ongoing residential care with suitable placements. This will see a potential movement of 250 patients across the country from acute hospitals to other suitable facilities.
The latter part of your question, which requests the number of Home Care Packages and Fair Deal cases that have been approved in the past three months with a breakdown per health area, is a service matter and it has been forwarded to the HSE to reply to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.
466. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant long-term beds currently available on the north side of Dublin; the weekly cost of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2775/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
467. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the impact of two European countries' drug policies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2801/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research.
My Department is represented on a number of international fora which aim to help the overall efforts to address the drugs problem, particularly in the EU, but also globally. Through involvement in such international cooperation activities, my Department accesses information on the initiatives taken in other countries with the aim of applying potentially effective ideas to our problems in this country.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department will shortly begin work on developing a new National Drugs Strategy so that it can meet the challenges into the future. The overall approach to the development of the Strategy will be considered by the Oversight Forum on Drugs, which I chair, at its next meeting on 29 January. It is envisaged that the different international approaches to drugs policy will be examined in the context of this work, as well as research, information and data on the extent and nature of problem drug use in Ireland.
468. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures on cases of asbestosis that are collated across the State; the incidence of same in County Kildare, particularly in Athy when compared with the national average; if those with asbestosis can avail of health programmes or compensation for their condition; the regulations that are in place to deal with removal of asbestos; if it is envisaged that there will be any assistance to help with the removal of asbestosis in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2809/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to advise the Deputy that the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is responsible for Regulations under the Asbestos Directive which include matters relating to the removal of asbestos. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 386 of 2006) the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is required to maintain the Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Register. Operation of the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
From a health service perspective, asbestosis is a chronic (long-term) lung condition caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos and patients with this condition have access to the same range of diagnostic and treatment services provided in the public health system as other patients with chronic lung conditions.
Patients with asbestosis have a higher risk of developing other serious conditions, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and pleural disease. Very severe cases of asbestosis can cause serious ill health and reduce life expectancy. However, in many cases, the condition does not progress. More people with asbestosis die as a result of one or more of the cancers mentioned above rather than from asbestosis itself.
Treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of someone with asbestosis. Treatment components include quitting smoking, vaccinations against potentially dangerous lung infections such as influenza and pneumococcus, drug therapies and oxygen therapy.
469. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an incident currently under investigation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2810/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for the question raised.
I understand from the HSE that the two investigations are ongoing into the Philomena Canning case. The internal HSE systems analysis investigation is anticipated to be completed at the end of the first quarter. In order to expedite the overall process a parallel external midwifery practice review is anticipated to be completed slightly earlier.
470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form for 2015 will soon be available on the Department's website at www.health.gov.ie
471. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that it remains the practice of the Health Service Executive to award medical cards where the only income of the applicant is from social welfare; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under 25s who live with their parents and whose only income is age-related social welfare payments are being refused medical cards on the basis that their income is too low; if he will confirm that in 2011 there was a change to administrative practice to deal with this anomaly; if this has been changed since, and if so, when and the reason; if he will ensure that administrative practices are set so that under 25s who are in receipt of a reduced rate social welfare payment relating to their age are not denied a medical card because their income is deemed to be too low. [2813/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE National Assessment Guidelines state that applicants whose weekly incomes are derived solely from social welfare allowances or benefits or Health Service Executive allowances, which are in excess of the income guidelines (either at first application or on renewal), should be granted a medical card.
People aged 16 to 25 years who are eligible for a medical card are those who are dependants of a medical card holder or who are financially independent in their own right and come within the medical card guidelines. It is correct to say that some persons aged between 16 and 25 years in receipt of social welfare payments may not qualify for a medical card where they have not demonstrated that they are not financially dependent on another person.
Previously, a person in receipt of weekly income greater than or equal to the Supplementary Welfare Allowance was deemed to be financially independent. It is accurate to say that the HSE has changed this practice. Currently, a person in the age group 16 to 25 years, whose income is equivalent to or greater than €164 per week, is considered to be financially independent. Such a person can be assessed in his or her own right against the medical card assessment guidelines.
472. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the funding available through his Department to assist voluntary groups providing a community service in obtaining essential equipment to assist their projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2814/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form for 2015 will soon be available on the Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.
473. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the accident and emergency department in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway is to be downgraded by having its opening hours reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or a 12-hour accident and emergency department in the year up to 31 December 2015; if the maternity unit in the hospital will be downgraded or closed in the year up to 31 December 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2820/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not aware of any plans or proposals to do what the Deputy suggests. However, as this is a matter for the HSE, I have asked it to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
474. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2821/15]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
475. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a forum for long-term care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2823/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOngoing consultation with all stakeholders and the public in general is already a standard feature of our approach across policy areas. The Minister for Health and myself as well as officials from the Department regularly meet with stakeholders from across the public, private and voluntary sector to discuss policies, services and developments including those for older people.
While consultation is, and always will remain, an important part of our approach, it would be inappropriate to delegate elements of public policy, possibly including budgetary policy, to any consultative forum, particularly where some of those represented may have a commercial vested interest in the outcome.
476. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding discussions on medical discharges and nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2824/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
