Written Answers Nos. 503 - 522
504. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the funding provided for the north-east local and regional drug and alcohol task force on an annual basis from 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13245/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force plays a key role in coordinating action at local level so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in its catchment area. Community-based drugs projects in the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area were funded through the Drugs Initiative of my Department until the end of 2013. On 1 January 2014, my Department transferred funding and operational responsibility for community-based drugs projects in the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area to the Health Service Executive in order to improve accountability for their activities and expenditure.
The following table shows the allocations to the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force from both sources since 2010.
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
|
Department of Health |
1,038,588 |
1,010,546 |
986,091 |
956,508 |
- |
- |
|
Health Service Executive |
- |
- |
- |
- |
927,813 |
927,813 |
505. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of the 19 maternity units in hospitals that are funded as level 2 units only; his views on the connection between that lower level of funding and the safety of these units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13250/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Acute Medicine Programme has described four generic hospital models to provide a clear delineation of hospital services based on the safe provision of patient care within the constraints of available facilities, staff, resources and local factors. At present we have four stand-alone maternity facilities namely the Rotunda, the National Maternity Hospital, the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital and University Maternity Hospital Limerick. Each of the other 15 maternity units is based in either a Model 4 or Model 3 Hospital.
In line with the Chief Medical Officer's Report on perinatal deaths in Portlaoise, it is intended to establish managed clinical maternity networks across all Hospital Groups. This will ensure that smaller maternity services are supported to provide quality and safe maternity care for women and babies. The Deputy may wish to note that a Memorandum of Understanding between the Coombe and the HSE, to establish the country’s first managed maternity network in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, was signed last week.
506. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the reports into the reasons behind the baby deaths (details supplied) in Portlaoise in County Laois, promised by the Health Service Executive, while a complaint from that same hospital against an independent midwife (details supplied) was processed in August 2014, in which case no mother or baby suffered harm, but the complaint left 29 women without their midwife, when the midwife was suspended by the Health Service Executive. [13251/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
507. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the officials within the Health Service Executive who sanctioned the office of nursing and midwifery directorate in the executive in suspending a person (details supplied) with apparently no prior contact with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, in view of the fact that the statutory responsibility for all fitness to practice issues lies entirely with the board, and not with the executive. [13252/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra508. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason action was taken to suspend the insurance of a person (details supplied) given that there was no foundation for it in the first place. [13253/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra509. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the cost of the legal action against a person (details supplied) including the cost stated by the Health Service Executive’s solicitor in court on 27 February 2015, that the HSE would pay all legal costs that the person otherwise had borne to contest the suspension. [13254/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 507 to 509, inclusive, together.
I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
The particular case and issues referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter and it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy’s questions to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
If the Deputy has 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.
510. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the national dementia strategy; if proper home care packages will be made available to persons with dementia, and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13266/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme which accompanies the National Dementia Strategy and is co-funded by the Health Service Executive and the Atlantic Philanthropies, includes the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Home Care Packages for people with dementia.
As 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 please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
511. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the reason counselling psychologists are not eligible to apply for Health Service Executive psychology posts to work with children and adolescents in disability services and adult mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13267/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra512. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if the ineligibility of counselling psychologists to apply for Health Service Executive psychology posts, to work with children and adolescents in disability services, and adult mental health services, will be reviewed; when such a review will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together.
Under Section 22 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE has the authority to appoint persons to be its employees and may determine their duties. The HSE’s National Recruitment Service conducts all recruitment activity for the Executive, including recruitment to psychology posts. The HSE is responsible for determining eligibility criteria for recruitment purposes. In this context these PQs are for direct reply by the HSE.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
513. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for a cataract operation will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13272/15]
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, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
514. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health with reference to comments made by him (details supplied), his views on the treatment of a person by the Health Service Executive who was suspended by its admission on no findings and yet endured serious reputational damage as a direct result of non-implementation of the executive's safety incident management policy. [13274/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for the matters raised.
My role as Minister for Health primarily relates to policy decisions, legislation, implementing the programme for Government, securing an overall budget for the health service and accounting for it to the Oireachtas.
In the context of the details supplied in the Deputy's question, my comment remains unchanged. The particular case referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter currently under investigation by the HSE. I have been advised by the HSE that the two investigations are expected to be completed and are awaiting final reports.
515. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 411 of 10 March 2015, if he will provide details of the issues raised in relation to the reply, and North East Doctor on Call; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13275/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has 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.
516. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the funding for mental health per head of population per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13277/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
518. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding health insurers insisting that policy holders who cancel their policy during the policy year pay the insurer an amount equal to the Government stamp duty levy relating to the remainder of that year; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13294/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSimilar to other non-life insurance contracts, health insurance contracts generally have a duration of twelve months. I understand that current market practice for the health insurers is to apply a cancellation charge equal to the stamp duty levy to customers who cancel policies or opt to change provider mid-contract. An administration fee may also be charged.
It is a matter for the insurance companies as to the extent, if any, they pass this levy on to their customers. Provisions for the payment of the levy are contained in Section 125A of the Stamp Duty Consolidation Act 1999, and are administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners has issued guidelines to insurers which in addition to setting out the payment verification procedures agreed with insurers, also highlight that only one levy is payable in any twelve month period for each insured person.
519. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of drug free short-term beds available to homeless and recovering addicts in each of the four Dublin local authorities; the number of detox beds available; the location of the drug free units and detox beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13299/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
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.
520. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application to the Health Service Executive by a company (details supplied) to have funding for the drug Fampyra re-instated. [13301/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or Ministerial decisions.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine 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 for the assessment of new medicines.
In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness and a fair price for Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product.
On foot of this, the HSE decided that it was not in a position to add the drug to the List of Reimbursable Items supplied under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
It is open to the supplier, at any time, to submit a new application to the HSE for the inclusion of Fampridine on the community drugs schemes incorporating new evidence which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of the drug, by offering a reduced price or both. A revised application was received by the HSE on 25 July 2014. The HSE has since been engaging with the company seeking an improved commercial offering and these engagements have been completed. It is not possible to say when a decision on the funding of this medication will be made as the HSE is considering the outcome of those commercial engagements as well as the outcome of discussions which the HSE has had with clinical experts regarding this drug.
521. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will receive the necessary treatment through the public dental system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13305/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
522. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding recruitment of nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13309/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAbout 1,500 nurses complete the nursing degree programme in Ireland annually. This is considered necessary to maintain numbers at the level required to support service delivery. Retention of these graduates has been an issue for both the private and public health system, due to the moratorium on recruitment.
One source of supply is the recruitment of nurses trained outside of Ireland. Such nurses are required to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). According to the NMBI it takes up to 90 days to assess qualifications in this context provided all necessary documentation has been supplied by the applicant. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland following assessment of qualifications may require an applicant nurse to undertake a period of adaptation of assessment as a pre-requisite to registration.
In 2014 the HSE facilitated 151 nurses to complete such a period of adaptation for the private nursing home sector, and 195 places will be available in 2015. Nursing Homes Ireland has requested a further 272 places in 2015 to meet the needs of nursing homes, but there is no capacity for additional placements onto the nationally coordinated programme.
Discussions on possible alternative approaches for the provision of clinical adaptation are scheduled for the coming weeks between Nursing Homes Ireland, the HSE Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director and the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer of the Department of Health.
With regard to the requirement for workforce planning Action 46 of Future Health: (DoH, 2012) commits the Department of Health to work with the HSE to implement an approach to workforce planning and development that achieves the objectives of recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff; training and upskilling the workforce; providing for professional and career development; creating supportive and healthy workplaces. This approach will include the development by the Department of Health of a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning during 2015.
My Department will convene a cross-sectoral Working Group to develop the national integrated strategic framework in the near future. Preparation of terms of reference is well advanced and consultation with key stakeholders will form part of the Group’s work.
A review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme will be completed very soon. The review, as well as considering how the Scheme has operated to date, will also consider broader issues including the future financing of the full range of supports for older people, how community and residential supports and services should be balanced, and how prices are set for residential care. This Review will be publicly available in due course.
