Written Answers Nos. 615 to 629
615. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthodontic treatment in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14751/15]
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.
616. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns that have been raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the operation of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14762/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) for the private health insurance market is provided by regulations signed on the 7 July 2014. I wish to clarify that LCR relates solely to the current health insurance market, in which context the purchase of health insurance is optional, and the measure should not be misinterpreted as a form of compulsory insurance.
LCR is being introduced to encourage people to take out private health insurance at a younger age. Encouraging more people to join the market at younger ages helps spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market, helping to support affordable premiums for all. The regulations provide for a grace period up until 30 April 2015, during which time as many people as want to can take out health insurance without incurring loadings. From 1 May 2015, late entry loadings will be applied to those who join the private health insurance market at age 35 or over, set at 2% per year for each year over the age of 34, up to a maximum loading of 70% at age 69 and over. If an individual is resident in the State during the grace period, but chooses to wait and to take out health insurance at a date later than 30 April 2015, then the individual may incur a loading on their premium (depending on the specific circumstances regarding age and periods of previous health insurance cover). Individuals are therefore encouraged to join the market at younger ages, and in doing so, will help spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market, helping to support affordable premiums for all.
There are exemptions available for people who previously had health insurance but cancelled it. A credited period can apply for any periods of inpatient cover when a full adult premium is paid in respect of anyone, including spouses and dependant students. In addition, a credited period (in total not exceeding 3 years) is also available for individuals who previously had health insurance but relinquished cover since 1 January 2008 due to unemployment. In such cases, the level of loading will then be reduced by the relevant credited period(s).
617. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment at Cork University Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14773/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
618. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount of time it currently takes to register as a nurse from the time of submitting an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14777/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra620. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his plans to tackle the delays in nurse registrations by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, which is directly impacting on the public, private and voluntary nursing sectors. [14782/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 620 together.
I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Therefore, I have referred the deputy's questions to the NMBI for attention and direct reply. If he has not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
619. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's plans for its clinical adaptation programme; his plans to extend the scheme in view of there being 272 nurses on a waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14778/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra621. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will address the fact that 272 nurses are currently on the waiting list for the Health Service Executive clinical adaptation programme; his plans to extend the programme beyond August 2015. [14783/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 621 together.
I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, 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 he 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.
622. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the urgent need to address gerontological care and the requirement for a viable workforce plan in this regard. [14784/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of Government policy is to facilitate older people to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, and to provide residential care services when they are needed. A review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is currently underway and will be completed very soon. The review, as well as considering how the Scheme 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.
With regard to strategic workforce planning, Action 46 of Future Health 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; and creating supportive and healthy workplaces. This approach will include the development by my Department of a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning during 2015.
A cross-sectoral Working Group will be convened to develop the framework in the near future. The Group's deliberations will take into account issues including population ageing and any relevant considerations arising from the review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. Consultation with key stakeholders will form part of the Group's work.
623. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14787/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that it is contrary to the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 for me to make a direction to the HSE or a hospital to benefit or prioritise any individual person or patient.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. Regarding the specific case raised, 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.
624. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if an application under the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be given urgent attention in view of the fact that the original delay in the application was with St. Vincent’s Hospital; and if the family will be re-imbursed for nursing home fees when their application is finally granted. [14788/15]
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.
625. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to deal with supposed miracle cures for autism being marketed here, some containing bleach. [14810/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007, as amended, a medicine cannot be placed on the market in Ireland unless it has a marketing authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or a community marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Any product which makes a medicinal claim to treat medical conditions such as autism is considered to be a medicine and requires an authorisation under this legislation.
The product referred to as Miracle Mineral Solution ('MMS') is not authorised as a medicine for sale or supply in Ireland. Any manufacture, supply or sale of this product for the purposes of treating a medical condition is illegal.
The HPRA, the competent authority for the implementation of the medicines legislation, has led a number of investigations into the alleged supply of MMS in various parts of Ireland during the past year. It is pursuing a number of avenues of enquiry in what continues to be an open investigation into the manufacture, supply and sale of this product. Accordingly, I am limited in what I can say in respect of these investigations.
During its investigations to date, the HPRA has carried out searches at a number of premises assisted, where necessary, by An Garda Síochána and has also spoken to a number of individuals. In each case, substances and/or equipment have been detained for further examination. In one instance an individual has challenged the legality of a HPRA search (carried out on foot of a court issued warrant). The HPRA has successfully defended its actions in two separate court appearances.
The HPRA continues to advise consumers not to seek to purchase or take this product.
626. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that a deficit issue in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork is dealt with, in order that there is minimum impact on its service users; if he will sanction certain criteria in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14811/15]
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 (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
627. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/15]
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, he should contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
628. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current status of the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the areas it is being focused on at present, its budgets in each of the past three years; where have these funds been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14821/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is currently working with the HSE Special Delivery Unit to achieve a reduction in wait times for in-patients, day cases and outpatients. The NTPF is also responsible for the collection, collation and reporting of both in-patient and outpatient waiting lists and is responsible for the pricing of nursing home beds in approximately 430 Nursing Homes in Ireland annually. The NTPF budgets for the past three years are set out in the table below. These funds have been spent on administrative costs, salaries and targeted patient care initiatives to reduce waiting times.
Table 1: NTPF Budgets 2012-2014
|
Year |
ALLOCATION (€m) |
ACTUAL SPEND (€m) |
|
2014 |
5.1 |
5.1 |
|
2013 |
17.387* |
17.387 |
|
2012 |
70.587 |
40.587 |
*Includes a virement of €3.4 million
629. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed takeover of Dublin Fire Brigade by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14832/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirst, let me be clear that the National Ambulance Service (NAS) is not taking over ambulance services from Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB). What is proposed are changes to call management and clinical governance, with a view to improving the service. DFB will continue to provide emergency ambulance services in Dublin, through its own vehicles and staff, and DFB fire vehicles will continue to support the emergency ambulance services, as needed.
HIQA, in its report of December last year, identified serious patient safety concerns over a lack of coordination between the DFB ambulance service and the NAS. The urgent need to address these issues was stressed, particularly for 999/112 call-taking and ambulance dispatch, as well as overall clinical governance. Following discussions, the HSE and Dublin City Council agreed in principle that all 999/112 ambulance calls for the Dublin region, and the tasking and dispatching of DFB and NAS ambulances, will be from a single centre, the new National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght. In addition, clinical governance of Dublin ambulance services will become the responsibility of the NAS Medical Director.
The new arrangements for call management, dispatch and clinical governance are designed to ensure a better, safer service for the people of Dublin. One centre will receive all calls, have sight of all available resources and dispatch the nearest available resource.
The HSE and Dublin City Council have established a joint implementation group, which is currently examining ways to progress the necessary changes over a period of six months. Dublin Fire Brigade staff, through their union, are being fully consulted on these changes, and a joint Dublin City Council/Union group has been set up to move the process forward.
