Written Answers Nos. 36-43
36. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the financial position of the Health Service Executive; his plans to introduce a Supplementary Estimate on foot of recent announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14652/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the January 2015 Health Service Performance Report - the latest published - the HSE is reporting a net spend on an income and expenditure basis of €1.037 billion against a budget of €1.013 billion, leading to a deficit of almost €25 million.
There is a deficit of €14 million within Acute Hospitals and Social Care, with some offsetting savings in other service areas. A further €9 million of the deficit relates to the demand led areas of PCRS & Local Schemes.
The early indications from Income & Expenditure data confirm the key financial risks are in demand led areas and acute hospitals. Acute hospitals, in particular, will require very close management using the measures specified in the Accountability Framework as set out in the NSP.
As the Deputy is aware, pressures in the Acute Sector and rising waiting times for placements under "Fair Deal" have been a cause for concern, and the Government has recently provided a further €74 million to help alleviate ED overcrowding and pressures on the 'Fair Deal' scheme. That being said, it is too early to give a view on the Supplementary Estimate requirement for Vote 38 in 2015. The HSE is pro-actively engaged in internal efforts to maximise savings and cost containment plans and to ensure that additional measures are identified and safely implemented to mitigate any projected deficits which are within HSE direct control, while engaging on an ongoing basis with the Department of Health.
37. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the status of present funding for Port Laoise Hospital in County Laois; the status the hospital is now given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14714/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAcute hospital funding is determined and set out in the HSE Annual Service Plan within the context of total funding provided to the HSE. The approved allocation for Portlaoise Hospital for 2015 is €49.75 million. Individual hospital funding is not framed or specifically determined by categorisation or designation but rather is based on the range and complexity of services provided by each hospital and by their level of activity.
Portlaoise hospital is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Work is underway to strengthen services in Portlaoise Hospital from a patient safety and quality perspective as part of a structured integration of the hospital into the Group in 2015.
38. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the allocation of funding for children with cancer; and the terms of reference for the treatment of children. [14464/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCancer treatment for children in Ireland is led and directed by Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin, which is the national tertiary paediatric and adolescent referral centre for all cancer services and which operates a shared care model with hospitals around the country. Every child who develops cancer has their diagnosis established and treatment planned at the Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding funding allocation and terms of reference for the treatment of children.
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.
39. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if elderly persons will be asked to contribute more to the fair deal scheme, despite the Minister of State's commitment to the effect that they would not be asked do this; the stage the evaluation by his Department and the Health Service Executive of the report on the scheme is at; when it will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. This review is being carried out by my Department in collaboration with the HSE, with analysis and recommendations provided by Deloitte & Touche Consultants on specific issues which required specialised expertise.
The review is considering the long term sustainability of the Scheme including funding arrangements. No decisions have been taken nor plans in place regarding changes to the way the Scheme currently operates.
The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, as well as considering how the Scheme has operated to date, is expected to identify some of the broader issues that will need to be considered and tested more fully into the future, including the future financing of the full range of supports for older people, how community and residential supports and services should be balanced, and whether new care approaches can contribute positively. A continuum of more efficient care might serve to reduce the number of people requiring nursing home care and limit the projected increase in the cost of the Scheme. The draft review requires further analysis and this is ongoing at present.
40. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the decision not to provide follow-up funding for the 550 general surgery patients of Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal who were outsourced under the 2013 outpatients initiative and who are still waiting on their follow-up treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14639/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
41. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views on harm reduction measures in relation to addiction; his views that recovery must remain the ultimate objective for those in addiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14634/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA core objective of the National Drugs Strategy is the development of a national integrated treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users. Harm reduction interventions, such as needle exchange services and methadone maintenance treatment, are an important component of the response to problem substance use as such interventions encourage problem substance users to engage with, and avail of, drug treatment services.
The importance of promoting the recovery of people in treatment is recognised in the National Drugs Strategy. Problem drug users have complex needs and may require multiple interventions from a range of agencies to assist them in their recovery. The National Drugs Rehabilitation Implementation Committee, chaired by the HSE, is overseeing the roll out of a National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework. The aim of the Framework is to provide a 'continuum of care' for the recovering drug user through promoting a more integrated and client-centred approach to rehabilitation, based on shared care planning. The roll out of the Framework is currently being advanced through the HSE's Addiction Services and the Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.
My Department is commencing work on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016. The process will involve a comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the public on the current national drugs policy and future priorities. This will provide an opportunity to ensure that our strategic approach into the future continues to be firmly focused on recovery. I have also asked my Department to examine the feasibility of utilising Social Impact Bonds as a funding model to improve both treatment and rehabilitation service outcomes. The outcome of this work will inform decisions as to the viability of this approach to maximising the social benefits which the National Drugs Strategy seeks to achieve.
42. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he expects the fall in the number of day cases in our hospitals in 2014 to continue in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14651/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe January 2015 HSE Performance Report sets out that 808,365 day cases were treated in 2014. The HSE National Service Plan 2015 targets a day case activity level of 824,317 in 2015. This is an increase of 15,952 day cases and I expect the HSE to deliver on its Service Plan targets in 2015.
43. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the standard operating procedures on dispensing methadone in Garda stations; if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount of methadone dispensed in Garda stations; and the number of drug-related deaths recorded, in the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date. [14635/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest annual figures from the National Drug-Related Deaths Index indicate that there were 633 drug related deaths in 2012. 350 of these deaths were due to the toxic effects of drugs which represents a decrease from 387 in 2011. Methadone was implicated in 86 poisonings in 2012 compared to 118 in 2011. The majority of the deaths (87%) where methadone was implicated were polydrug poisonings.
The HSE maintains the Central Treatment List, which is a register of all clients in receipt of methadone maintenance treatment for problem opiate use in Ireland. The dispensing of methadone in Garda Stations is not covered by the Opioid Treatment Protocol, which regulates and oversees methadone and opiate dependence treatment. Consequently, the Central Treatment List does not contain data on the dispensing of methadone in Garda stations. However, I understand that prescribing doctors are expected to follow Irish College of General Practitioners best practice guidelines.
