Written Answers Nos. 487-503
487. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of promotions that have been put in place for staff in the Health Service Executive since September 2014; and if he will provide this information in tabular form divided by category of employment and Health Service Executive region. [15493/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
488. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health when the extension of BreastCheck for women up to the age of 69 years of age will commence in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15496/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanning for the age extension of BreastCheck to 65 - 69 year olds is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme.
The age extension will be implemented on an incremental basis in line with the capacity of the system to manage the additional screening and follow up workload. BreastCheck will need to recruit and train additional radiographers, medical consultants and administration support to accommodate the increased demand. Funding for this, and for additional mobile units and medical equipment will be made available across the implementation period. The age extension will be fully rolled out by 2021.
Women of any age who have concerns about breast cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to the symptomatic breast services in one of the eight designated cancer centres.
489. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the ratio of doctors to population; the ratio of acute hospital beds per person; the number of specialists and the amount of money invested in primary care; the way this compares with other European Union states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15499/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2012 (the latest year available for international comparisons) the estimated number of professionally active physicians in Ireland was 14,500 or 3.2 per 1,000 population. According to OECD data, the average based on the 10 EU member states where data is available is 3.4.
In 2014 there were 6,825 active specialists on the Medical Council Register with Irish addresses. Of these, 2,710 were general practitioners. EU data includes trainee specialists and these cannot be separated out, so it is not possible to provide a valid comparison with other EU member states.
The latest comparative data on the ratio of acute beds in EU member states is for 2012 according to the OECD. The number of curative (acute) care beds per 1,000 population in Ireland in 2012 is 2.1. This compares to an EU average (based on the 19 states where data was available) of 3.5. It should be noted that Irish data does not currently include beds in private hospitals, whereas these beds may be included in data from other member states.
The HSE's National Service Plan 2015 provides overall funding of the order of €3,211.8 million for primary care. This includes €2,485.8 million for the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, including Local Schemes. We are not in a position to compare this against Primary Care funding provided in other EU countries.
The above should clarify and answer the Deputy's questions.
490. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the appointment of a new ophthalmic physician to County Longford, where a vacancy exists since October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/15]
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.
491. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Longford in receipt of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15516/15]
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.
492. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Westmeath in receipt of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15517/15]
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.
493. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding independent living in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15520/15]
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.
494. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the availability of a step-down bed in the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [15533/15]
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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
495. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 18 February 2015, which outlined expenditure for various items, one being respite in County Wexford, if he will provide details of these other items; his plans to isolate expenditure on management and administration in this regard, in order to provide a clear indication of the amount of resources allocated to respite alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15535/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra496. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 18 February 2015, the reasons many families in County Wexford have experienced cuts to their respite care allocations in recent years, despite the fact that, as evidenced from the reply, the budgetary allocation in this regard does not seem to have changed significantly in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15536/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together.
The vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
Respite care for children and adults with disabilities is provided by the HSE directly in some instances, or by agencies funded by the HSE to provide services on its behalf. In many instances respite services are part of the overall suite of services provided by voluntary service providers to people with disabilities under their service level agreements with the HSE. The HSE remains committed to working with all voluntary disability service providers to ensure that all of the resources available for specialist disability services, including respite services, are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
The HSE’s Social Care Operational Plan for 2015 aims to provide 190,000 overnight stays in centre-based respite services to almost 5,300 people. The HSE is also committed to continuing to explore methods of community respite care as an alternative to centre-based respite care, including advancing the Host Family Support Model.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. 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 up the matter with the HSE.
497. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) with significant medical issues was refused a full medical card. [15537/15]
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.
498. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is on home dialysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15542/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised by you relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. 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.
499. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the drug Soliris is made available through the general medical services scheme to assist patients (details supplied) of diseases such as Degos. [15546/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised by you relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. 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.
500. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the trial of the community alcohol response engagement programme; if he considers it to be successful; his plans to roll it out in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15547/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of services to prevent and treat addiction to alcohol is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive 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 who will follow up the matter with them.
As the Deputy may recall, on 3 February 2015, the Government approved the General Scheme of a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. The aim is to reduce alcohol consumption to the OECD average by 2020 (i.e. 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per capita) and the harms caused by alcohol. The Bill is part of a suite of measures agreed by the Government in 2013 on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. The other measures (eg for the HSE, professional bodies etc) set out in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, were endorsed by Government and are to be progressed by the relevant departments and organisations. The HSE has responsibility for implementing a number of recommendations and some of these measures are reflected in the HSE Service Plan for 2015. The remit of the Drugs Task Forces was extended to include the problem of alcohol misuse last year, in view of the key they play in co-ordinating the response to substance misuse at local level.
501. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the persons and bodies responsible financially for the medical costs of the young persons who as a result of receiving the human papilloma virus vaccine had an adverse reaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15566/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra502. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the age category of 12 to 13 years was chosen to administer the human papilloma virus vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15567/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra503. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the manufacturer of the human papilloma virus vaccine (details supplied) is indemnified against prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15568/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 501 to 503, inclusive, together.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Childhood Immunisation made recommendations in relation to the development of vaccination services for children in Ireland. Since that time the majority of the recommendations made in the report have been addressed and implemented. In relation to the recommendation regarding a no fault vaccine damage compensation scheme my Department convened an expert group to examine this issue. The report from this Group is available on my Department's website (www.health.gov.ie). There are no plans to introduce a vaccine damage compensation scheme at this time.
The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in 1st year of secondary school. This is in accordance with the recommendation received from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee which indicated that the vaccine should be offered on an annual basis to all girls aged 12. The advice, based on public health considerations and supported by the cost-effectiveness analysis, is that HPV vaccines confer maximum benefit both individually and on a population basis if administered prior to HPV exposure.
The manufacturer of the HPV vaccine used in the immunisation programme in Ireland has not been indemnified against criminal prosecution.
