Written Answers Nos. 645 - 657
645. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of sign language interpreters employed by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20006/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the 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.
646. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the regulations governing the prescribing and fitting of hearing aids; if a person is required to be an audiologist and registered with the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20010/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no statutory regulations governing the prescribing and fitting of hearing aids. A working group, consisting of representation from the HSE; the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (ISHAA), which represents private sector hearing aid audiologists; the Irish Academy of Audiology (IAA), which represents public sector audiologists; and DeafHear is developing quality standards for adult hearing aid provision which will be applicable across both public and private services. The ISHAA and the IAA have introduced a voluntary registration process for their members.
649. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the Health Service Executive to respond to representations (details supplied) regarding a vulnerable person in its care [20106/15]
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.
650. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding parking fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20107/15]
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.
651. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent concerns expressed regarding the presence of methylisothiazolinone in consumer products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMethylisothiazolinone (MI) is a preservative used in cosmetic products. While the vast majority of people do not have sensitivity to MI, there is concern about increased sensitivity to MI with continued use.
Under current legislation, there are legal limits in place as to how much MI can be contained in cosmetic products, both on its own and in combination with a similar substance, Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI).
Under new EU legislation due to come into effect in July no new leave-on cosmetic products containing the MI/MCI mixture will be allowed to be placed on the market with the removal of all leave-on cosmetics containing the MI/MCI mixture from April 2016.
At European level the EU Commission is drafting legislation to prohibit MI on its own in leave-on cosmetic products. A review is also taking place at EU level of the scientific evidence relating to the continued use of MI in rinse-off cosmetic products.
My Department, together with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the competent authority for cosmetics products, fully supports the measures undertaken at EU level to provide greater protection to European consumers.
Consumers who experience any undesirable effects relating to a cosmetic product are advised to stop using the product immediately. Symptoms will usually reduce but if not, or if they recur, consumers are advised to contact their doctor. Consumers should always pay attention to product information and ingredients of cosmetic products and in the event of an adverse reaction, should report their experience to their doctor, the manufacturer (whose contact details are on the product packaging) or directly to the HPRA via the HPRA website.
652. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the free general practitioner scheme for children under six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20113/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees, as set out in the Programme for Government. The Government has commenced this process in respect of all children under 6 years. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014, which provides an entitlement for all children aged under 6 to a GP service without fees, was enacted on 25th July 2014.
Agreement has been reached between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation on terms for the delivery of GP care without fees for all children aged under 6. Under the new arrangements, an additional 270,000 children under 6 will benefit from GP care free at the point of service. All children under 6 will benefit from the new enhanced service under the proposed GP contract.
This will involve age-based preventive checks focused on health and well-being and the prevention of disease. These assessments will be carried out when a child is aged 2 and again at age 5. The contract will also cover an agreed cycle of care for children diagnosed with asthma, under which GPs will carry out an annual review of each child where the doctor has diagnosed asthma.
In parallel with this, GP care without fees will be extended to all persons aged 70 years and over, subject to the passing of the necessary legislation. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015, which was published on 25 March 2015, will provide the statutory basis for the over-70s universal GP service. This service will benefit about 36,000 people and will be provided under the existing GMS contract.
The Government recognises that different age-groups have different healthcare needs and ability to access services and that children and older people have particular needs in this regard. For many years we have had universal eligibility for acute hospital services but the first and most effective point of contact with the health service which is provided by GP's has only been provided on a public basis to those on very low incomes.
The provision of universal GP access through greater public investment in primary care services is a critical reform in resolving inequities and re-balancing our services towards earlier prevention. The introduction of universal GP access for the youngest and oldest members of our community is an important step in the phased implementation of these reforms.
653. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason Fampyra for patients suffering with multiple sclerosis is not covered under the drugs scheme; when this medication will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20117/15]
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. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.
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.
654. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with an appointment for an eye test at Cork University Hospital. [20125/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
655. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20138/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
656. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of eligibility for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if there is any further documentation required in this instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20147/15]
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.
657. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason a person cannot access the services of autism initiatives on being discharged from St. Patrick's Hospital where they were admitted through their private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20148/15]
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.
