Written Answers Nos. 710-725
710. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs referral will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20516/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy. 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.
711. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the recommendations, strategies and developments that were made at the inaugural meeting of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre Lyme borreliosis sub-committee which was held on 6 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20525/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE has established a Lyme Borreliosis Sub-Committee. The aim of the Sub-Committee is to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention in order to minimise the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland. These strategies will be published in a Final Report. The Terms of Reference of the Sub-Committee are:
- To raise awareness in Ireland of Lyme Borreliosis amongst clinicians and the general public;
- To identify and highlight best international practice in raising awareness about Lyme Borreliosis for the general public;
- To develop policies of primary prevention of Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland based on best international evidence;
- To explore ways in which to improve surveillance of neuroborreliosis in Ireland;
- To develop strategies to raise awareness among the public particularly in areas of higher tick populations;
- To produce a Final Report covering all the above areas.
The draft Final Report, on completion, will be presented to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC will issue the draft report for consultation with stakeholders. It would not be appropriate to comment on the work of the Sub-Committee as it progresses.
712. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the current residential services and staff available to cater for persons with disabilities; the number of persons accessing these services; and the current funding allocated to residential places for persons and to improving staff numbers. [20526/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra713. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form for each year since 2009 and in 2015 to date, the amount of funding provided to residential services for persons with disabilities; the number of staff in these services; his future funding and staffing plans for this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20527/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 712 and 713 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions 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 matters up with the HSE.
714. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the drug eculizumab, also known as Soliris, is the most expensive drug in the country and that it will cost the taxpayer more than €20 million over the next five years to treat approximately 18 patients, and in view of the fact that a company (details supplied) continues to act in an unreasonable manner regarding cost reductions, and also in view of the fact that this drug is available in Newry, County Down, at a discount of 17% compared with the price at which it is available in Drogheda, County Louth, if the Health Service Executive will now take appropriate measures, including instituting legal proceedings against the company for abuse of a monopoly position, in order to secure a more sustainable price for this medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20530/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
715. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, the number of nursing homes registered with the Health Service Executive and the Health Information and Quality Authority in the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20531/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2009 all designated centres for older people must be registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority. There are currently 568 registered centres in Ireland. A register of designated centres is available on the HIQA website with a breakdown available by county.
The particular breakdown requested by the Deputy for 2011 and 2012 is unavailable; however the details since 2013 are set out in the following table.
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 to date |
|
Carlow |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Cavan |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
Clare |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
Cork |
70 |
70 |
70 |
|
Donegal |
23 |
23 |
23 |
|
Dublin |
105 |
105 |
106 |
|
Galway |
43 |
42 |
42 |
|
Kerry |
24 |
24 |
24 |
|
Kildare |
22 |
22 |
23 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
17 |
17 |
|
Laois |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Limerick |
25 |
26 |
26 |
|
Longford |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Louth |
14 |
14 |
13 |
|
Mayo |
22 |
22 |
22 |
|
Meath |
19 |
19 |
20 |
|
Monaghan |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Offaly |
10 |
11 |
11 |
|
Roscommon |
15 |
14 |
14 |
|
Sligo |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
Tipperary |
31 |
31 |
31 |
|
Waterford |
13 |
13 |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Wexford |
17 |
15 |
16 |
|
Wicklow |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
Total |
566 |
565 |
568 |
716. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the length of time it takes to process a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20552/15]
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.
717. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting over 18 months for an initial appointment with a consultant neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the length of time a person is waiting for that initial appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20556/15]
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.
718. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for dental braces in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20571/15]
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.
719. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to include the i-port Advance injection device on the long-term illness scheme for the treatment of persons with type 1 diabetes; and the reason this has not happened before now. [20582/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra720. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive will make Medtronic’s i-port Advance injection device available for diabetic children, as proposed by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20583/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra721. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to making a product (details supplied) available under the long-term illness scheme. [20595/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra730. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if a product will be made available for children with diabetes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20667/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra736. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason Medtronic’s i-port Advance injection device is not included on the long-term illness scheme. [20713/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra742. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the pricing of a medical device (details supplied) in view of its importance to young persons with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20723/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra757. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding provision of a medical device (details supplied) for young persons with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20813/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 719 to 721, inclusive, 730, 736, 742 and 757 together.
The 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 the product, i-port Advance™, to be added to the List of Reimbursable Items 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.
An Expert Group, chaired by the Clinical Lead of the HSE Diabetes Programme, was convened by the HSE to (i) assess the clinical evidence to support the use of the product, (ii) consider whether the product is appropriate for reimbursement status under Schemes and (iii) assist in the determination of the ‘value’ that the innovation presents. The Expert Group did not find that the product was either clinically effective or cost effective, and therefore did not recommend that the product should be reimbursed. The Director of Primary Care accepted the recommendation of the Expert Group and the company was informed of the HSE's decision on the 20 April 2015.
722. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that counselling and psychotherapy services are regulated here, as is the practice in other European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra760. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to properly regulate the profession of counselling and psychotherapy in order to ensure safety and quality assurance for clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20858/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 760 together.
Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.
My predecessor, Minister James Reilly T.D, wrote to the The Health and Social Care Professionals Council last year seeking advice on the question of specifically designating counsellors and psychotherapists under the 2005 Act.
A number of issues require clarification and there are varying views among the professional bodies representing counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland. The main questions to be resolved include whether counselling and psychotherapy should be treated as one or two professions for the purposes of regulation, the title or titles of the profession(s) to be protected, and the minimum qualifications that would be required of applicants for registration. The readiness and compatibility of the professions for designation under the 2005 Act also need to be determined.
The Council's detailed report on the matter has now been received and is being examined carefully in the Department with a view to deciding the next steps which, I envisage, will include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies and other interested parties.
723. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, by county or local health office area for each year from 2011 to 2014, the number of persons in methadone programmes. [20601/15]
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.
724. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the correct protocol in a case where a consultant will not refer a patient for the treatment abroad scheme for treatment that is not available under the Health Service Executive and is only available in the United Kingdom. [20603/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the state through model form E112. The application requires the patient's Irish based public referring hospital consultant, following clinical assessment, to certify, among other things, that the treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it.
Department of Health Guidelines require the HSE to ensure that, where a decision is made to refuse an application through model form E112, the applicant is advised of their right to appeal the decision and that an appropriate process is in place to deal with that appeal. Notwithstanding, the Minister for Health has no role in the clinical decision made regarding the treatment of a patient by his/her consultant. A patient is, however, entitled to seek a second opinion should he/she so decide.
725. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health to provide details, in tabular form, of the amount paid by his Department to a children's service (details supplied) in respect of the care of young persons in residential settings in 2014 and to date in 2015; the locations for which payments were made; the number of young persons concerned in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
