Clare Daly
Ceist:743. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20727/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (743)
Freagraí scríofa
Under 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. 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.
Research Funding Applications
Ceisteanna (744)
Robert Troy
Ceist:744. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the research carried out by his Department on fibromyalgia; and the further research expected to be carried out in relation to this condition. [20728/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal condition characterised by widespread pain and joint stiffness. The Health Research Board has responsibility for the allocation of research funding and there has been no specific Fibromyalgia funded projects since 2005. However there have been a number of research projects on chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic pain which may benefit patients with Fibromyalgia. Since 2008, the HRB has awarded €3.1m to research in these areas. The HRB does not ring-fence funding for specific diseases but welcomes applications from all areas including those related to Fibromyalgia.
Hospitals Inspections
Ceisteanna (745)
Clare Daly
Ceist:745. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the way the national clinical lead on obstetrics and gynaecology functions in the case of Portlaoise hospital, County Laois; if he received the findings of the previous reports in Ennis, Mallow and so on, and the early signs of problems at Portlaoise; if so, the frequency with which he visits each maternity unit; the number of visits he paid to Portlaoise from the time the first signals of the problems arose; the discipline he uses to ensure implementation of the findings regarding adverse incidents; and if he met resistance from his colleagues in implementing new protocols. [20742/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and the matter will be followed up with the Executive.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Ceisteanna (746)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:746. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to assist persons who live up to 50 miles from a hospital and who are in receipt of a social welfare payment, particularly elderly persons who have to pay for travel to and from hospital appointments, particularly when these appointments are frequent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20744/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Public Sector Reform Implementation
Ceisteanna (747)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:747. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the arrangements that were made during industrial relations discussions in the health sector in relation to pay, hours and practice over the past four years; the way they differed from the Haddington Road agreement; if it is envisaged that these will be changed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20750/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Croke Park Agreement and Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) have been crucial to the health service’s ability to manage through the very difficult circumstances of recent years. Agreement between public service management and public service staff representatives was reached on a series of measures to secure an additional €1 billion annual saving from the public service pay and pensions bill by 2015. A key requirement for the health service during the process was to protect front-line care while at the same time significantly reducing costs.
Savings have been achieved through the reduction in the overtime rates payable and the elimination of twilight payments. Savings were also achieved through the reduction to pay for those in receipt of salaries of €65,000, measures to delay or freeze increments, and balancing measures for those already at the maximum of their scales. In addition, the HRA provides for an increase in working hours for most staff and this will deliver a long-term, sustainable and unprecedented increase in productivity.
As part of the HRA a Joint Oversight Group was established to provide a forum for discussion between management and unions with a view, as far as possible, to oversee and support implementation of the terms of the Agreement as they apply to the health service. The parties agreed to resolve disputes in accordance with paragraph 5.1 of the Agreement. Where disputes progress to the Labour Court the court's decision is final and binding.
The first official engagement between public sector employers and ICTU took place on Tuesday 12th May and the unions were provided with a fiscal briefing. The approach to the discussions and the way in which it will differ from the Haddington Road Agreement process will become clearer as the talks progress.
Health Insurance Data
Ceisteanna (748)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:748. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of health insurance polices offered in the market as at December 2010, December 2011, December 2012, December 2013, December 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20754/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Insurance Authority, the independent statutory regulator of the private health insurance market in Ireland, provides my Department with data on the number of health insurance plans available in the market, outlined in the following table. This data is compiled in respect of the commercial health insurers and excludes Restricted Membership Undertakings (which provide insurance to people who are members of a particular group, normally a vocational group or employees of a particular organisation).
|
Date |
Dec 2010 |
Dec 2011 |
Dec 2012 |
Dec 2013 |
Dec 2014 |
May 2015 |
|
No. of Plans |
213 |
209 |
232 |
297 |
355 |
381 |
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data
Ceisteanna (749, 750, 751, 752, 753)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:749. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of long-term nursing home care since the introduction of the nursing homes support scheme, also known as the fair deal scheme, from October 2009 to 31 December 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20789/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:750. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of the nursing homes support scheme, also known as the fair deal scheme, since its introduction in October 2009 to 31 December 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20790/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:751. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of the nursing homes support scheme, also known as the fair deal scheme, since its introduction in October 2009 to 31 December 2013, and who also availed of the ancillary state support loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20791/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:752. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of the nursing homes support scheme, also known as fair deal scheme, since its introduction in October 2009 to 31 December 2013, and who also availed of the ancillary state support loan scheme, which in turn resulted in a deferred charge being placed on their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20792/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:753. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of farmers who availed of the nursing homes support scheme, also known as the fair deal scheme, since its introduction in October 2009 to 31 December 2013, and who also availed of the ancillary state support loan scheme, which in turn resulted in a deferred charge being placed against their farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20793/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 749 to 753, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (754)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:754. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of dental braces in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20803/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Care Services Provision
Ceisteanna (755)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:755. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding long-term care provision. [20811/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (756)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:756. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Question No. 757 answered with Question No. 719.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (758)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:758. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding the provision of a hearing aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20819/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Medical Products
Ceisteanna (759)
Clare Daly
Ceist:759. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Products Regulatory Authority's views on immunoglobulin G food intolerance testing; and if the authority is aware of any discussions taking place at European Union level regarding IgG food intolerance testing. [20820/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority in Ireland for the regulation of medical devices, including in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) products such as food intolerance tests. This role involves post market surveillance of products that have been placed on the market and are in use.
The HPRA has no direct role in the authorisation of any medical device before it is placed on the market. Medical devices such as food intolerance tests can be placed on the European market once they bear a CE mark issued by an independent certification body known as a 'notified body'. The notified body carries out a conformity assessment to confirm that the devices meet specified safety and performance requirements. The HPRA does not approve or certify these devices for sale in Ireland or any other country, nor does it have a role in regulating the provision of food intolerance testing services by pharmacies, clinics and other entities that may be providing such services.
The HPRA issued a Medical Devices Information Notice on 24 March 2015 on Food Intolerance Testing. This Notice may be found on the HPRA website. The HPRA position, as set out in the Information Notice, is that the diagnosis of any condition relating to the ability to digest or "tolerate" foods should be made in careful consultation with a doctor who is familiar with the patient's health history and should not be based on the use of self testing alone. The HPRA does not recommend using these tests or interpreting results without this involvement as it may have negative health effects such as the removal of important food groups from an individual’s diet, or the potential misdiagnosis of a serious medical condition.
In January the HPRA commenced an active surveillance programme on food intolerance tests. This involves reviewing the performance and safety implications of the products and services available on the market. As part of this surveillance programme, the HPRA is cooperating with European regulatory partners, including the United Kindgom, as many of the products available in Ireland have been manufactured or received their CE mark from notified bodies in the United Kingdom.
At European level, the regulatory framework for medical devices is currently being reviewed. The purpose of this review is to strengthen the legislation including improvements to market surveillance and clinical evaluation of medical devices. The progression of this legislation is a priority for my Department and the HPRA.