Written Answers Nos. 447-468
447. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he or his officials have discussed the case of a woman who travelled from Ireland to a clinic (details supplied) in Britain to have a medical procedure undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26145/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my officials have discussed any specific cases in recent times in relation to the clinic mentioned by the Deputy.
448. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the status of an application to his Department's national lottery fund 2015 in respect of a centre (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26151/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. Funding in 2015 amounts to €3.286m.
My Department has received a large number of applications under the National Lottery Discretionary Fund which are currently being processed. However, we have not received an application from the organisation in question. As the HSE also administers grants under the National Lottery, the organisation in question may have applied to the HSE. Therefore, it has been requested that the HSE reply directly to you.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
449. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the supports available for persons with Down's syndrome (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26156/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and their family to pursue this matter with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at Ballymun Health Care Facility, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9, telephone 01-8467127.
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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
450. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding renewal of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26168/15]
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.
451. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 792 of 9 June 2015, his views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has endured severe continuous pain and discomfort for over a year and who has been denied the comfort and benefit of any information whatsoever regarding a date for an appointment for surgery at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26183/15]
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 your further query in this 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.
452. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application under the E112 treatment abroad scheme for orthopaedic surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26192/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. 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.
453. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will add haemachromatosis to the long-term illness scheme, given that this long-term illness requires lifelong medical care and carries increased risks of several complicating conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26203/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
454. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a required appointment at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin 2 will be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/15]
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.
455. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health pursuant to provisions in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, if he will provide the total number of applications for review received by the Health Service Executive; the number of reviews carried out; in the case of the reviews carried out, the reason the reviews were sought; the outcome of the reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26212/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy might be aware, the first annual report on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas as required under Section 20 of the Act yesterday. The report covers the period from 1 of January 2014 until the 31 of December 2014. The report shows that 26 terminations were carried out under the Act in 2014. Fourteen of these arose from a risk to the life of the mother arising from physical illness, nine from a risk to the life of the mother from emergencies arising from physical illness, and three arose from a risk to the life of the mother from suicide.
This total number of terminations (26) is in line with annual estimates presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee hearings on the General Scheme of the Bill in January 2013. The information published on these procedures is restricted in order to limit the risk of identification in what is a private confidential matter between patients and their doctors.
The HSE has also submitted a report as required under Section 15 of the Act on Reviews carried out in 2014. This report has also been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The HSE's report shows that one application for review was made to the Executive, one review was carried out under Section 7 of the Act, and the Review Committee found that this application did not meet the criteria for a termination of pregnancy under the Act.
456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) in County Limerick is being forced to endure a significant waiting period before receiving surgical procedures to remedy an illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26220/15]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
457. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be provided with home help. [26222/15]
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.
458. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry may expect to receive orthodontic treatment. [26224/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for 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 they will follow up the matter with them.
459. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a shortage in supply of tuberculosis, BCG, vaccines; the issues with the supplier; the reason enough vaccines were not acquired ahead of the next supply which is due in July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26231/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe BCG vaccine is currently part of the primary childhood immunisation schedule and is provided by the HSE. The vaccine is given to protect babies against Tuberculosis (TB). In Ireland the number of cases of TB has been falling and there were no cases in young children in 2014.
The HSE has a contract with a Danish supplier for the procurement of BCG vaccine. BCG vaccine must be specifically packed for distribution to each country. According to the contract when BCG vaccine arrives into Ireland it should have a shelf life of 6 months. The contract contains a delivery schedule of an agreed amount of BCG vaccine every three months. The delivery volume is more than sufficient vaccine for newborn babies and others requiring BCG vaccination.
Since 2014 the supplier has been supplying BCG vaccine with significant delays due to issues in their production. The last shipment of BCG vaccine due to arrive at the end of October 2014 arrived at the end of December 2014. The delay in delivery meant that two months shelf life was lost and this expired at the end of April 2015. The HSE had sufficient BCG vaccine in Ireland until it expired at the end of April 2015. Had more stock been purchased it too would have expired at the end of April 2015.
In addition delivery of BCG vaccine produced in 2014 were suspended pending an extensive investigation regarding a possible problem with the capping of the vials. This investigation has now been concluded and product produced during 2014 is being released, but it will take some time to release all the batches produced. As a result this BCG vaccine will have very short remaining shelf life until newly produced product becomes available.
In addition a number of qualification/validation activities have to be performed following repair of central equipment in the first half of 2015. This means that production of new product will not commence until August 2015 and due to the lengthy analysis and release procedure, vaccine from this production will not become available until the end of 2015 or beginning of 2016.
As a result there are limits to the quantities that can be ordered and delays on all deliveries. The supplier does not expect that the delivery situation will be normalised until 1 quarter of 2016 at the earliest.
The HSE will arrange appointments for vaccination clinics when the BCG vaccine supply is restored.
460. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to the Cuan Dara detoxification unit in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin 10 to upgrade the toilet and shower facilities for wheelchair users, given that the unit is not currently wheelchair or disability compliant; and when will these upgrades be implemented. [26236/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra461. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the supervised detoxification facility that is available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 who is wheelchair bound due to suffering a stroke. [26237/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 my officials will follow the matter up.
462. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the benefits of breastfeeding as part of the public health policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26254/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health’s Breastfeeding Strategic Action Plan (2005) has as its mission statement 'to improve the nation’s health by ensuring that breastfeeding is the norm for infants and young children'.The protective role of breastfeeding extends beyond childhood and is important in the prevention of obesity, and chronic diseases in adulthood including hypertension and diabetes.
A key goal of the Strategic Action Plan is that all families have the knowledge, skills and support to make and carry out informed infant feeding decisions, particularly those least likely to breastfeed.
To achieve this the HSE has a National Breastfeeding Co-ordinator and a multi-disciplinary National Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation Committee oversees the implementation of breastfeeding strategy and initiatives. The National Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation Committee have helped facilitate initiatives such as, evidence based breastfeeding policies implemented across the HSE; improvements in breastfeeding education and training; development of breastfeeding education resources; development of guidelines on supporting and protecting breastfeeding in public places and the protection of breastfeeding through changes in maternity protection legislation and workplace initiatives.
Staff within HSE maternity and paediatric services and primary care are committed to the promotion, support and protection of breastfeeding. The HSE Infant Feeding Policy for Maternity and Neonatal Services is based on the Baby Friendly 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and is the policy of all 19 maternity units. All 19 maternity units participate in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and there are 8 designated Baby Friendly Hospitals. Breastfeeding is promoted to all expectant mothers in the antenatal period at maternity hospitals and in primary care. Mothers are offered support to breastfeed following birth. Care is provided by public health nurses in the community following discharge from maternity hospital and individualised care plans are developed for mothers. Over 200 breastfeeding support groups are provided by the HSE and HSE funded voluntary breastfeeding organisations around the country.
The HSE launched the first phase of its national breastfeeding campaign "Every Breastfeed Baby Makes a Difference" and promotes an annual National Breastfeeding Week.
The HSE website www.breastfeeding.ie is the primary route for providing information, advice and support to women thinking about breastfeeding and those who are breastfeeding.
Feedback from year-round search and display advertising ensures that awareness of the campaign and the invitation to visit the website reaches the target audience.
HSE breastfeeding information materials including the booklet ‘Breastfeeding – a good start in life’ was developed in partnership with Baby Friendly Hospitals Initiative, La Leche League, Association of Lactation Consultants, CUIDIÚ and Friends of Breastfeeding. It forms part of the HSE Healthy Pregnancy Pack which is distributed widely through maternity hospitals and GPs and over 80,000 are distributed annually.
A recent review of the Breastfeeding Strategic Action Plan has highlighted supports being implemented. These include policies to guide good practice and monitoring within HSE maternity services; enhancements in training for public health nurses and midwives; the expansion of appropriately trained community-led peer support programmes; the development of media messages to promote breastfeeding and the development of readily available information including the national breastfeeding website.
An Obesity Policy and Action Plan is currently being devised by my Department and issues including breastfeeding are being considered as part of this work.
463. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding full-time supported residential care in respect of a person (details supplied) who has an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26255/15]
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.
464. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when appointments for operations will be provided for persons on the waiting list at Cappagh Hospital in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26275/15]
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.
465. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be facilitated in relation to a medical procedure in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26276/15]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
466. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the funding spent by the Health Service Executive on PA Consulting fees for the Irish hospital redesign programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26280/15]
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.
467. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26283/15]
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.
468. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce guidelines for pharmacies to accept returns of unwanted or unused medicines, in order to ensure their safe disposal and to promote this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26285/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 set out the standards applicable to the operation of community pharmacies. Under these Regulations, persons operating registered pharmacies may accept patient-returned medicines for disposal. Pharmacy owners are required to ensure that when disposing of medicines, they must do so in a manner that will not result in a danger to public health or a risk to the environment.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the statutory regulator for pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland, issued guidelines on the disposal of medicinal products for a retail pharmacy business to facilitate compliance with the Regulations. These guidelines set out how patient-returned medicines are to be managed by pharmacies to ensure that returned medicines are segregated from pharmacy stock whilst waiting for disposal, never re-used or supplied to another patient, and are disposed of in an appropriate timeframe. The guidelines state that ‘Patients should be facilitated and encouraged to return unwanted or expired medicinal products to the pharmacy for disposal. Pharmacists should inform patients that it is not appropriate to dispose of waste medicinal products in their household waste or through the mains water drainage system.’
