Written Answers Nos. 499-517
499. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department estimates is currently received for each episode of care for private patients in public hospitals at present; the average shortfall per episode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29849/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the matter of income generated currently received for each episode of care for private patients in public hospitals at present; the average shortfall per episode 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.
500. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount received from persons who opt to be treated on a private basis on admission to a public hospital in each of the past four years; the amount envisaged to be collected for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29850/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the matter of income generated from persons who opt to be treated on a private basis on admission to a public hospital in the past four years per year; the amount envisaged to be collected for 2015 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.
501. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when his Department will charge the full economic cost for the provision of private acute inpatient services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29851/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is Government policy to move towards charging the full economic cost for the provision of private acute in-patient services. All persons who opt to be treated on a private basis on admission to hospital are liable for the fees of all consultants involved in his or her care and for hospital charges under Section 55 for that episode of care. Those charges are a per diem rate which are set out in the 2013 legislation and were informed by overall cost of the provision of the private in-patient services and the policy of moving towards the recovery of full economic cost, but they are not directly related to the cost of specific treatments provided to individual private patients, the level of complexity of a case or the costs of individual hospitals.
The issue of hospital financing has been the subject of recent Departmental reports. In the case of public acute hospital care, a prospective, casemix-adjusted activity based system was recommended. It has been recommended that the existing ‘per diem’ charging regime for private activity in public hospitals be replaced by a case-based charge using DRGs. Taking account of international evidence and of the detailed analysis already undertaken in the context of the above reports it was advised that the Programme for Government commitment on ‘Money Follows the Patient’ should be realised through the introduction of a prospective Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) case-based payment system. Since January, 2014 the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) grouping system has been used to facilitate the introduction of a new prospective, case-based funding model for public hospital care called Activity Based Funding (ABF - also known as Money Follows the Patient).
Activity Based Funding is being rolled-out on a phased basis and full implementation will take a number of years. The ABF approach is initially being applied to in-patient and day-case activity in public hospitals. It is the Government’s intention to develop policy proposals for the introduction of a case-based charging system for private patients in public hospitals. However, it must be acknowledged that given the complexity and breadth of the issues to be examined and addressed, significant preparatory policy work must be undertaken. This work must take full account of eligibility and legal issues, private income issues and the need for a sustainable mechanism for meeting the cost of private patients in public hospitals. It will require substantial technical work and analysis on the financial impact on public hospitals. The focus for the short to medium term is on implementing ABF in the public system, as outlined in the recently launched HSE ABF Implementation Plan 2015 – 2017.
502. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health his plans to legislate to ensure that qualified audiologists fit and prescribe hearing aids, given that, at present, it is open to persons to set up anywhere and sell hearing aids, often costing up to €4,000 to €6,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29854/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the registration boards, also known by the umbrella name CORU, established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 are responsible for protecting the public. They do so by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence amongst registrants of the professions designated under the Act.
The 14 professions currently designated under the Act do not include that of audiologist. 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 but only if and when specified criteria have been met.
My priority is to establish the registration boards and their registers for the professions currently designated. A total of 8 registration boards have so far been established and it is hoped that the remaining boards will be established before the end of 2016. It is likely that CORU will be requested to risk assess and prioritise in terms of public protection the professions aspiring to be regulated under the Act.
503. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 July 2015; the number of general practitioner cards on the same date; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [29857/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy as of 1 July 2015 are contained in the following table:
|
Card Type |
No. of Cards |
|
Medical Cards |
1,731,470 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
88,604 |
|
GP Visit Cards |
244,171 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
39,829 |
504. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form and by local health office area, the numbers waiting for orthodontic treatment at the end of June 2015, including the number aged 16 years and under and the number above 16 years of age. [29858/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on waiting times for orthodontic treatment is collated by the HSE quarterly and by region. The most recent information available is for Q1 of 2015 and has already been provided to the Deputy. Information for Q2 of 2015 is currently being collated by the HSE. I will arrange to have these figures forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they become available.
505. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is provided with a hospital appointment as soon as possible. [29864/15]
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.
506. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for surgery for a child (details supplied) in the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore in County Offaly. [29865/15]
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.
507. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to add a certain drug (details supplied) to the list of medicines covered under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29881/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe medicinal product Cholestyramine, also known by the brand name Questran, is included in the HSE's list of reimbursable items for the GMS and community drugs schemes.
508. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be carried out for a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29887/15]
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.
509. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the e-health strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29889/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the Government published its plans for adopting a digital approach for health in its eHealth Strategy for Ireland December 2013. The aims of the strategy are to bring improved population well being, health services efficiencies and economic opportunity through the use of technology enabled solution. Since that time, considerable progress in promoting the eHealth agenda has taken place including increased funding for ICT and the recruitment by the Health Services Executive of a Chief Information Officer for the health services for the first time ever. This was done in order to pursue the implementation of the eHealth strategy. This is a welcome move.
In terms of the legislation a key foundational step in promoting both the eHealth agenda and supporting patient safety is the Health Identifiers Act 2014 which was partly commenced on the 13th of July 2015. Further strengthening of the governance framework surrounding health data and eHealth will be provided in the proposed Health Information Bill, the heads of which are currently being prepared by my Department. The HSE has recently published a Knowledge and Information Strategy to outline further how eHealth will be implemented in the coming years, including plans for electronic systems to support and enhance patient care.
In the eHealth strategy, a range of issues were identified to promote the digital agenda in healthcare including the development of an eHealth ecosystem which has amongst its aims the promotion of the digital health sector in Ireland. The eHealth Ireland ecosystem had its first inaugural meeting in June 2015. In addition, an eHealth Ireland Committee has been formed to advise the HSE on how best to pursue a range of eHealth and ICT developments in the coming years. Further information on these developments is available on a new website created by the HSE. Details of which can be found at www.ehealthireland.ie.
I hope this provides the Deputy with a useful update on the implementation of the eHealth strategy.
510. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in implementing the Health Identifiers Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29890/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Identifiers Act 2014 provides for the establishment of systems of identifiers for clients and for healthcare providers, both professionals and organisations. Earlier this week, I signed the Commencement Order to bring into effect the relevant provisions to establish the Individual Health Identifier Register, to assign Individual Health Identifiers to individuals and to establish the related governance structure.
The Act provides that operational responsibility for the identifiers may be assigned to the HSE. Preparations for the implementation of the Individual Health Identifier are at an advanced stage in the HSE. The necessary management and organisational structure to enable the establishment of the register are being put in place, a development plan is currently being drafted which will give indicative costs for the lifetime of the project. Some technical implementation work has begun and a Privacy Impact Assessment has been commissioned and is nearing completion. When the establishment of the Individual Health Identifier Register is complete the next phase will be to allow for other health ICT systems in both primary and acute care to access the register in line with the provisions of the Act. This work will take time to complete and I must emphasise that this is primarily a patient safety initiative. The work will be done on a phased basis over a number of years.
It is important to point out that the roll out of a system of health identifiers for patients, professionals and organisations has no linkage with any eligibility for any type of health service or benefit. It is primarily a patient safety initiative and a fundamental building block for eHealth and ICT developments into the future.
511. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the health information Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29891/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBecause of changes to the Health Information Bill since the general scheme of the Bill was approved by Government, I will be bringing a revised general scheme to Government shortly.
512. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the specific data protection issues that have been considered in implementing the e-health strategy; if he is of the view that data protection laws are sufficient to facilitate the implementation of the strategy; if he has sought to have amendments made to data protection laws to fully realise the potential of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29892/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government published its plans for adopting a digital approach for health in its eHealth Strategy for Ireland in December 2013. Since that time, considerable progress in promoting the eHealth agenda has taken place including increased funding for ICT and the recruitment of a Chief Information Officer for the health services for the first time ever. This was done in order to pursue the implementation of the eHealth strategy. This is welcome.
The Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 recognises the special significance of health information and the need for personal health data to have special measures applied to it to ensure that the privacy and confidentially of sensitive personal data is accorded the highest protection possible and this is more necessary than ever in the context of the emerging era of digital health care. The Deputy will also be aware of the a new EU regulatory mechanism for processing personal data including a new General Data Protection Regulation that is currently being finalised in discussions between the Member States, EU Parliament and the EU Commission. This regulatory mechanism will, hopefully, bring greater consistency throughout Europe on how personal information, including sensitive personal information, is managed and empowering patients to manage their own health data. The eHealth agenda will be required to work in harmony with data protection arrangements emerging over the next few years. It is recognised that a number of challenges exists in developing a digital approach to health and that the legal and regulatory framework for health information will require changes in legislation and governance of how data are managed in our health system. In this regard, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the recent Health Identifiers Act 2014 which provides for the assignment of unique identifiers to patients and to healthcare providers (both professionals and organisations) to ensure that patients safety and confidentiality are maintained to highest degree possible. The Health Identifiers Act also allows for significant penalties to be applied in the case of breaches of the Act by misuse or inappropriate access to the register of individual health identifiers. The application of this Act will apply across the public and private health system to the benefit of patients.
In addition, I am proposing to bring the General Scheme of the Health Information Bill to government very shortly. That Bill will address a number of information issues relevant to a modern information driven health service. Both of these measures significantly strengthen the information governance framework surrounding the management and use of health information while facilitating the development of new information systems to bring more efficiency to health care delivery and empowering patients to manage their own health data. The legislative measures have been developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders including the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the Health Information and Quality Authority.
eHealth is a program of discreet but connected projects. All future eHealth projects, which have the potential to impact personal information, will be subject to a Privacy Impact Assessment in line with Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) guidelines.
513. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the capital plan for investing in health services in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29893/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra516. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the capital plan for investment in Mercy University Hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29896/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra517. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the capital plan for investment in the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29897/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 513, 516 and 517 together.
As the delivery of capital funded projects is a service matter the Health Service Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to projects under way in Cork including those at the Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
514. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the final report of the non-executive advisory board on the reconfiguration of acute hospital services in Cork and Kerry; his plans to provide the necessary recourses for the implementation of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29894/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra515. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that a site for a new hospital in County Cork is identified as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29895/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra518. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health given the lack of available space for expansion of services at Mercy University Hospital and South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospital in County Cork, and the recommendation of the non-executive advisory board on the reconfiguration of acute hospital services in Cork and Kerry, if he will prioritise the development of the new hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29898/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 514, 515 and 518 together.
The Chair of the Non-Executive Advisory Board for the Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital Services in Cork and Kerry made a final report to me last month, and in that context, I am aware that the Board has recommended the development of a new elective hospital for Cork which would amalgamate Mercy and South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospitals. It was recommended that the hospital should be built in a modular fashion, over a 10 to 15 year period. My Department's view is that any such development is very much a long term aspiration, and the need for same will have to be prioritised by the HSE in the context of other capital requirements around the country. In the first instance however, it will be a matter for the South/South West Hospital Group to consider the recommendation.
