Written Answers Nos. 411-432
411. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment for assessment will be arranged at Saint James's Hospital in Dublin for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, given that this case is deemed urgent, and the reason for the delay. [44928/15]
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.
412. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if funding for transport will be provided in 2016 for students attending Our Lady of Good Counsel special needs school in Ballincollig in County Cork (details supplied) who will be moving on to the next stage of their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44938/15]
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.
413. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the €100 million payment to the Health Service Executive from Voluntary Health Insurance announced on 8 December 2015, if there is any write-off of claims if the executive fails to provide full claims information within a determined timeframe and if not, the way in which health insurance makes rigorous claims assessments on whether claims are valid or not as recommended by the McLoughlin report on claims cost. [44940/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe revised payment arrangement between the HSE and VHI relates to the statutory charge for patients who receive private services in a public hospital. It also reflects recommendations made in the 2013/2014 McLoughlin review of measures to reduce costs in the private health insurance market. As part of that review Mr. McLoughlin facilitated the establishment of a working group on claims processing comprising HSE and the Insurance Ireland Health Insurance Council, representing all health insurers. The agreement announced last week will facilitate timely claim processing for the benefit of HSE and insurers alike.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
The Heads of Terms Agreement recently signed by the HSE and VHI commits both parties to work towards finalising, in January, terms under a memorandum of understanding on claiming and payment of private inpatient charges levied under section 55 of the Health Act 1970.
The Heads of Terms do not require the HSE to write off historic claims and the associated payments to the HSE and voluntary hospitals. The question of write-offs is subject to public financial procedures, relevant health legislation and agreed arrangements with private health insurers. As it stands, such write-offs do on occasion take place where errors arise, information is incomplete or there is little prospect of receiving payment, either directly from a former patient or from an insurer. It is envisaged that agreement between the parties, if concluded early next year, will bring much greater certainty and timeliness to the claims/payment process but with agreed periods for hospitals to lodge claims. These agreed periods will be reduced but still reasonable in providing hospitals with the opportunity to gather information and submit it to the VHI.
While the terms are obviously not final until agreed between the parties, the arrangement contemplated would see the insurer make an initial payment on account shortly after notification of the patient’s discharge, followed by a final balancing payment upon receipt, within a defined period, of the fully collated claim documentation. The period within which the HSE can receive payment for services will be shorter than that provided under the Statute of Limitations generally, and there is also a new deadline for submission of preliminary claims data after which the ability of the HSE to collect is restricted.
As requested by my Department, prior to entering into the memorandum of understanding, the HSE will be satisfying itself as to the detailed terms of the agreement having regard to the commercial value of the HSE and HSE’s statutory obligations.
Since the negotiations are not complete it is not possible to be definitive with regards to all of these matters at this stage, but I trust that the above information is off assistance.
414. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) who is unable to travel to Cork from Tralee in County Kerry to have cataracts removed will be treated in County Kerry. [44941/15]
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.
415. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health why the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Drug and Alcohol Task Force removed its funding from the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Outreach Project service and allocated its funding to the Community Addiction Team, why one service was seen as more appropriate than the other for the tender, the process regarding how this decision was made, the persons who were consulted, if he envisages possible damage to the Dún Laoghaire area addiction service for service users as a consequence of this decision and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44942/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra416. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the obligations the successful tender applicants must meet in respect of funding from the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Drug and Alcohol Task Force for the provision of drug and alcohol addiction services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44943/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive, the funding agency of the project, for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
417. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is on the waiting list in Letterkenny General Hospital, the date the procedure will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44963/15]
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.
418. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if efforts are being made to use facilities at hospitals in Northern Ireland in an effort to reduce the continuously rising waiting lists in many hospitals in the Republic and the number of persons from the Republic who have been transferred to hospitals in Northern Ireland and who have had operations carried out there since the beginning of 2015. [44964/15]
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.
419. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first-time assessment waiting list who are waiting up to four, four plus to 12 and 12 plus months; and the number in each category who are up to four, four plus to 17, 17 plus to 64 and 64 plus years of age, by local health area, in tabular form. [44975/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra420. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy treatment waiting list who are waiting up to four months, four plus to 12 and 12 plus months; and the number in each category who are up to four, four plus to 17, 17 plus to 64 and 64 plus years of age, by local health area, in tabular form. [44976/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra421. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the physiotherapy waiting list who are waiting up to one week, one plus to four, four plus to eight, eight plus to 12, 12 plus to 26, 26 plus to 52 and 52 plus weeks, by local health area, in tabular form. [44977/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra424. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list who are waiting up to four, four plus to 12 and 12 plus months, by local health area, in tabular form. [45020/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra425. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy treatment waiting list who are waiting up to four, four plus to 12 and 12 plus months, by local health area, in tabular form. [45021/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 419 to 421, inclusive, 424 and 425 together.
As these are service matters, they have 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.
422. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the Health Service Executive to respond to a query submitted to his Department on 13 August 2015 (details supplied). [44984/15]
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.
423. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who reach the annual limit €1,728 of the drugs payment scheme, the number of persons who met the previous limits of €1,584 in 2012, and €1,440 in 2011; the average annual spend per household on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45007/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes; 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.
426. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the ground rents he or agencies under the remit of his Department pay by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in 2015 and in 2016 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45057/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo ground rent is paid by the Department of Health. The Department is housed in Hawkins House which forms part of the estate portfolio for the Office of Public Works. Details of such expenditure for bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
I have requested the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this 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.
427. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the all-Ireland network of rare disease registry, and if Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome is included in this registry. [45069/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra429. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the shared services in operation on an all-Ireland basis for the diagnosis, management and care of children, and persons with a diagnosis of Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome. [45071/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if any collaboration or discussion has been undertaken regarding the diagnosis and management of rare diseases, including Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome, with services and experts in the North of Ireland, Britain or within any other European Union member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45073/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra438. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the progress on the recommendations contained within the national plan for rare diseases. [45080/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 427, 429, 431 and 438 together.
Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba Syndrome (BRRS) is a rare genetic condition that can affect many parts of the body in childhood. As there are approximately 8,000 rare diseases, the National Plan for Rare Diseases was launched in 2014 by the then Minister for Health and this sets out the general approach. The National Rare Disease Plan recommended that an Oversight Implementation Group of relevant stakeholders led by the HSE and including patients' groups, be established to oversee and monitor implementation of the plan's recommendations. This group was established by my Department earlier this year and it has met on a number of occasions. One of the principal recommendations in the Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases. This programme will be responsible for, among others: mapping, developing and implementing care pathways for rare diseases; facilitating timely access to centres of expertise - nationally and internationally; developing treatment guidelines for many rare disorders; and developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be sufficient expertise in Ireland.
In line with this recommendation, a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases was established last year under the National Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division of the HSE. The programme is a joint initiative between the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. This clinical programme will ultimately be a channel for advancing and implementing other recommendations in the plan, such as those on National Centres of Expertise for rare diseases; and in this vein, the programme has designed a framework for the designation of Irish Centres of Expertise in line with the recommendations stipulated in the national plan. This framework will touch on a number of recommendations in the national plan, including those that refer to fortifying research functions for rare diseases.
The programme and my Department will be encouraging designated centres of expertise to participate in European Reference Networks (ERNs) for Rare Diseases in line with our national plan. ERNs are European networks connecting health care providers and centres of expertise so that international expertise on specific rare diseases - such as Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba Syndrome - may be pooled together for the benefit of patients. Any centres applying for membership of an ERN must have strategies in place to ensure that care is patient-centred; that patients' rights and preferences are respected; and must show a research component to their work. Hence, the recommendations in our national plan that relate to empowering and protecting patients and carers, and research on rare diseases will be fulfilled in part through this process. In 2014, I announced €850,000 for investment into rare disease research. Five charities will provide matching funding bringing the total investment to €1.9 million. They will share €850,000 in State funding to take part in international research into rare medical conditions.
The establishment of a National Rare Disease Office (NRDO) featured prominently in the recommendations of the National Rare Disease plan. The national office has now been funded and established by the HSE and its work will be led by a Consultant Geneticist who will be supported by a Genetics Counsellor and an Administrative Officer. It will, among other functions, provide up-to-date information regarding new treatment and management options, including clinical trials. In addition, the post of Information Scientist for the office is being funded jointly by the HSE and the EU Commission with a number of recommendations in mind. These refer to rare disease registries and the utility of data currently captured in health information systems. The NRDO has already performed a preliminary situation analysis of the existing rare disease registries and is in the process of assigning these known registries on our national Orphanet site, which is the international rare disease reference and information portal funded by the EU. The EU Commission has started the development of a European Platform on Rare Diseases Registration. Its principal goal is to enable sharing and use of rare diseases' patient data across Europe, among the multitude of existing patient registries, within and across rare diseases. Thus the registration of all registries in Ireland - including any proposed registry on Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba Syndrome - will be encompassed by the work of the EU Commission with the participation of EU member states, including Ireland.
The national plan for rare diseases recommended that the Health Identifiers Bill and the Health & Patient Safety Bill be published. The former was published in 2013 and enacted in 2014. It is now being implemented by the HSE. A revised and much expanded General Scheme of a Health Information and Patient Safety Bill was approved by the government in November of this year and published on the Department's website. Two recommendations in the national plan refer to training in rare diseases for healthcare professionals. My Department is contacting formally the various healthcare representative and professional bodies about implementing these recommendations. Finally, rare diseases have already been tabled on the agenda for North-South meetings. Therefore, future work to deepen cooperation between both jurisdictions on rare diseases is anticipated.
428. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the expertise that is currently available within the Health Services Executive regarding diagnosis and subsequent management and care of children and persons with a diagnosis of Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome. [45070/15]
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 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.
430. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the service deficits that have been identified for persons with rare diseases including Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome and whether these services can be accessed under the treatment abroad scheme within the North of Ireland, in Britain or within the European Union. [45072/15]
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 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.
432. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have a diagnosis of Bannayan Riley Ruvalcaba syndrome, the supports and services available to them and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45074/15]
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 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.
