Written Answers Nos. 455-476
455. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the details of the ambulance service for County Wicklow and County Carlow, by number, by shift, by location; if the service has been reduced since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45181/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.
456. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of the endoscopy unit at Naas General Hospital in County Kildare; if the preparation of tender documents has been concluded; when the project will go to tender; when the tendering process will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45187/15]
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.
457. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical procedure will be facilitated for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45196/15]
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.
458. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the cost of hiring an advanced nurse practitioner, a consultant, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a staff nurse and an additional dentist, each at entry level; if he will improve the rheumatology service within public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45209/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on 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.
459. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when will suitable and appropriate post school placements for persons with autism be provided for the 23 school leavers from Dublin's northside who graduated and left school in June 2015, if the school leavers and their families will have appropriate choice and input into the location and quality of the services, if he will take immediate action to ensure post school places are provided as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45212/15]
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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
460. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available for in vitro fertilisation treatments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45225/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
461. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce Scoliosis screening into secondary schools. [45230/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2011, the UK National Screening Committee commissioned a systematic assessment of the evidence base for scoliosis screening based on international evidence. The review concluded that screening for scoliosis was not beneficial.
There have been no significant additions to the evidence base since that assessment. The Irish epidemiology of scoliosis is not known to differ from that in other countries therefore this finding is also relevant for the Irish population.
In conclusion, there is no evidence to support the reintroduction of scoliosis screening in secondary schools in Ireland.
462. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if there is no age discrimination within the respite care services provided by the Health Service Executive for services for stroke victims who are medically stable and who are aged over 65 years in County Louth; if he and the executive will reassure stroke victims that no age discrimination applies in Sruthan House Respite Centre in Dundalk in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45239/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra463. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if there is no age discrimination within the respite care services provided by the Health Service Executive for services for stroke victims who are medically stable, who are not in a nursing home, who do not need nursing home type care and who are aged over 65 years, in County Louth; if he and the executive will reassure stroke victims that no such age discrimination applies in Sruthan House Respite Centre in Dundalk in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45240/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra465. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that access to rehabilitation for stroke survivors who are medically stable will be provided on medical assessment and will not be refused on age grounds if survivors otherwise qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45250/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 462, 463 and 465 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 matter up with the HSE.
464. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has been waiting for over a year for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45241/15]
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.
466. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding Alzheimer's disease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45262/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of additional services for people with dementia is a service matter and 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.
With regard to the automatic issuing of medical cards, it is clear that there are people with medical needs and it is important that they should be able to access necessary assistance in a straight forward manner. Greater discretion is being exercised by the HSE because the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation has increased from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to nearly 96,000 at the beginning of November this year. This followed the measures announced by Minister Varadkar and I last year, when the "Keane" Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility was published. The Deputy may be aware that a key recommendation of that report was that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card. It also recommended that it is neither feasible nor desirable to list conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility.
On foot of the Keane Report, the HSE established a Clinical Advisory Group to develop clinical oversight and guidance for the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. The Group is continuing its work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions.
Having regard to the approach of the "Keane" Report and in advance of the Clinical Advisory Group completing its work, I do not propose to issue automatic medical cards to one particular group.
467. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be given an appointment for surgery. [45265/15]
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.
468. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the annual amount he and the Health Service Executive spend on the drug Ritalin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45315/15]
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.
469. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health given the reports of the cost of the new cystic fibrosis drug, if he will provide comparatives of costs for other drugs used across his Department and the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45316/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has estimated the cost of reimbursing the new cystic fibrosis (CF) drug Orkambi™ at approximately €90m per year. Over the last three years, the executive has reimbursed more than €20m per year on another CF treatment, Kalydeco®, and there are now approximately 140 patients receiving this drug.
The majority of high-tech drugs reimbursed by the HSE are subject to commercially confidential rebates and discounts. Therefore, it is not possible to provide accurate comparisons between the cost of Orkambi™ and other high-tech drugs.
470. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health if he will backdate the period of reimbursement for the medication Fampyra on the long-term illness scheme to cover the period that began when users finished the trial when it was issued to them at no cost and ending on 1 October 2015, in order that patients who paid for the medication personally will be reimbursed the considerable cost of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45318/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware, Fampridine (brand name Fampyra®) has been reimbursed under the Long Term Illness Scheme on a conditional, responder-only basis since 1 October 2015.
It is not possible to reimburse patients retrospectively for any medicine purchased before that medicine is added to the HSE's List of Reimbursable Items.
471. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health why the Health Service Executive is not covering the cost of Fampyra under the long-term illness scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo despite it being prescribed by that person's clinician; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45319/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for 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.
472. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 regarding the care received during recent hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45326/15]
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.
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.
473. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to ensure that nurses who live here and who seek to undertake a return to nursing course are not tied to the hospital in which they undertake the course or forced to pay €1,200 to extricate themselves from this condition, or to sign a waiver regarding the payment incentive to undertake the course. [45327/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on 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.
474. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he, an agency under the remit of his Department or the Health Service Executive provide funding for a minibus to provide elderly citizens in a community in Galway city with greater resources to assist them in attending medical appointments and in increasing their general well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45334/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form for 2016 will soon be available on the Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.
475. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the waiting time for a public patient (details supplied) in County Kerry to receive an appointment in the South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45338/15]
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.
476. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health why a person's dental treatment (details supplied) in County Galway has ceased, given that due to a medical condition the person has been able to avail of the necessary treatment under the general medical services scheme for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45348/15]
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.
