Written Answers Nos. 558 - 587
558. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the process for board appointments at the new Health Service Executive hospital trust; if positions on the trust were filled internally or publicly advertised; the organisational structure of the trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPending the enactment of legislation, the Hospital Groups are being set up in line with the Government’s programme for reform of the health service initially on a non-statutory administrative basis, with Hospital Group Boards operating within the existing legislative framework. Hospital Group Chairpersons are already in place (appointed on an administrative basis) for all Hospital Groups and Board members in place in three out of seven hospital groups (Saolta University Healthcare, UL and Children's Hospital Group). The appointment of members to the remaining Hospital Group Boards - RCSI Hospitals, Ireland East, Dublin Midlands and South/South West Boards is expected to take place over the next months.
559. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to introduce minimum unit pricing on alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6081/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, including provision for minimum unit pricing, was approved by Government and initiated in the Seanad in December 2015. The aim is to reduce consumption to 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per capita and the harms caused by alcohol. This is part of a suite of measures agreed by the Government in 2013 on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012.
The European Court of Justice ruled on 23 December 2015 on proposals by the Scottish Government to introduce Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP). The Court judgment is broadly in line with the Advocate General’s opinion in October last year when it states that the legislation may be justified on the grounds of the protection of health if it is proportionate to the objective pursued, and cannot be achieved by other measures such as taxation.
A strong and convincing case can be made in favour of MUP over other measures. I believe that MUP is a proportionate measure and the only measure that would effectively target the widespread access to alcohol that is very cheap relative to its strength. This was backed up by the research conducted by Sheffield University which showed that MUP changes behaviour in those most at risk.
560. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for bone density tests in Connolly Hospital in Dublin 15; the waiting time for this test in each Health Service Executive area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6082/16]
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.
561. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries cancelled in every hospital in each month over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6083/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
562. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the policy regarding the cancellation of elective procedures in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6084/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2015, in conjunction with the HSE Director General, the Minister for Health issued a National Emergency Department Escalation Framework to hospitals, on how best to manage hospital capacity and patient flow through the hospital at times when there is a surge in demand for emergency care.
At times of surge, when there is significant demand for emergency care, the Escalation Framework envisages that hospitals consider cancelling non-urgent elective procedures. Affected patients are advised appropriately by the hospital and their appointments are rescheduled as soon as possible.
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.
563. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he has monitored and tracked the number of non-consultant hospital doctors in the hospital system to achieve maximum retention; the number of these doctors who were formally but are not now working in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6085/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and it will follow up the matter with them.
564. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the percentage and number of general practitioners who have signed up to the free general practitioner cards for the under sixes scheme, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6086/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra565. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who have withdrawn from the free general practitioner care for the under sixes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6087/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 565 together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE 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 it will follow up the matter with them.
566. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the timeline for further plans to roll out free general practitioner care in the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6088/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the negotiation of a comprehensive new GP contract with the Irish Medical Organisation. In that context, the Government has provided €10 million for the extension, in the latter part of 2016, of GP care without fees to all children aged 11 years and under. The GP service will be subject to negotiations, which have already commenced, with the IMO in relation to the scope of the service to be provided and the fee arrangements to apply and will be implemented in the context of overall new arrangements and not as a standalone extension or amendment to the current contract.
567. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards in existence in the health service, by month, over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6089/16]
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 recently issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office which will follow up the matter with him.
568. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he has established a working group on the proposal to introduce a sugar tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6090/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are many causes of obesity including biological, genetic, environmental, education, skills, income, employment, transport, availability of healthier foods and physical activity.
As the Deputy will be aware, I wrote to the Minister for Finance about a sugar tax before the Budget.
Taxing sugar added drinks is but one of many measures that I am addressing in the National Obesity and Action Plan which is in the final stages of its development. My Department is working on a number of measures which include legislation for calorie posting on menus, a Code of Practice for the food industry in relation to advertising, product placement and sponsorship and new healthy eating guidelines and food pyramid. The issue of reformulation of food products to reduce the sugar, fat and salt contents of food is also under active consideration by my Department.
569. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive care unit beds in Dublin hospitals, by month, over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra570. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the number of intensive care unit beds in Dublin hospitals is sufficient to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6092/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra571. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for patients attending accident and emergency units to get an intensive care unit bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6093/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 569 to 571, inclusive, together.
In 2008, a HSE commissioned an independent review of the existing adult critical care provision and assessment of future requirements to the year 2020. The report recommended that the number of critical care beds in the system should increase from 289 to 579 over the period 2010 to 2020 and the development of a ‘hub-and-spoke’ Model of Care for Adult Critical Care. Since its establishment the HSE critical care clinical programme has been working with service providers to develop the hub and spoke model whereby the more complex work is undertaken in the larger regional hospitals and critical care services in the some of the smaller hospital have been decommissioned. The Model of Care for critical care was launched in October 2014.
The Programme has carried out an annual census of critical care capacity and activity. Based on the recently completed 2015 national census, there are currently 237 adult critical care beds in public hospitals. It is acknowledged that there is a need to address the overall critical care bed capacity requirements. The initial approach underway in the HSE is to work to opening the 25 exiting critical care beds that are closed due to nursing shortages and difficulties in recruiting nurse for critical care. The HSE is putting in place a Critical Care Nursing Career Pathway initiative, facilitated by the Critical Care Programme, aimed at increasing the number of critical care nurses.
While it has not been possible in 2016 to provide for additional resources for critical care within the limited envelope of additional funding and competing priorities for acute services I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department and the HSE are committed to working together to try to address the capacity deficit over the coming years by prioritising this area for capital and revenue investment.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy regarding capacity and waiting times, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
572. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health to urgently grant capital investment to Ballyragget health centre via the Health Service Executive's south development office to ensure the highest standard of practice and the safest level of primary care for the Ballyragget and surrounding catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6100/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system. Primary care centres procured through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary health care. The mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff.
There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the primary care infrastructure, including facilities in County Kilkenny, must be prioritised and considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
As it is responsible for the management of the health care estate the HSE has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy on the matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office which will follow up.
573. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6103/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
574. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6107/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
575. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse the budgetary cuts on gluten-free foods to lessen the financial burden on coeliacs. [6108/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE faces a continuing challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, as a result it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of items reimbursable under the GMS and other community drug schemes. This includes gluten-free products.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. Coeliac patients can also claim medical expenses tax relief on expenditure incurred on gluten-free products manufactured specifically for coeliacs. There are no plans to reinstate these products on the list of reimbursable items under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
576. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6133/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
577. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6135/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
578. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6137/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
579. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6142/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If he Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
580. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6147/16]
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 HSE, 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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
581. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to mental health bodies in County Wexford in 2014 and 2015, including the amounts and the names of the relevant bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6179/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
582. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the details of funding to drug treatment and awareness bodies in County Wexford in 2014 and in 2015, including the amounts and the the names of the relevant bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6180/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 it will follow up the matter with them.
583. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a medically supervised injecting centre in County Dublin; the status of the relevant legislation; if he plans to establish such centres outside of County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6182/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 15 of December 2015, the Government decided to include additional Heads in the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill to provide enabling provisions for supervised injecting facilities. This provisions would enable the Minister for Health to issue licences permitting the establishment of supervised injecting facilities to provide enhanced clinical support to, and mitigate the problem of public injecting by, chronic drug users.
Drafting of the Bill by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel is at an advanced stage and, subject to approval by Government, it is anticipated that it will be published in coming months.
In the event of the planned legislation becoming law, it is envisaged that initially one supervised injecting facility would be established on a pilot basis in Dublin city centre. An independent evaluation would be an intrinsic element to this initiative; determining the utility, safety and cost-effectiveness of the supervised injecting facility in an Irish context. The outcome of such an evaluation will inform any decision to licence further facilities. In line with the experience of other countries which have established such facilities, it would be expected that the numbers would be few and the locations carefully selected to address most effectively the requirements and concerns of the service users and the wider community.
584. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on prescriptions of specific serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, SSRI, and serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors, SNRIs, and the number of persons who are prescribed SSRIs and SNRIs, according to the latest data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6183/16]
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 the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and it will follow up the matter with them.
585. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of psychotherapists and psychiatrists he employs, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6184/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and it will follow up the matter with them.
586. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health to include the anti-coagulation strip and lancet in the long-term illness scheme or the drugs repayment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6197/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and it will follow up the matter with them.
587. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to build a 100-bed nursing home on the grounds of Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in Dublin 15 to replace the Woodlands and Silver Birch services; when work on the new site will begin; when the new centres will open; the funding that will be used to carry out this development; the number of residents residing in the existing Woodlands and Silver Birch services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6198/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is significant potential within the recently announced national programme of investment of €385 million in public residential nursing homes for further provision of €150 million for which public private partnerships (PPP) or alternative funding arrangements will be considered. The Health Service Executive has identified 10 existing centres, including Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown which could be replaced under such funding mechanisms.
Services, including details of the number of residents currently residing in the existing units at Woodlands and Silver Birch, are an operational matter for the HSE and that aspect of the Deputy's question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
