Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 404-424

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (404)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

404. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when he will conclude the report and publish the recommendations on the future provision of services at Portlaoise Hospital in County Laois [11233/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working on the development of a plan for future services at Midlands Regional Portlaoise Hospital which takes account of the need to develop services at Portlaoise in the context of developing the model of service provision for the entire Hospital Group.

The Hospital Group has recently produced a draft proposed service design for a new model of clinical service delivery in Portlaoise Hospital. The draft report is currently the subject of further consideration within the HSE and this work is required before the future service design plan can be finalised.

Home Help Service Data

Ceisteanna (405, 406)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

405. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a package under the home help scheme by local health office area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11234/16]

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

406. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for home help by local health office area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11235/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together.

As these are service matters they have 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.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (407)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

407. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is unable to receive the required treatment due to no funding being available from the Health Service Executive. [11239/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Clinical Indemnity Scheme

Ceisteanna (408, 470)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

408. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if, and when, he will grant clinical indemnity to the North West Neurological Institute which aims, in parallel with the Health Service Executive, to augment and support services for persons with neurological disorders in the north west; if he is aware that a region with over 300,000 persons is served by one consultant neurologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11241/16]

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

470. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the status of the clinical indemnity scheme for the North West Neurological Institute, which will expand services to persons with neurological conditions, in the north-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11584/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 470 together.

The request by the North West Neurological Institute to be included as a State Authority for the purposes of being covered by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme is being examined by my Department in the context of the review of S.I. No. 63/2003 and forthcoming amendments to the Order, which may include extending the number of agencies to be covered.

Drugs Payment Scheme

Ceisteanna (409)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

409. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason for the difference in the amount of refund received by a person (details supplied) for the same drugs each month under the drug refund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11245/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Disability Support Services Funding

Ceisteanna (410)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

410. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide additional funding for public service agreement hours (details supplied); if he is aware of the continued concern and distress of parents who have children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11246/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Early Children care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has brought forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme. The new model will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention. Funding of €15m has been provided to phase these supports in during 2016. Full year costs for these supports are estimated to be €33m from 2017 onwards. This model of supports was launched on 18 November last by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with the full support of both Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people and disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

It should be noted that while the Health Services executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the ECCE scheme, it has, to date, worked at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability services to address individual needs as they arise. This has been done for example, by funding special preschools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited and specific cases at local level, disability services have in the past also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream preschools by providing additional supports where possible and where resources are available. The provision of such additional supports should not be confused with Special Needs Assistants, who are funded by the Department of Education and Skills to support children with special educational needs in primary and post primary school settings.

Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the individual case he raised. 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.

Questions Nos. 411 and 412 answered with Question No. 387.

HSE Expenditure

Ceisteanna (413)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

413. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive last reviewed the contract for transporting patients on dialysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11256/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Disease Incidence

Ceisteanna (414, 418)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

414. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he is peer-reviewing the recent report on a suspected cluster of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the Duleek area of County Meath and if he must report it to any reporting mechanism at European Union level [11261/16]

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

418. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will implement any of the recommendations contained in a recently published Health Service Executive report into the possible causes of Guillain-Barré Syndrome clusters in Duleek in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11276/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 418 together.

I am aware that the HSE has published a report on claims of an association between Guillain-Barré Syndrome and environmental conditions in Duleek, Co. Meath. The report has found no evidence of any environmental issue having a causal association with Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the Duleek area. Indeed the number of Guillain-Barré Syndrome patients in the Duleek area, during the time period investigated, is in keeping with the expected incidence of the disease for this time period allowing for the wide variation in small numbers when the incidence of rare diseases is examined.

I understand that the report, which has not yet been formally submitted to my Department, has three recommendations. These are:

- A national Environmental and Health Unit should be formed to assess alleged risks to public health from environmental stressors;

- This unit should put a surveillance system in place to monitor health data and assess any unusual incidents of disease or syndromes in the population; and

- As there is currently no national register for rare diseases including Guillain-Barré Syndrome, consideration should be given to establishing such a register as per the recommendation in the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018 for an All-Ireland Network of Rare Disease Registries.

These recommendations are solely within the remit of the HSE and I have asked Dr. Kevin Kelleher, Assistant National Director, Health and Well Being, Public Health at the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in this regard.

Prescriptions Charges

Ceisteanna (415)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

415. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health to amend the prescription charges for medical card holders and impose a maximum amount for the payment of these charges so that charges which exceed this amount are waived, given the difficulties some pensioners are facing in meeting these costs where they have multiple prescriptions monthly [11263/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists under the General Medical Services scheme. This charge is already subject to a monthly cap of €25 for each person or family.

The prescription charge is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the Health commitments in the Programme for Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (416, 419)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

416. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of car parking charges at primary care centres including if they are an unacceptable burden to patients, particularly for persons with medical cards; if he will include them in the assessment of means for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11265/16]

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

419. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the policy surrounding car parking charges at primary care centres. [11277/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 419 together.

The Health Service Executive has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. If you have not yet received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (417)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

417. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment from the ear, nose and throat department in Letterkenny University Hospital in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11272/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Question No. 418 answered with Question No. 414.

Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 416.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (420)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11280/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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 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.

Prescriptions Charges

Ceisteanna (421)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

421. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to review the procedure whereby prescriptions for Warfarin tablets are charged for separately, that is €2.50 each for brown, blue and pink tablets; if a person who needs them collectively should only be charged one fee of €2.50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11285/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Medical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family.

Where a drug or medicine is required to be dispensed in different strengths and different containers, a prescription charge applies to each claimed strength of the product.

The administration of the prescription charge is an operational matter for the HSE, and I have asked the Executive to respond directly to you 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.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Ceisteanna (422)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

422. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the interdepartmental group reviewing the fair deal scheme will report; its progress to date; and if he has consulted or if he will meet with the Irish Farmers Association. [11288/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. The Review included a general examination of the operation of the Scheme, as well as the balance between residential care and care in the community. A number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies, including the treatment of business and farm assets for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the Scheme. In advance of the Review, submissions were sought from groups or bodies who wished to make a contribution, and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) made a submission in this context on which they expanded at a subsequent meeting with officials of the Department of Health.

The Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group set up to progress the recommendations contained in the Review has held three meetings to date, with a further meeting due to take place in the coming weeks. This Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and, when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The Group will consider the submission already made by the Irish Farmers' Association and will then consider whether an additional presentation by the IFA would be appropriate. Any significant changes ultimately deemed necessary to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme will require legislation and will accordingly be addressed together at the conclusion of the Review implementation process.

Significant progress has already been made in relation to the implementation of recommendations relating to the administrative reforms to the Scheme. The Working Group is due to make a preliminary report on its progress to the Cabinet Committee on Health in June 2016.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Ceisteanna (423)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

423. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a hearing aid by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11290/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Prescriptions Charges

Ceisteanna (424)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

424. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if, and when, he will reduce the €2.50 prescription charge for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11307/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

This is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.

Detailed financial analysis will be required in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.