Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:648. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the age limits for the assessment of needs process under the directives issued by the HSE disability office. [26847/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (648, 649, 650, 651, 652)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:649. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the services or supports which exist for children who are ineligible for the assessment of needs process due to age limits under the directives issued by the HSE disability office. [26848/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:650. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of children across the State who have applied for an assessment and are ineligible for the assessment of needs process due to age limits under the directives issued by the HSE disability office. [26849/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:651. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of children in the HSE south Lee area who have applied for an assessment and are ineligible for the assessment of needs process due to age limits under the directives issued by the HSE disability office. [26850/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:652. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health his plans to revise the directives issued by the HSE disability office governing the assessment of needs process; his further plans to reconsider the age limits for children seeking assessment; his plans to expand eligibility or supports available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26851/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 652, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with 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.
As 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.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (653)
Robert Troy
Ceist:653. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the total travel expenses and reimbursement costs incurred by his Department per annum from 2011 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26862/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The total travel expenses and reimbursement costs for the Department of Health for the period 2011 - 2016 are as follows:
|
Year |
Total |
|
2011 |
€306,271.90 |
|
2012 |
€375,204.67 |
|
2013 |
€499,279.06 |
|
2014 |
€356,537.48 |
|
2015 |
€349,240.51 |
|
2016 |
€242,535.19* |
*Jan - Sept. 2016
Data Protection
Ceisteanna (654)
Frank O'Rourke
Ceist:654. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has a specific data protection officer in place; if that position is exclusive or if the position holder has other duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26879/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not currently have a dedicated Data Protection Officer in place. A member of staff within the ICT Unit acts as the Data Protection coordinator. The role of Data Controller in ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Acts lies with another member of staff, who also has other duties.
My Department takes its Data Protection obligations very seriously and is cognisant of the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, which was adopted in April 2016.
Abortion Services Provision
Ceisteanna (655)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:655. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that women travelling for an abortion are facilitated in having all relevant medical information sent by their doctor here to the doctors in the medical centre abroad where they are to have their abortion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26913/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for Termination of Pregnancies) Act, 1995 defines the conditions under which information relating to abortion services lawfully available in another state might be made available in Ireland. Medical professionals are not precluded under the Act from giving a pregnant woman all the information necessary to enable her to make an informed decision provided a termination of pregnancy is not advocated or promoted. The Act does not prevent a doctor communicating in the normal way with another medical professional in regard to his/her patient’s care nor does the Act prevent the woman receiving a copy of any medical, surgical, clinical or other records relating to her case.
Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Recruitment
Ceisteanna (656)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:656. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland imports more doctors and has more medical graduates than any other EU state but still has one of the lowest numbers of practising doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26915/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can assure the Deputy that the recruitment and retention in Ireland of doctors, who graduate and are trained in Ireland, is recognised as being important for the effective functioning of the health service. In addition, it is in keeping with the objectives of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel that we should endeavour to establish and promote voluntary principles and practices for the ethical international recruitment of health personnel, taking into account the rights, obligations and expectations of source countries, destination countries, and migrant health personnel.
It is accepted that a number of our Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs), GPs, and consultants go abroad as part of their training, and some go following completion of their training, to gain experience and expertise, prior to taking up posts in Ireland. A further cohort go abroad for extended periods, for a variety of other reasons, such as working conditions, lifestyle, and pay. However, some go abroad and do not return to Ireland.
In this context, the implementation of the recommendations of the MacCraith Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure Working Group is a priority for both my Department and the HSE. The Working Group completed its work in June 2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations. The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system.
The MacCraith Strategic Review Working Group's recommendations are being implemented through a range of structures and processes across the health system. Each recommendation has an identified business owner, and progress updates are sought by my Department on a regular basis. To support implementation of the recommendations, my Department has also established an Implementation Monitoring Group, comprising key stakeholders, including NCHDs. To date, three progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations have been published on my Department’s website. These reports allow all stakeholders to assess the progress being made across the range of Strategic Review recommendations. At this point the focus is on the implementation of these measures, to support retention.
Elder Abuse
Ceisteanna (657)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:657. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the allegations of institutional abuse and neglect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26916/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has been assured that the patient concerned continues to require medical care, and that the necessary care is being provided. As the issue raised is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly with any further information that may be available.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (658)
Martin Kenny
Ceist:658. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a vaccine (details supplied) has been withdrawn from use; and, if so, the date on which it was withdrawn from use. [26923/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Pandemrix was licensed for use across the EU by the European Medicines Agency for prevention of influenza caused by the H1N1 influenza virus.
The HSE has not recommended use of Pandemrix in Ireland since early 2011, when GPs were advised to return any remaining stocks to the HSE for disposal.
The seasonal trivalent vaccines used in Ireland since 2011 have provided protection against the H1N1 influenza virus.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (659)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:659. 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. [26927/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
HSE Correspondence
Ceisteanna (660)
Clare Daly
Ceist:660. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a public representative made a written submission (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that, despite a reminder being sent, to date there has been no acknowledgement of or response to the submission; if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that the HSE responds to correspondence promptly and within a reasonable timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26930/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am informed that the local Health Service Executive (HSE) Office has received the representative's correspondence.
I have asked that an acknowledgement to the correspondence is forwarded to the representative's Office and that a response to the issues raised follows on as soon as possible.
Autism Support Services
Ceisteanna (661)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:661. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current status of the SOS autism hub development in Cashel, County Tipperary; if the funding promised by the HSE for this development has been allocated to SOS; when this development will be finalised; the autism-specific services available to those with an autism diagnosis in south Tipperary in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26931/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with 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.
As 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.
Maternity Services
Ceisteanna (662)
Clare Daly
Ceist:662. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that in the week of 6 June 2016 a total of four qualified midwives and a student midwife were covering nine delivery rooms, working 13-hour shifts, in the Rotunda Hospital; the steps he has taken to deal with staffing problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26935/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Maternity Services
Ceisteanna (663)
Clare Daly
Ceist:663. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on how he proposes to deal with problems in our maternity services, with particular reference to the fact that eight maternity units are under investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26936/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Maternity Strategy, which was launched last January, espouses a new model of maternity care. The Strategy recommends that services should be woman-centred and provide integrated, team-based care, with women seeing the most appropriate professional, based on need. One of the high level priorities of the Strategy is to ensure that women have access to safe, high quality, nationally consistent, woman centred care. The new model of care will be underpinned by National Clinical Audit and a set of National Clinical Guidelines, quality assured by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee.
Responsibility for implementation of the Strategy falls largely to the HSE. The HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme will lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services across primary, community and secondary care, strengthening such services by bringing together work that is currently undertaken across a number of divisions. It is also envisaged that through the establishment of maternity networks across hospital groups, and the sharing of expertise within those networks, the operational resilience of smaller units will be strengthened and supported to provide safe quality services.
The Deputy may also wish to note that HIQA is currently finalising National Standards for Better Safer Maternity Services. I believe that the Strategy and the National Standards will provide the important, and necessary, building blocks for the provision of safe, high quality maternity services into the future.
Finally, I should mention that, as recommended in the Chief Medical Officer’s report on Portlaoise Hospital, each of our 19 Maternity Units now publishes a Maternity Patient Safety Statement on a monthly basis. The Maternity Patient Safety Statements provide assurances around the safety and quality of maternity services at individual hospital level.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (664)
Josepha Madigan
Ceist:664. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health the set price for a meningitis B vaccine and the person or body which set this price; if this vaccine is available for free; if there is a mechanism to have this vaccine provided for free; if he will consider making this vaccine available for free for all children in high-risk category of under six years of age; if he will review the cost of this vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26938/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE Service Plan included additional funding of €2.5 million for the expansion of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule in 2016. There will be two changes made to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule later this year with the introduction of Men B and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October, 2016. The HSE is currently working on the necessary preparations for the introduction of these new vaccines. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge. The Men B immunisation programme which is scheduled to start in quarter 4 this year makes Ireland the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has made recommendations in relation to a number of “at risk groups” but not all of these are included in the current immunisation schedule. The introduction of this vaccine to the childhood immunisation programmes means that all children born on or after 1 October, 2016 will automatically receive the vaccine. However, there are no plans at this stage to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. Those who have a medical card are eligible to have the vaccine administered by their GP free of charge. However, the purchase of the vaccine is not covered by the medical card scheme.
Emergency Departments Services
Ceisteanna (665)
Joe Carey
Ceist:665. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health when the new accident and emergency facility for the mid-west region located at Limerick Regional Hospital will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26942/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.