Written Answers Nos. 510-534
510. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the dental service will be available again in Carna medical centre, County Galway, in view of the fact that the service has not been in the area for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30792/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
511. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug cipramil is not on the medical card system and only the generic version is (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30795/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
512. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the actions taken by the HSE to date to enforce amongst all HSE services the ruling of the European Court of Justice which determined that time spent travelling to and from first and last appointments by workers without a fixed office as working time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30797/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
513. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an operation in Cork University Hospital will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30804/16]
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 you directly.
514. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis who received a satisfactory service with the Roscommon early intervention team in their first year of primary school has now been left unsupported in their school setting with an inadequate response from the Galway-Roscommon ASD service and with a lack of school-based services and advocacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30806/16]
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.
515. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an immediate appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied) at the rheumatology department of Waterford Regional Hospital; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30807/16]
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 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.
516. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he or a senior official from the HSE will engage with a radio station (details supplied) to explain to the public the services which are available for families and persons dealing with mental health issues and to answer queries from the public on the same issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30808/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedia requests for Ministers and Ministers of State for Health should be made via the Department of Health Press and Communications Office. Requests from the media for HSE officials should be directed to the HSE Press Office. The Deputy will be aware that there is a wide range of information available, from both statutory and non-statutory agencies, to young people or adults seeking information on mental health policy and services. I would suggest that, in the first instance, people should enquire from their GP, or the local/ Mental Health Office or website.
517. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a hip replacement operation will be arranged as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied) at Waterford Regional Hospital. [30809/16]
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 you directly.
518. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on the employment status of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30816/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
519. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children for assessment of need in counties Cavan and Monaghan in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30829/16]
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.
520. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children for speech and language therapy in counties Cavan and Monaghan in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30830/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this 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.
521. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for children for occupational therapy in counties Cavan and Monaghan and throughout the country in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30831/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this 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.
522. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of home care hours that will be delivered in 2017 arising from the total allocation made for this in budget 2017. [30833/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to say that overall funding for services for older people has increased to €765 million in 2017 - an increase of €82 million since the HSE’s 2016 Service Plan. This has focused on additional funding for homecare in particular and is aimed at allowing people to continue to live in their own homes and at facilitating discharge of older people from acute hospitals.
Since the Government took Office, we have significantly increased the funding available for homecare. An additional €40m (including €10m as part of the forthcoming Winter initiative) already provided in 2016 represented an increase of over 13% in the total funding available, and means that the number of Home Care Packages provided this year will increase from 15,450 to 15,800 and home help hours from 10.4 million to 10.57 million.
The Winter Initiative will also provide another €1.4m for homecare this year which will provide a further 650 Packages by year's end. These will be targeted at 10 specific hospitals to allow people to be discharged home quickly. Over 2016 the number of Home care Packages being provided will have increased by 1,000.
In 2017, €14.6m of the Winter Initiative will be to fund homecare, and there will be another €3.8m to maintain existing levels of service and €10m for new developments. Details of the services to be provided with these funds will be set out in the coming weeks in the forthcoming HSE 2017 National Service Plan.
523. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of extra personal hours budgeted for in 2017 arising from budget 2017; and the amount set aside for extra hours in 2017. [30834/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
With regard to assisted living services, the Health Service Executive's (HSE's) priority in the 2016 National Service Plan has been to protect the level of services provided in 2015. That said, the need for increased Personal Assistant services is acknowledged.
I am very pleased that as part of Budget 2017, I have been able to both protect significant existing resources and obtain additional funding for disability services. The allocation for disability services will rise to over €1.654 billion in 2017, as compared with the 2016 allocation of €1.562 billion. The HSE will consider the provision of Personal Assistant services within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services, as part of its preparation of the National Service Plan for 2017.
524. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the reimbursement of Orkambi for persons with cystic fibrosis; if the full health technology assessment by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics has been completed; if a report has been submitted to the HSE for consideration on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30871/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to deciding whether to reimburse a medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) of pharmaceutical products for the HSE, and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process. The NCPE used a decision framework to systematically assess whether the drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
I am informed that, following a request from the HSE, the NCPE carried out an assessment of the manufacturer's economic dossier submitted in March 2016 on the cost effectiveness of lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi). This dossier included details on all relevant costs and relevant cost offsets including hospitalisation, disease management costs, intravenous antibiotics, adverse events and any additional costs arising in patients not taking Orkambi.
The NCPE has completed its HTA and submitted it to the HSE. The NCPE determined, following an evaluation of the economic dossier, that the manufacturer failed to demonstrate cost-effectiveness or value for money from using the drug. The NCPE have confirmed that all relevant costs were included in the analysis.
A summary of the HTA has been published on the NCPE website and is available at: http://www.ncpe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Website-summary-orkambi.pdf.
The HSE has since had further engagements with the manufacturer in an effort to secure significant price reductions for Orkambi. The HSE will consider the outcome of these engagements and any other, together with the NCPE recommendation, in making a final decision on reimbursement.
525. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be provided with chemotherapy treatment recommended by a consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30892/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
526. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the prescription levy applies to an item based on the number of times it is dispensed, that is weekly or daily, or based on the number of items irrespective of the number of times it is dispensed to a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30895/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
527. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to phase out the prescription levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30896/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual required co-payment on the Drugs Payment Scheme and reducing prescription charges for medical card holders.
Budget 2017 provides for a reduction in the prescription charge for over 70s medical card holders. I intend to implement this initiative by reducing the per item charge by 50c, from €2.50 to €2.00, and reducing the monthly cap by €5, from €25 to €20. This initiative will require changes in primary legislation and pharmacy payments systems. Subject to the enactment of the necessary legislation, the Government intends that the reductions will take effect on 1 March 2017. The reduction on the per item charge will benefit 330,000 medical card holders.
528. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the prescription levy by €5 for all medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30897/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra529. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the full cost per annum of reducing the prescription levy by €5 for over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30898/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 529 together.
The estimated cost of reducing the monthly limit through a reduction in the per item charge from €2.50 to €2.00 is set out in the following table.
|
Full Year* |
From 1 March 2017 |
|
|
All medical card holders |
€23 million |
€19 million |
|
Over 70s |
€12 million |
€10 million |
*Based on estimates provided by HSE.
530. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to prevent staffing shortages at the emergency department, Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, because the new emergency department has not opened to date while awaiting the employment of the additional staff required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30899/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
531. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the numbers who will benefit from the €5 reduction for over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30901/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2017 provides for a reduction in the prescription charge for over 70s medical card holders. The reduction will potentially benefit 330,000 medical card holders over 70.
532. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who currently exceed the €25 prescription levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30902/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
533. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the total in revenue taken from prescription charges each year since 2010 and to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30903/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE revenue from prescription charges for years 2010 to 2016, inclusive, to date is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Prescription charge income (€m) |
|
2010 |
7 |
|
2011 |
28 |
|
2012 |
30 |
|
2013 |
86 |
|
2014 |
118 |
|
2015 |
113 |
|
2016 |
80 |
The most recent data available from the HSE indicates that revenue from prescription charges for the first 9 months of 2016 was approximately €80 million.
The Deputy should note that prescription charges were not introduced until 1 October 2010.
534. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the amount of the health budget in budget 2017 that was set aside for persons with dementia; and the amount in 2016 (details supplied). [30906/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons with dementia use a wide range of health and social care services and dementia very frequently occurs alongside other conditions. The total value of services accessed by persons with dementia is therefore well in excess of the figures given below, but information is not collated in that way.
I am pleased to say that overall funding for services for older people has increased to €765 million in 2017 - an increase of €82 million since the HSE’s 2016 Service Plan. This has focused on additional funding for homecare in particular and is aimed at allowing people to continue to live in their own homes and at facilitating discharge of older people from acute hospitals. A significant proportion of those availing of homecare services are people with dementia.
Since the Government took Office, we have significantly increased the funding available for homecare. An additional €40m (including €10m as part of the forthcoming Winter initiative) already provided in 2016 represented an increase of over 13% in the total funding available, and means that the number of Home Care Packages provided this year increase from 15,450 to 15,800 and home help hours from 10.4 million to 10.57 million.
The Winter Initiative will also provide another €1.4m for homecare this year which will provide a further 650 Packages by year's end. These will be targeted at 10 specific hospitals to allow people to be discharged home quickly. Over 2016 the number of Home care Packages being provided will have increased by 1,000.
In 2017, €14.6m of the Winter Initiative will be to fund homecare, and there will be another €3.8m to maintain existing levels of service and €10m for new developments. Details of the services to be provided with these funds will be set out in the coming weeks in the forthcoming HSE 2017 National Service Plan.
The Implementation Programme, co-funded by the HSE and the Atlantic Philanthropies, which accompanies the Irish National Dementia Strategy, includes the provision of Intensive Home Care Packages for people with dementia valued at €22.1 million. To date 133 people living with dementia have benefitted at an average cost of €1,000 per package per week and 71 people are currently in receipt of such a package. Up to 500 people with dementia and their families are expected to benefit from Intensive Home Care Packages over the lifetime of the Implementation Programme.
These Dementia-Specific Intensive Home Care Packages, together with mainstream home help and standard packages, will facilitate people with dementia whose needs have been assessed as requiring these supports to remain in their own homes and communities in accordance with the objectives of the National Dementia Strategy.
