Written Answers Nos. 430 - 449
430. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the measures the Government is implementing to address mental health issues among young persons, specifically the mental health services available to children in secondary schools; if the HSE will recruit mental health workers dedicated to treating young persons specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35956/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPromoting positive metal health, allied to improved services, continues to be a priority for this Government. This is evidenced by fostering mental health promotion through campaigns like the 'Let's Talk' and 'The Little Things' campaigns. These are directed at a whole-of-society level, including young people. Another example is the expansion of the Jigsaw service nationally, with the development of new youth orientated services at Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
In line with Programme for Government commitments to improve mental health care for young people, I recently convened the National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health that brings together perspective and insights from public, private, community and voluntary sectors. The Taskforce is operating as an action-oriented, decision-making group focussed on making improvements and getting things done. An over-riding objective is to achieve more integrated services, and to address identified gaps over current provision. It is working in collaboration with many different sectors and communities to improve:
- Emotional literacy around talking about mental health and reduce stigma;
- Awareness of services and supports;
- Accessibility to services and supports at different times and in different areas; and
- Alignment of services and supports across different providers (public, private, community, and voluntary).
The Government also recognises that schools play a vital role in the promotion of positive mental health in children, through strong working partnerships fostered between the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and the Health Service Executive. For instance, one particular initiative in this area is progressing Well Being in Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion. The whole-school implementation of the Social, Personal and Health Education framework at classroom and whole-school levels supports the effective delivery of mental health and well-being education.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service has been prioritised in new funding made available by Government since 2012, designed to support timely access to appropriate services to address the mental health needs of all children, with the emphasis on the early intervention and integrated service. Additional resources and facilities means that we now have 67 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service teams, and 3 Paediatric Liaison Teams, supported by 66 operational Child and Adolescent Mental Health beds nationally. The HSE is continuing to address acknowledged difficulties in recruiting and retaining specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health staff, particularly Consultant Psychiatrists, to realise the potential for enhanced services overall.
The Deputy may rest assured that future improvements will be implemented in all aspects of our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for 2017 and beyond, arising both from the significant new funding provided by the Government in Budget 2017, and in the context of agreeing priorities for Mental Health under the HSE Service Plan for next year.
431. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics report that the drug Orkambi prolongs life by a median 7.4 years, 2.45 QALY and the cost-effectiveness threshold of €30,000 per annum, if he will advise of the average cost and lowest cost per annum charged for the drug in the EU; if the HSE will make an offer to the manufacturer in view of these facts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35958/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines 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 reply to the Deputy.
432. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of applications that have been refused for injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts since 1995 within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35987/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of any applications for injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts being refused since 1995.
433. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health when the grant under the national lottery grant scheme which was awarded to an organisation (details supplied) on 27 July 2016 will be paid. [36066/16]
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. Funding in 2016 amounts to €3.286m.
My Department has not received an application for funding from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. The organisation may have applied for National Lottery Funding to the Health Service Executive. In this regard, I have requested the HSE to respond to you directly.
434. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the exact location of the 1,000 beds being offered by an organisation (details supplied) to the HSE to alleviate overcrowding in winter 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36074/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Winter Initiative funding has been provided for 167 approvals each week for patients to move to private nursing homes for transitional care for periods of 3-4 weeks on average.
I understand that the Health Service Executive & Nursing Homes Ireland are in on-going communication in relation to private nursing home bed availability. In the East Coast the HSE has developed a Bed Bureau, an IT based system, which allows for all private nursing homes to register vacancies and which in turn allows the hospital and community services to identify and provide information to patients and families on their choice of care if they require residential services. It must be borne in mind, however, that for various reasons, including the complexity of care required, the beds on offer in particular locations will not always be appropriate for the care needs of individual patients.
My Department has been advised by the HSE that it has not been provided with a breakdown of the beds referred to by the Deputy. Nursing Homes Ireland may be in a position to assist the Deputy in this regard.
435. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there is a policy in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, of recommending that relevant patients are discharged to a community nursing home (details supplied) as opposed to private nursing home operators in the area despite the claim that certain services are not provided in the community nursing home and the cost is significantly higher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36108/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36110/16]
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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
437. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) could be reopened in view of the fact the family feel they need a fresh assessment of needs carried out to help their development. [36111/16]
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.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
438. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if Crohn's disease will be included on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36116/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
439. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a home help package will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36117/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
440. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the detail of all procurement bids that have been made with respect to the patient hotel facility for South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36132/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
441. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the payments made by the HSE to all outsourced contractors for 2016 to date for services provided to acute hospitals, in tabular form; the type of services provided; the number and skills of such services by acute hospital location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36135/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
442. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to enact legislation with respect to assisted suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36136/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has responsibility for policy in the areas of suicide prevention, mental health residential and community based services, the review of Vision for Change policy on Mental Health, the National Strategy on Suicide Prevention and the Cross-Sectoral Connecting for Life Implementation Steering Group, which was established in 2015 in response to the actions set out in Connecting for Life, the national strategy to reduce suicide. However, assisted suicide is a criminal matter covered under the Criminal Law Suicide Act 1993, which is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality.
443. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason surgery is not being sanctioned in UCHG due to hospital pressure; and when a person (details supplied) will receive a reliable date for surgery. [36139/16]
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.
444. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in scheduling a medical procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36147/16]
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.
445. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of positions advertised by the HSE from 1 January 2015 to 1 January 2016 for doctors, consultants, specialist nurses, nurses and other health professionals by acute hospital group; the number of such positions that were filled following interview; the number that remain unfilled and the speciality involved; if temporary staff have since been employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36148/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
446. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the provision of 24-hour emergency dental cover; if his Department has made any plans to expand the coverage of emergency dental cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36153/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
447. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the services available in County Tipperary for persons who are diagnosed with early stages of dementia in the area of counselling, physical therapy and other quality of life services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36154/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
448. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of eligibility for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36156/16]
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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
449. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department has taken to significantly reduce the waiting lists for child psychologist services in Cork and Kerry Community Health Organisation. [36157/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
