Written Answers Nos. 268-278
268. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the revenue generated from car parking services in each public hospital in 2016; the purposes for which this money is used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4793/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to note that parking charges form part of a series of measures which ensure that the operational costs of providing parking services do not impact negatively on a hospital's overall budget. The HSE advises that a number of hospitals use parking revenue solely for maintenance and re-investment in parking facilities, including repayment of loans obtained for upgrading such facilities and investment in security. The remainder of hospitals use parking revenue to cover the cost of parking services, with any additional income being used to contribute to the general hospital budget, or to fund research or specific patient facilities.
As demand for parking services at our hospitals increases, so too do the associated costs such as the initial capital costs of purchasing or renting parking areas; the cost of developing extra parking spaces; the need to provide and upgrade security systems in hospital car parks; staffing and general maintenance of parking services.
Obviously the costs in providing these services need to be recouped; provision of these services to visitors, staff and patients should not impact on hospital budgets intended to provide healthcare services to patients.
The HSE has advised that it does not have one single contract to provide parking services at all hospitals. Instead each hospital has a unique arrangement which reflects its specific circumstances. Some hospitals do not provide public car parks while a minority of others do not charge a car parking fee.
Hospitals which charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families particularly those with long-term illnesses. Consequently hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge, thus capping this expense. While there is no national HSE policy governing car park charges, the HSE advises that it keeps hospital parking charges under review.
In terms of the future development of our hospital system, we must take account of public transport services. This is evident in relation to the planned development of a new Children's Hospital. By supporting the expansion of public transport facilities, we continue to provide more transportation choices to the public when visiting their loved ones in our hospitals. In relation to the particular query regarding the revenue generated from car parking services in each public hospital in 2016, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly as this is a service matter.
269. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4796/17]
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.
270. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a full-time co-ordinator will be allocated to the South Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (details supplied). [4797/17]
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.
271. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs will be carried out in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4798/17]
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.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
272. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when dental clinics for children will resume in Drogheda in view of the recent closures in the Haymarket and Ballsgrove clinics; his plans to temporarily accommodate the dental clinic in another facility within the Drogheda environs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4799/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
273. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reasoning behind question 52 on the new IBTS questionnaire for blood donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuestion 52 was added to the IBTS Donor Health & Lifestyle Questionnaire on 16 January 2017 when the permanent deferral of men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood was changed from a lifetime ban to a 12 month deferral from the most recent sexual contact with another man.
While the one year deferral of MSM from donating blood protects against the risk of transmission of HIV, issues could arise in relation to an emerging infection. A 5 year deferral of people who have had a notifiable sexually transmitted infection has also been introduced. In line with this, those who have had an STI such as chlamydia or genital herpes are deferred for five years after completion of treatment - persons who have had syphilis, gonorrhoea, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) or granuloma inguinale are already permanently excluded from donating.
Persons who have taken medication to prevent HIV infection, i.e. pre or post exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP), are also deferred for a 5 year period. A study published in the US in 2016 showed a sharp rise in STIs in men on PrEP and associated the use of PrEP with a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with an STI.
274. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing an additional long-term residential care unit for intellectually challenged persons in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4805/17]
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.
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.
275. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for outpatients with an address in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4808/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised that as of 30th December 2016 the breakdown by timebands for residents of the Wicklow area is as follows:
|
Row Labels |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Grand Total |
|
30 December 2016 |
3805 |
2062 |
1559 |
1011 |
550 |
368 |
456 |
9811 |
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities.
We are seeing a considerable increase in demand for health services as our population grows and ages. For example, the HSE has advised that to the end of September, there was a sustained increase in referrals for outpatient appointments, each month in the order of 10%, in comparison with the same period in 2015.
In November, the HSE launched the Strategy for the design of Integrated Outpatient Services 2016-2020. It seeks to improve waiting times for outpatient services by enhancing patient referral pathways and utilising technology to enable better planning. In the context of rolling out this Strategy, the HSE is currently developing an Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan for 2017. The plan will focus on ensuring that no patient is waiting more than 15 months on this list by the end of October 2017.
Each of the Hospital Groups is currently finalising its Operational Plan for 2017. These Plans will set out the specific actions to be implemented this year to address waiting lists, including outpatient waiting lists. These specific actions will form part of the HSE's Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan.
I expect to make known the details of the HSE Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan in the coming weeks.
276. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a cataract operation carried out; the reason for the significant delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4809/17]
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.
277. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the completion of the analysis of the cancer treating drug nivolumab by the NCPE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4815/17]
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.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a Company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drug Schemes or as a hospital medicine, the Company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List or to be priced as a hospital medicine.
Within 180 days of receiving the application (or such longer period which may arise if further information is sought from the Company), the HSE will decide to either:
- add the medicine to the Reimbursement List/agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine,
or,
- will refuse to reimburse the medicine.
I am informed that the HSE received a request and economic dossier from the manufacturer of Nivolumab for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. At the request of the HSE, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) is currently conducting an assessment of Nivolumab for the treatment of this indication. Once this assessment is completed, a summary report will be published on the NCPE website. The HSE will then consider the NCPE assessment as part of its decision-making process when considering the drug for reimbursement.
In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the information/dossier submitted by the Company) and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may have been sought by the HSE at its sole discretion (for example, from the NCPE).
As the NCPE's assessment of Nivolumab is ongoing, it is not possible to provide further details at this time.
In relation to compassionate access schemes, I have previously asked manufacturers to show compassion and to maintain compassionate access schemes for patients during the assessment process by the HSE and this remains the position. However, the operation of these schemes is at the discretion of manufacturers. There is no provision in Irish legislation for the approval of compassionate use programmes for specific groups of patients with an unmet medical need.
278. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the location of the new national children's hospital and the relocation of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital will occur simultaneously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4818/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs announced in June 2015, the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital will relocate in time to the St James's campus, achieving tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services. The National Maternity Strategy, published in January 2016, reaffirms the delivery of tri-located maternity services on the campus with the new children's hospital and St James's Hospital. A site for the proposed maternity hospital is identified in the Site Master Plan for the St James's campus, and the new children's hospital design has incorporated the required operational links with both maternity and adult hospitals.
While the construction of the new maternity hospital on the campus will not commence until the new children's hospital is completed, consideration will be given to the work required to progress the new maternity hospital design, which must be done before a planning application is prepared.
