Bernard Durkan
Ceist:226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if dental benefit is available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11005/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDental Services Provision
Ceisteanna (226)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (227)
Robert Troy
Ceist:227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11067/17]
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 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.
National Children's Hospital Location
Ceisteanna (228)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will have the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) and similar concerns expressed by persons regarding the provision of the new national children's hospital considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11074/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project to develop the new children’s hospital is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance paediatric services for children. The Government decision in 2012 to locate the hospital on St James’s Hospital campus was made in the best interests of children from a clinical perspective. St. James's has the broadest range of national specialties of all our acute hospitals, in addition to a strong and well-established research and education infrastructure, making it the hospital that best meets the criteria to enable the children’s hospital achieve our vision of excellence in modern paediatric practice.
As announced in June 2015, the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital will relocate to the campus in time, achieving tri-location of adult, paediatric and maternity services. Tri-location has benefits for children, adolescents, newborns and mothers. In all cases, the benefits of tri-location are maximised where the adult hospital provides the broadest possible range of clinical sub-specialties and expertise, which are readily accessible for paediatric and maternity patients on the shared campus. Also, tri-location that delivers the most significant breadth and depth of clinical and academic research on site will enhance the potential of research to drive best clinical outcomes.
Furthermore, excellence in modern paediatric practice cannot be achieved without an embedded culture of, and focus on, research, education and innovation. More than a hospital, the new children’s hospital and satellite centres will be a research-intensive academic healthcare institution. To deliver this vision, the main facilities for research and innovation will be located at the Children’s Research and Innovation Centre on the St James’s campus. This facility will be located adjacent to the existing Institute of Molecular Medicine, a cross university facility which delivers both undergraduate and postgraduate education and has a strong research platform in cancer, infection and immunity and neurosciences. This direct adjacency reflects one of the many and significant opportunities being leveraged by co-locating on the campus with St James’s Hospital, with its rich history in clinical research. Clinical management and research staff at the new children’s hospital will be able to study, evaluate, and improve the healthcare services provided to children and young people in Ireland.
A major milestone was achieved in this long awaited, much needed project when An Bord Pleánala granted planning permission in April 2016 to build a state of the art hospital on a campus shared with St. James’s Hospital, together with two Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care centres at Tallaght Hospital and Connolly Hospital. The first phase of construction (site clearing works) on the site of the new children’s hospital began in August 2016 and will be substantially completed within a matter of weeks.
I wish to again reassure parents and families that the plans and design for the hospital recognise the need of most families to access the hospital by car, while noting that the campus is better served by public transport than any other hospital in the country. In relation to parking, as approved by an Bord Pleanála, the plans for the new children's hospital provide for 1,000 car parking spaces, of which 675 will be dedicated for use by families, three times the number currently available at the three Dublin children's hospitals combined. Parents will be able to reserve their space ahead of arriving at the hospital. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital has confirmed that this level of parking provision will facilitate 100% car parking provision for inpatient, daycase and emergency attendances, and 65 car parking provision for outpatient attendances. The car parking stock and appointment schedules will be actively managed to ensure that all patients wishing to avail of parking will be facilitated. In addition, a condition of the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála is that a minimum of 20 spaces be marked and designated as 'parent and child' spaces and reserved for parents of children with specific needs (equipment etc.) and there will also be 27 specific car parking spaces provided for emergency drop-off parking.
In relation to access to the site, the planning application included a traffic management and traffic mobility plan for the construction and operational phase which was endorsed by the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council. A 10-day oral hearing took place in December 2015 in which traffic evidence was presented in detail and allowed for cross questioning by those who had concerns. Planning permission was granted in April 2016 without change to the proposed traffic and mobility plan. An Bord Pleanála's inspector's report, which includes assessment and recommendations in relation to traffic impact at construction and operational stages, can be found at http://www.pleanala.ie/documents/reports/PA0/RPA0043.pdf.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (229)
Peter Burke
Ceist:229. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health further to his visit to a hostel (details supplied) when a house medical card will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11075/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A person who is in receipt of a medical card must register with a General Practitioner. If they move temporarily from their official postal address, and are resident in a place not ordinarily served by their medical card GP, they will be regarded as a "temporary resident" and can avail of medical services with any GP registered to provide GMS services.
The question of a person submitting a change of doctor request may arise if the cardholder intends to relocate to a new area for longer than three months and/or on a permanent basis.
Following my recent visit, the Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the mater of a "house" medical card and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Ceisteanna (230)
Peter Burke
Ceist:230. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason for the delay in responding to a person returning to County Westmeath from Australia in respect of registration (details supplied). [11077/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The question raised by the Deputy relates to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) which maintains a register of nurses eligible to practise in Ireland. Prior to registration, persons must have their qualifications assessed to determine if they meet the reference standards for Nursing in Ireland, described in the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes (NMBI, 2005): www.nmbi.ie/nmbi/media/NMBI/Requirements-and-Standards-for-Nurse-Registration-Education-Programmes-3rd-Ed.pdf?ext=.pdf).
The NMBI has advised that the applicant in question applied for registration in the General Nurse Division of its Register in February 2016. She submitted certain documents herself and other documents had to be sent directly from her training institution & registration authority; the latter were not received until late June 2016. Her file was then assessed and further information on her professional training was requested and immediately provided by her. I understand from the NMBI that, due to an administrative oversight, the further assessment of the application was not undertaken. I am advised that the Director of Registration has contacted the applicant to apologise for the administrative oversight. A decision will be issued to the applicant this week.
The NMBI have confirmed that process improvements have been introduced in the Registration Department to ensure that this type of administrative error does not occur again.
Home Help Service Provision
Ceisteanna (231)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:231. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to have home help hours provided on a demand led basis; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable delays that can occur in having home help hours put in place following approval depending on the availability of resources; his views on the fact that when a person is deemed to need home help hours, there should be no delay in having such a service provided and that in many instances home help can reduce demands on other aspects of the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11078/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Homecare is an increasingly important part of the supports we offer to older people, and will continue to increase in importance into the future, as our ageing population grows.
Government policy is to promote care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible and long-term nursing care should be a last resort after home support and other community based supports have been exhausted. Under this Government that emphasis is being strengthened.
The overall funding for Services for Older People has increased to €765 million in 2017, with over €400 million available for homecare. This additional funding is aimed at allowing people to continue to live in their own homes and at facilitating discharge of older people from acute hospitals and the HSE has set a target to deliver 10.57 million home help hours, 16,750 home care packages and 190 intensive homecare packages this year. Demand for home care services is rising as more people are supported in their own home and there are challenges in managing home care budgets. There is no doubt that the resources available for homecare are less than we need to meet demand, and for that reason the Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing funding for these services. The increased resources provide additional flexibility to managers who are responsible for meeting these challenges in each geographic area. I must emphasise that prudent management of available resources is needed as demand for services increases.
Home care services are not currently regulated and are provided on the basis of assessed health care need and there is no means-testing. Government accepts the need to regulate the home care sector to ensure consistency of provision, and work on developing an appropriate system is already underway. However, a considerable amount of preparatory work will be needed to develop policy proposals. This will include a public consultation process which is scheduled for May of this year.
Ambulance Service Accommodation
Ceisteanna (232)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:232. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress on the new Edenderry ambulance station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11083/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (233)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to set down the status of a medical card for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11085/17]
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 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (234)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:234. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason for the excessive delay in an operation for a person (details supplied); when the operation will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11086/17]
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 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.
Occupational Therapy
Ceisteanna (235, 238)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of vacancies under each school age team in the areas of speech and language, clinical psychology and occupational therapy; the length of the vacancy; if staff are currently on extended leave, the number of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11087/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarol Nolan
Ceist:238. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of new posts appointed to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and clinical psychology under the school age teams since the Government took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11090/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 238 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.
Speech and Language Therapy
Ceisteanna (236)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:236. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to outline the terms of reference of the review of speech and language therapy services; when the review is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11088/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Occupational Therapy
Ceisteanna (237)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:237. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to set down the number of children currently waiting over six months for speech and language therapy, clinical psychologist or occupational therapy; if the waiting list is for an assessment or therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11089/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Question No. 238 answered with Question No. 235.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (239)
Peter Burke
Ceist:239. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11091/17]
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 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (240)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:240. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a medical appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11104/17]
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 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.
Question No. 241 answered with Question No. 186.
Hospital Consultant Recruitment
Ceisteanna (242)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Ceist:242. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans for the appointment of a second endocrinologist at Letterkenny General Hospital; if no changes occurred in the staffing of the endocrinologist services at Letterkenny in a specific time period (details supplied) in either the treatment of adult patients or children; if the service is appropriately staffed for the demands placed on it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11114/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (243)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Ceist:243. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to extend the long-term illness scheme to include those persons who currently suffer from Crohn’s disease and asthma, in view of the fact that currently they are not covered by this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI 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 Scheme.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (244)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to set down the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who is awaiting an outpatient appointment in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11116/17]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Products Supply
Ceisteanna (245)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:245. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health whether, in view of the compassionate extension by a company (details supplied) of Respreeza to persons for the next two months, the HSE will enter into negotiations with the company; if the HSE is setting out to complete the negotiations before the compassionate timeframe expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11119/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 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 National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics).
In considering an application, the HSE will also have regard to Part 1 and Part 3 of Schedule 3 of the 2013 Act. Part 3 requires the HSE to have regard to the following criteria:
1. the health needs of the public;
2. the cost-effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services;
3. the availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement;
4. the proposed costs, benefits and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks;
5. the potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item;
6. the clinical need for the item or listed item;
7. the appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety;
8. the efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies); and
9. the resources available to the HSE.
I am informed that the HSE received a request and economic dossier from the manufacturer of Respreeza for maintenance treatment of emphysema in adults with documented severe alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency.
In June of last year the HSE asked the NCPE to carry out a health technology assessment on the cost effectiveness of this treatment. The NCPE completed its assessment and made a recommendation on 9 December 2016. The NCPE determined that the manufacturer failed to demonstrate cost-effectiveness of the drug and did not recommend it for reimbursement.
A summary of the health technology assessment has been published on the NCPE website and is available at: http://www.ncpe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NCPE-website-summary_Final.pdf.
The HSE considers the NCPE assessment, and other expert advice, as part of its decision-making process for reimbursement and is made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE in line with the 2013 Act.
The HSE has confirmed that the drug Respreeza was considered by HSE Drugs Group which did not make a recommendation for reimbursement on clinical grounds. The HSE Leadership team has accepted the Drugs Group recommendation of non-reimbursement.
Under the HSE statutory assessment process the HSE is required to set out a notice of any proposed decision to an applicant company. The HSE is legally required to provide at least a 28 days period (from the formal written notice of proposal) to enable the pharmaceutical company to consider any such proposal not to reimburse and to make representations to the HSE if it wishes to do so. The HSE is legally required to consider any such representations in advance of a formal decision.
Therefore as the statutory process is still on-going the Company has an opportunity to have further discussions with the HSE.
In relation to the compassionate access scheme operated by the manufacturer, CSL Behring, I note and welcome the decision of the Company to extend the scheme by a further two months. However it is important to point out that the operation of such compassionate schemes is at the discretion of manufacturers. I as Minister for Health have no role in the operation of these schemes. There is no provision in Irish legislation for the approval of compassionate use programmes for specific groups of patients with an unmet medical need.
I have previously said that any attempts by manufacturers to link continued access for patients already being treated with a new medicine with decisions under the statutory reimbursement process is both inappropriate and unethical. Manufacturers should operate such schemes in a compassionate and not a commercially-motivated manner.
Alcohol Sales Legislation
Ceisteanna (246)
Peter Burke
Ceist:246. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in view of the concern from small business regarding alcohol curtains and enforcement of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11121/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The enactment of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is included in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is a priority for Government. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill contains a suite of meaningful measures to reduce the level of harmful consumption of alcohol in Ireland. The aim of the legislation is to reduce alcohol consumption and the harms caused by alcohol.
The Bill provides for restrictions on the display, advertisement and visibility of alcohol products in mixed trade retail outlets. These provisions address concerns that alcohol is not an ordinary consumer product but a psychoactive drug that requires a licence for sale. The separation and reduced visibility of alcohol products in the manner prescribed will achieve the following objectives:
- access to alcohol products will be controlled in premises to which it applies;
- alcohol products cannot be on open display near grocery products, thereby discouraging impulse purchases and the purchase of alcohol products as part of everyday household grocery shopping;
- separate display of alcohol products or closed display in storage units will make alcohol products less visible to children and protect them from in-store marketing techniques.
The options provided for in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill addresses the reasonable need for flexible implementation of the requirement to separate and reduce visibility of alcohol products in mixed trade retail outlets.
The Bill commenced Committee Stage in the Seanad on the 26 October 2016. The Bill is scheduled to return to Committee Stage in the Seanad during this session of the Oireachtas. In the interim, consideration is being given as to how best this important public health measure can be brought forward.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Ceisteanna (247, 248)
Clare Daly
Ceist:247. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health whether applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland will be closed after a year if they have not been processed within that time, forcing persons to reapply and again pay an application fee. [11124/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraClare Daly
Ceist:248. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health whether all notarised copies of passports, birth certificates and so on submitted by applicants for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland are either destroyed or returned in the event that the person is unsuccessful or the application is closed. [11125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.
I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply within 10 working days.