Written Answers Nos. 496-507
496. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the request to expedite an ophthalmology appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16153/17]
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.
497. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason for the inconsistency in the evidence of the chief executive of the HSE to the Committee of Public Accounts on 23 March 2017 regarding the information released to RTE under FOI regarding when the HSE had contacted gardaí regarding the publishing of the Devine report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16154/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 16(I) of the Health Act 2004 (as amended) requires the director general of the Health Service Executive to attend before Oireachtas Committees, if requested to do so, to give an account of the general administration of the Executive. Any issues arising in respect of the account given by the director general to the Public Accounts Committee on 23 March 2017 are a matter for resolution between the Committee and the director general in the first instance.
As the matters which were the subject of the Director General’s account to the Public Accounts Committee are the responsibility of the Executive, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
498. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the detail of the hospitals in which reduced-rate parking rates for long-term patients and visitors apply (details supplied); if this scheme is available to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16172/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
499. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have contacted the HSE client registration unit to have a GP in County Louth assigned to them over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16173/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
500. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans for ensuring Parkinson's disease services are available throughout all regions, specifically the midlands region. [16181/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
501. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the request by a person (details supplied) to the authorities of the fair deal scheme for a review of their monthly contribution to the scheme; if the person will be kept updated on the progress of the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16187/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
502. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the progress in the provision of the Orkambi drug for those persons diagnosed with cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16193/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra509. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the position in regard to providing new drugs for cystic fibrosis patients here, in view of the recent submission of Vertex to the HSE, which would ensure access to Kalydeco and Orkambi for all eligible patients; if the HSE will expedite their process of decision-making; his views on whether the HSE is doing all that it can to ensure patients can access these medicines as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16248/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 509 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Since receiving the last offer from Vertex for the medicine Orkambi in January the HSE have engaged in a robust evaluation process consulting with both its legal advisors and the Department of Health. Due to the unprecedented scale of this potential investment, the HSE are working to ensure that access to this medicine is sustainable and delivers the best outcome for Irish patients and the Irish health service overall.
At the conclusion of this evaluation process the HSE identified a number of commercial and contractual issues and have proposed solutions to Vertex in order to overcome these issues. HSE negotiators have made themselves available to Vertex for the rest of this week in order to reach an agreement on the outstanding issues. I would encourage Vertex to engage in an open and honest manner with the HSE in the coming days and to truly put the best interests of Irish patients first.
I am acutely aware that the last number of months have been a stressful and worrying time for CF patients and their families. However, I am confident that this process can be concluded in a timely fashion. That said, this will ultimately be determined by Vertex's willingness to engage with the HSE in the best interest of Irish CF patients.
503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the current waiting lists for children with scoliosis; the number of children on the waiting list for treatment; the steps he is taking to ensure that scoliosis patients receive treatment in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16194/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraImprovements in scoliosis services absolutely are a priority for me as Minister for Health, for the Government and for the HSE this year. I welcome the fact that the HSE has committed that no child will wait longer than 4 months for such a procedure by the end of the year. This would bring Ireland in line with waiting times in the NHS in the UK.
At my request, a Scoliosis Waiting List Action Plan 2017 has been jointly developed by the HSE and the Children's Hospital Group. The HSE has submitted a final draft, which will be published shortly. As part of the new proposal to address the spinal fusion waiting list, a number of children have been identified as clinically appropriate to have their scoliosis surgery in other hospitals, such as the Mater, Cappagh and Temple Street. Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin has begun contacting families whose children are considered to be suitable for outsourcing to seek their permission to share their child’s medical file with the relevant hospitals. Cappagh and the Mater have begun to review these patients’ files and are developing a care plan for each patient.
As a result of the recent recruitment campaigns, two nurses have started which will facilitate an additional day a week of theatre in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin from 7 April. A number of nurses are due to commence in post in April and a consultant is due to commence in June, which will mean an increase in theatre capacity by a further two days a week from July 2017. The Minister met with scoliosis advocacy groups last week to update them on progress. In addition, a group also met with senior HSE management to discuss improvements in all aspects of scoliosis services.
In relation to the current waiting list numbers, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
504. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when the new legislation will be introduced to provide for the replacement scheme for the motorised transport and mobility allowance; the reason for the delay in bringing forward this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16197/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra517. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the policy proposals for the Health (Transport Support) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16280/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 517 together.
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013.
The Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments that support choice and independence. In this regard, monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Programme for Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. I can confirm that work on the policy proposals for the new Scheme is at an advanced stage and I anticipate that this will be brought to Government shortly. The proposals seek to ensure that:
- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;
- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;
- Resources are targeted at those with greatest needs; and
- The Scheme is capable of being costed and is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
The Deputy may be interested to note that people who previously benefitted from the now closed Motorised Transport Grant, may, if they satisfy the criteria under that scheme, be eligible for tax relief under the Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities Tax Relief Scheme. This scheme is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance and is operated by the Revenue Commissioners. Details of the scheme can be found on www.revenue.ie.
505. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
506. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that St. Anne’s Day Hospital in Limerick has been without one of its clinical psychologists since August 2016 and that persons that availed of its service have been without help since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16243/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
507. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of persons (details supplied) who have been approved for ten hours of home support since November 2016 but have yet to receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16244/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
