Written Answers Nos. 548-559
548. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the administration of pain management injections is currently available at University College Hospital Galway; if not, the expected timeframe for this service to become available; and if there are other options for persons experiencing extreme pain in the interim [16612/17]
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.
549. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [16623/17]
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.
550. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the HPRA has a report of Roaccutane being used for its intended purpose, which is cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra556. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were dispensed Roaccutane as per HSE records each year from 2005 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16656/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the law under which a cancer drug, namely, Roaccutane, is permitted to be prescribed, sold and used without full information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16664/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra569. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason Roaccutane is still available here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16764/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra570. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the HPRA has information on Roaccutane being used for its intended purpose of cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16765/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra571. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the use of Roaccutane, a chemotherapy drug, for a benign condition such as acne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16766/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra572. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of legal cases in respect of Roaccutane in process; the number of cases which have taken place here since 1983; and if the HPRA was or is involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16767/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 556, 558, 569 to 572, inclusive, together.
As previously stated to the Deputy, Roaccutane® (containing the active substance, isotretinoin) is authorised in Ireland and the EU for treating severe forms of acne which have been resistant to other standard therapies. It is not at present (nor was it ever) authorised in Ireland for the treatment of cancer.
As with all licensed medicinal products in Ireland, product information for Roaccutane is available to patients and healthcare professionals. The product information is comprised of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), mainly for the doctor and the Package Leaflet for the patient. These documents are issued when a medicinal product is first authorised for use, and are reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect the current state of knowledge of the medicinal product and the risks associated with its use. Both are available on the HPRA website.
Roaccutane is authorised as a prescription only medicine, subject to the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations. The requirements for specific monitoring of the patient are described in detail in the SmPC in relation to psychiatric disorders, severe skin reactions, allergic reactions, liver enzymes, serum lipids and the pregnancy prevention programme. Monitoring in these circumstances is through ongoing review of the patient by the prescribing doctor, as part of their clinical practice. Educational materials to support safe and appropriate use of Roaccutane by healthcare professionals and patients have also been approved by the HPRA and are accessible from its website.
The guidance to support appropriate use and monitoring of Roaccutane® is based on assessment of the currently available data, which changes over time, as new information is generated on an on-going basis from a variety of sources, including post marketing experience of global adverse reaction data, further studies, literature reviews, etc.
Assessments are carried out on an ongoing basis by EU regulatory authorities to determine if the benefits of a particular medicine continue to outweigh the potential risks and to consider if steps need to be taken, such as updates to the product information, to further highlight/minimise the risks. A review of all retinoid-containing medicines, including Roaccutane is currently underway at EU level, considering the measures currently in place for pregnancy prevention, as well as warnings and recommendations in the product information related to depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviour.
Roaccutane has not been banned from any markets for regulatory reasons. It is understood that Roche Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Roaccutane, has discontinued marketing in some countries, including the US, for commercial reasons. Generic forms of isotretinoin continue to be available in these countries.
Since 2000, there have been eleven cases brought with respect to Roaccutane® to which the HPRA/IMB was named as co-defendant. Requests for information on total number of legal cases in relation to Roaccutane® referred to by the Deputy should be addressed directly to the pharmaceutical company concerned.
As to the number of people that were dispensed Roaccutane, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 10 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
551. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the progress in locating modular patient accommodation on the South Tipperary General Hospital campus to alleviate the overcrowding situation at the hospital; if a company has been sourced to provide the modular accommodation; if the Health Service Executive has engaged proactively with the local authority involved as regards the planning process for same and their requirements; when he envisages that the first patients and staff will be able to move into the new facilities once provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16626/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Winter Initiative recognises that there are specific challenges in relation to capacity at South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH). As such, various options are being considered, including the use of the “National Framework for Alternative Accommodation on Hospital Sites”, to provide additional surge capacity through a temporary inpatient solution at the STGH site. The next stage will be for a mini-tender to be coordinated to request proposals in relation to temporary patient accommodation solutions. Decisions in relation to the opening of temporary alternative accommodation in specific locations will be made based on the outcome of this procurement process and the submissions made by hospitals and hospital groups.
In terms of providing additional support in the short term, I have been advised that the HSE is working towards providing extra surge capacity through the fit out of additional space on the first floor of the hospital to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department. This extra capacity is expected to be available from early May and could be used to accommodate space for up to 11 bays.
552. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 340 of 28 March 2017, the basis for his view that the final construction elements of the project compare favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale; when the cost benefit analysis will be complete; and his plans to publish this in the interests of transparency [16631/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has benchmarked the post-tender construction costs of the new children's hospital against construction costs for major acute hospitals internationally. This exercise demonstrates that construction elements of the project compare favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale when benchmarked at cost per bed or per square metre.
The Definitive Business Case sets out a detailed analysis of the costs of the new children's hospital and satellite centres and the associated benefits.
The Final Project Brief, which includes the Definitive Business Case, has been submitted to my Department and I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government on this very shortly. The Definitive Business Case will be made available following Ministerial consent and HSE approval of the Final Project Brief, in accordance with the statutory approval process.
553. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the Exchequer of carers supporting family members living with severe intestinal failure due to the lack of a dedicated national adult centre being in place; his plans to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16637/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that a business case for the establishment of a dedicated centre for Intestinal Failure is currently being finalised by St James’s Hospital. St James’s Hospital is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Any proposals for the funding for the centre for Intestinal failure in St. James's will have to be considered as part of the Hospital Group’s overall priorities for services across the Group. The business case will need to be submitted to the HSE for consideration as part of the overall 2018 estimates process and with regard to competing priorities for resources available in 2018.
In relation to the specific query raised in relation to the costs of carers, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
554. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the provision which has been made for section 39 organisations providing social care services to meet the various pay restoration requirements now falling due under the Lansdowne Road Agreement. [16648/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraVoluntary providers are funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004. The HSE has in place Service Level Agreements with these providers that set out the level of service to be provided for the grant to the individual organisation and requirements in relation to standards of care.
As the individuals employed by Section 39 organisations are not HSE employees, the HSE has no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff, including any pension arrangements. Accordingly such arrangements offered by individual providers will vary.
The pay and superannuation terms and conditions of the staff concerned are not subject to the control of the Department of Health and they are not classified as public servants.
555. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when medical cards will be provided to all children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; if these children will automatically receive the medical card once proof is provided that they are in receipt of the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16649/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health (Amendment) Bill 2017 was published Thursday 2nd March 2017. This Bill will enable the granting of full eligibility for general practitioner and other health services to all children in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid. Granting a medical card to all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will benefit approximately 9,800 children in this cohort who do not currently qualify for a medical card. The legislation was passed in the Seanad last Thursday, 30th March 2017. The Bill was signed by the President on 31st March 2017.
Pre-registration with the HSE for the DCA medical card will be available from 1st May 2017. This can be done on-line or paper-based. These medical cards will be certified for use from 1st June 2017.
For a child in receipt of DCA but who currently does not have a medical card, the parent or guardian will register for the scheme either online or through a paper-based form. For a child who is currently eligible for a medical card (under discretion or otherwise) and is confirmed to be in receipt of DCA, the HSE will automatically issue them a medical card. For a child who is currently eligible for a GP Visit Card (under discretion or otherwise), this card will automatically be upgraded to a full medical card.
557. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if national lottery funding is available at present through his Department to support the work of community groups; if so, if there are specific programmes eligible for grant assistance; the details of same; the funding available through his Department for which a local group (details supplied) can make an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department no longer operates a National Lottery Fund. However, the Deputy should note that the HSE operates a similar scheme and continues to provide grants to health agencies and other organisations from National Lottery funds. Details of the scheme are available at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/National-Lottery-Grants-2017/.
559. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will issue a final reply to a query that was sent to his office in January 2017 by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16670/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA reply was issued to the person you reference from County Cork and I have no further comment to make on the matter.
