Written Answers Nos. 276-287
276. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on regulating both individual audiologists and private companies that sell hearing aids; his views regarding the likely date for such regulation to come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16957/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe professions of audiologist and hearing aid audiologist are not included in the 14 professions currently designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
The Act provides that the Minister for Health may, following a consultation process and with the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, make regulations designating a health or social care profession not already designated if the Minister considers it in the public interest to do so and if certain specified criteria have been met.
My Department is proposing, towards the end of this year or early next year, when all registration boards have been established, to ask the Health and Social Care Professionals Council to undertake a risk assessment, in terms of public protection, of the principal health and social care professions seeking designation under the Act and to make recommendations concerning options for their possible future regulation. The question of designating the professions of audiologist and hearing aid audiologist will be considered as part of that process.
My Department has no role in the regulation of private companies that sell hearing aids.
277. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the duration that recruitment panels operate for before they expire; if recruitment panels are lasting for long periods; if newer panels are overridden or absorbed by older panels with the effect that the staff with more up-to-date skills, knowledge and experience may be placed lower on staffing panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16962/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold a recruitment licence. Staff for the Department are recruited through the Public Appointments Service. A small number of staff in the Department with specialist skills or experience are seconded to the Department from the HSE and other agencies in the health family, usually for a period of three to five years.
278. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16973/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and also in disadvantaged urban areas, and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. I want to ensure that existing GP services are retained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly qualified GPs.
The Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing the number of GP training places to 259 places annually. In July 2016, the GP training intake increased from 157 to 172 places and the HSE's 2017 National Service Plan envisages a further increase, to 187 places this year. I am anxious to achieve further increases in future years in order to ensure that the future manpower needs of general practice can be met.
Further efforts undertaken in recent years to increase the number of practising GPs include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS/GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday, as well as the introduction of an enhanced supports package for rural GP practices. These steps should help to address the future demand for GPs by enticing GPs who may have ceased practicing for family or other reasons back into the workforce, facilitating GPs to work past the standard retirement age and encouraging more GPs to work in rural areas.
In addition, I have repeatedly emphasised the need for a new GP services contract which will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector, and health service management have already progressed a number of significant measures through engagement with GP representatives in recent years. The next phase of engagement on a new GP contract is under way. I am keen to ensure that future contractual terms for GPs would enjoy the support of the broad community of GPs and in this regard officials from my Department and the HSE are engaging with the relevant GP representative bodies in relation to the wide range of matters which will need to be encompassed by the contract development process. The GP contracts review process will, among other things, seek to introduce further measures aimed at making general practice a fulfilling and rewarding career option into the future.
As the issues raised in relation to Tipperary relate to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply.
279. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when GP access to diagnostics will be extended to a provider in south Tipperary (details supplied); the reason the evaluation of this service was only carried out for two weeks, which was insufficient to realise the real benefits of this service; when the evaluation of this service will be concluded; when the service will be provided to persons in County Tipperary helping to relieve capacity pressures at South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16974/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
280. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of private investigation firms hired by statutory agencies and or semi-State bodies under the aegis of his Department in the past five years to date in 2017; the names of the firms; the amount they were paid; if they supplied his Department with a report on completion of their work; if he will provide copies of reports submitted to him from these firms as a result of his engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16986/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to reports from private investigation firms submitted to the Department from statutory agencies under the aegis of this Department is not immediately available. The Department will survey relevant units and a full reply will issue as soon as possible. I have also requested the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy. Details for other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
281. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17004/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra282. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17020/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together.
The Deputy Secretary, Policy and Strategy Division, and the Assistant Secretary, R&D and Health Analytics Division are the lead officials in my Department for planning and coordination on the negotiations for Brexit. The Department of Health participates fully in the Senior Officials Group on EU Affairs, the Interdepartmental Group on EU/UK Affairs, and its work groups established to support the Cabinet Committee on Brexit.
The Department established a Management Board Subcommittee on Brexit in advance of the UK referendum, to examine the implications of a decision to leave the EU. The Subcommittee is chaired at senior level and made up of representatives from across the Department, as well as from the HSE, which is represented at National Director level. In addition to the Management Board sub-committee, an Interdepartmental/Inter-agency Group, chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the Primary Care Division, has been established to prepare a bid for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency on foot of a Government Decision at the end of October 2016.
Brexit raises many issues across a wide range of areas that need to be addressed. Work on each specific issue will be led by the line Units with policy responsibility. Units have built up the necessary expertise and contacts with their UK and EU counterparts over time to enable them to examine and address the implications of Brexit in their area. In this way, work on Brexit-related issues is being mainstreamed throughout the Department. The work of individual Units on Brexit is brought together by the Department’s Management Board sub-committee on Brexit.
Within my Department, International and Research Policy Unit provides a coordinating function in relation to Brexit just as it does for other international matters and North-South cooperation. The Department has a full-time EU health attaché stationed in the Permanent Representation in Brussels, who is in regular contact with International and Research Policy Unit and other Units throughout the Department. Resources allocated to Brexit in my Department are kept under ongoing review.
283. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the name of the newly appointed consultant medical oncologist with a special interest in sarcoma in St. Vincent's University Hospital and the start date for taking up the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17038/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
284. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures of the average annual cost of a medical card; if he will provide a breakdown of the areas of spend, for example, GP, drugs and hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17040/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra285. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards held currently or the latest figure available; the number held at its peak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17041/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
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.
286. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if patients using a private ambulance service for essential transfer to outpatient appointments can avail of a reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17042/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
287. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if resources are being devoted specifically to investigate and intervene in the sale of real and counterfeit pregabalin; if the source of these substances has been discovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17047/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the statutory agency responsible for the regulation of human and veterinary medicines in Ireland. The HPRA has an enforcement section dedicated to investigation of instances of the illicit sale of medicines and other health products, including the illicit sale of genuine and counterfeit/falsified pregabalin containing medicines. The HPRA cooperates with An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service in the investigation of offences under the Irish Medicines Board Acts 1995 and 2006.
Pregabalin is the active ingredient in a prescription only medicine that is indicated for treatment of generalised anxiety disorder in adults, pain due to nerve damage and as part of the treatment for epilepsy. Pregabalin is known to be subject to potential abuse. As for any prescription medicine, the HPRA advises that a pregabalin containing medicine should only be taken following a consultation with a registered medical practitioner and dispensing by a registered pharmacy. Prescription only medicines purchased from unauthorised sources cannot be relied on for their safety, effectiveness or quality. They may be falsified and may create a risk to the health of the consumer. The HPRA is continuing to work with An Garda Síochána, Revenue’s Customs Service and other agencies abroad in order to curtail and, where possible, halt the illicit sale and supply of prescription medicines, including those containing pregabalin.
The HPRA has informed me that during 2016, a total of 1,174 tablets of Pregabalin containing medicines were detained by the Authority. These were supplied from the following countries:
- 940 from India
- 180 from China
- 50 from Hong Kong
- 4 from Singapore.
