Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Disabilities Assessments

Ceisteanna (1068)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1068. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a needs assessment by a multidisciplinary team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20503/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Disability Support Services

Ceisteanna (1069)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1069. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for full time care by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20506/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Drugs Payment Scheme

Ceisteanna (1070)

James Browne

Ceist:

1070. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the provision of a drug (details supplied) is considered at the next HSE drugs committee meeting on 18 May 2017 in view of the length of time this has been ongoing and the urgency of the matter for the persons involved with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20517/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Questions Nos. 1071 to 1074, inclusive, answered with Question No. 792.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1075)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1075. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve inadequate levels of nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical nutritionists and speech and language therapists for stroke patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (1076)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1076. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals that have access to a medical social worker and a neuropsychologist, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20548/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Question No. 1077 answered with Question No. 792.

Home Care Packages

Ceisteanna (1078)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1078. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons under 65 years of age now account for one in every four strokes, yet home care packages are not tailored to the specific needs of persons who could be living with the side effects of strokes for decades; if he will create an entitlement to home care which is appropriate for stroke survivors of all ages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20552/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides home care packages which are enhanced supports, over and above existing mainstream Home Help service. These are essentially a suite of supports, which are more comprehensive than Home Help as they can include community nursing and therapy services, respite care and aids and appliances. An appropriate professional skills mix is provided to support people with a higher level of care needs.

In 2014, the HSE introduced Intensive Home Care Packages (IHCPs) to facilitate timely discharge home from acute hospitals of people who require very significant interventions to an extent not previously provided as part of the Home Care Package Scheme or current community services.

Access to home care packages are provided on the basis of assessed care need, carried out by health care professionals. It is not proposed to provide access to home care packages by reference to illness type.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1079)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

1079. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists serving stroke patients here; his views on whether this is adequate to treat the often complex emotional and psychological impacts of stroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20553/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, I am referring this question to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (1080)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

1080. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20555/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (1081)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

1081. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for back surgery at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the average waiting time for this type of surgery; the immediate steps being taken to deal with the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20565/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.

In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment has commenced. The focus of this initiative will be those lists with large numbers of long waiting patients.

In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans are currently being finalised and I expect to approve and publish them imminently.

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Health Services

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.

Health Care Policy

Ceisteanna (1085, 1086, 1087, 1088, 1089, 1090, 1092, 1094, 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099)

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Lahart

Ceist:

1099. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the data his Department has been compiling on the population of deaf-blind persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20604/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Question Nos. 1085 to 1090, inclusive, 1092 and 1094 to 1099, inclusive, together.

The Government currently provides funding of over €1.69 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2017. Persons with disabilities, including deaf-blindness, can access a broad range of acute, primary and community based health services, as well as specialist disability services, which are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers and a range of statutory and non-statutory groups.

Funding for The Anne Sullivan Foundation for Deaf-Blind is provided by the HSE under Section 39 of the Health Act, 2004. The HSE’s Social Care Division Operational Plan indicates that €2.56 million has been assigned to the Foundation in 2017 for the provision of supports to people who are deaf-blind.

The Minister for Health does not classify specific medical illnesses or conditions as a disability. There are a number of definitions of disability that are used for particular purposes e.g. the Disability Act, Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, Equal Status Act, Employment Equality Acts and qualifying criteria for income supports such as Domiciliary Care Allowance and Disability Allowance etc. These definitions describe disability in terms of an individual's functional ability in their environment, rather than a medical diagnosis or a named condition.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy, which is led by the Department of Justice, sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities, who are able to, and want to work are supported and enabled to do so.

The Department of Justice and Equality has the lead responsibility for the Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Deaf-blindness is not currently listed as a separate condition on the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database (NPSDD). However, syndromes related to a combination of deafness and blindness could be included in the future.

In January 2015 the HSE published new guidelines giving practical guidelines to all health and social care staff on how they can provide accessible services to patients and clients with a disability. The guidelines were developed by the HSE in partnership with the National Disability Authority. Access to services, as covered in the guidelines, is wide-ranging and relates to all aspects of access including accessible information.

As the Deputy's questions also relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.