Written Answers Nos. 714-733
714. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the cancer treatment drug, Palbociclib, is not being provided to newly diagnosed persons after 1 August 2017 due to costs; and if so, if he will review the decision and outline the cost of the drug. [35174/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
715. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 366 of 4 July 2017, the number of persons who would benefit from each of the nine medicines approved by the HSE but are without the funds to be purchased (details supplied); the estimated number of persons that would benefit from the drug, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35175/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
716. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical facilities including maternity theatres, hospital wards, surgical theatres and so on which have been built by the State but have never been opened or became operational; the location of same; the original cost of building the units; the cost of maintenance, security, cleaning and so on; the length of time they have been closed or non-operational; and the reason they are not in operation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35176/17]
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.
717. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical facilities including maternity theatres, hospital wards, surgical theatres and so on, in the State which are not operational or have been closed due to staff shortages or funding issues; the location of same; the cost of maintenance, security, cleaning and so on; the length of time they have been closed or non-operational; the reason they are not in operation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35177/17]
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.
718. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is still in hospital despite their requests to return home. [35179/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
719. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the intake to the annual GP training scheme by 200 for 2017; the first year cost; the full-year cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35180/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the continued development of General Practitioner capacity and to ensuring that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services. The HSE works alongside the Irish College of General Practitioners in actively recruiting and training GP trainees. At present, GP training is delivered by 14 separate GP training programmes throughout the country. GP training programmes are of 4 years duration and all trainees are required to complete 2 years in a hospital setting and 2 years in general practice with a GP trainer.
It would not be possible to increase the number of training places this year on the scale suggested by the Deputy for a number of reasons. Firstly, the candidate selection process for 2017 has been completed and the programme commenced earlier this month. To facilitate such an increase it would be also be necessary to recruit and train additional GP trainers and provide additional doctor training posts in the hospital setting. Instead, the aim is to increase the number of GP training places on an incremental basis over
The annual number of training places available has been increased from 120 in 2009 to 170 in 2017. The Government is committed to further increasing this number in future years.
In relation to costs, year 1 and year 2 of training, GP trainees are based in acute hospitals and fill vacancies at Senior House Officer (SHO) level. The cost for the 1st and 2nd years of training when trainees are based in hospitals is approximately €100,000 per trainee per annum. The cost for the 3rd and 4th years of training when trainees are based in the GP practices in the community is approximately €110,000 per trainee per annum. The overall cost of expanding GP training by a further 200 places would also depend on the cost of various training inputs required. The Department does not hold that specific data.
In 2016 the HSE and the ICGP agreed in principle to transfer operational responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the ICGP and to restructure the organisation of training programmes so as to maximise efficiency and provide a basis for further expansion. Significant progress has been made in advancing implementation of these changes, though some practical matters are still in the process of being resolved by the HSE and the ICGP. This transfer would also likely have implications on the average cost of GP training per trainee per annum.
Officials from my Department and the HSE are working closely with the ICGP to put in place arrangements which will ensure that the future GP workforce needs, including GP training are met. In addition, the GP contracts review process which is currently underway will seek to arrive at contractual arrangements which will ensure that general practice is an attractive, fulfilling and rewarding career option into the future.
720. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of reducing prescription charges for medical card holders under 70 years of age from €2 to €1.50, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35181/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
721. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of lowering the threshold of the drugs payment scheme from €144 to €132, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35182/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
722. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of introducing a twice yearly six-monthly scale and polish for all medical card holders under 70 years of age, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35183/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra723. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of introducing protracted periodontal treatment for all medical card holders under 70 years of age, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35184/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 723 together.
The cost of increasing the level of service provided by the HSE would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population, the way in which such a service would be provided, the level of service that would be provided, and the likely level of take-up of such services. Therefore it is not possible to provide the estimated cost as requested. The National Oral Health Policy which is being led by the Chief Dental Officer in the Department will inform future provision of dental services. It will take account of commitments in the Programme for Government and have regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.
724. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing respite care hours by 10%, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35186/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting initial assessment to be placed on a waiting list for cataract surgery in the Mater hospital; the length of time they have been waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35192/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra726. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting cataract surgery in the Mater hospital; and the length of time they have been waiting. [35193/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra727. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for persons deemed as priority in respect of cataract surgery in the Mater hospital. [35194/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra728. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times in respect of cataract surgery in the Mater hospital. [35195/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra729. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of private and public cataract surgeries that have taken place in the Mater hospital since January 2016, in tabular form. [35196/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra730. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the wait time for cataract surgery in the Mater hospital and the efforts being made to shorten the wait time for this surgery. [35197/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 725 to 730, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
731. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35200/17]
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.
732. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect a hospital appointment. [35202/17]
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.
733. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if emergency funding can be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who must travel to the UK for medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35205/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
