Written Answers Nos. 261-278
261. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a social worker will be assigned to a person (details supplied); the efforts being made to secure housing for this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40143/17]
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.
262. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of Nivolumab on the reimbursement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40144/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra368. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if he will allow commencement of the prescribing procedures for Opdivo (Nivolumab) for immunotherapy treatment for affected persons with cancer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40594/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 368 together.
The HSE has received separate applications for the reimbursement of Nivolumab (Opdivo) for eight separate indications, including for use as a combination therapy. These applications relate to funding of these treatments in the public health service.
Following an assessment by the HSE, and consultation with my Department regarding the funding implications, Nivolumab has been approved by the HSE for the treatment of:
- melanoma (monotherapy);
- renal cell carcinoma, and
- Hodgkins Lymphoma.
I understand that the HSE expect the reimbursement of Nivolumab for these indications in public hospitals to commence from the 1 November 2017.
In addition, the HSE has decided not to support the use of Nivolumab in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
Availability of these treatments in a private hospital is a matter between the individual patient, their health insurer and the hospital concerned.
Any decision by a private health insurer to link its policy on cover for a drug treatment in a private hospital to the HSE assessment process is a matter for the insurer and the private hospital concerned.
The remaining applications are currently being considered in line with the decision making criteria and are at different stages of the assessment process.
263. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40152/17]
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, they 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.
264. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40153/17]
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 response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
265. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [40154/17]
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.
266. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons an injecting room at a centre (details supplied) is expected to serve. [40155/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 25 August 2017, the HSE published an invitation on the Government's eTenders website for suitably qualified and experienced service providers to submit tenders to provide a medically supervised injecting centre in Dublin City Centre area on a pilot basis. Tenders must be submitted to the HSE by 25 September 2017. The HSE anticipates that the contract will be awarded by 1 November 2017. The initial contract will be for an 18-month pilot phase with an evaluation at 6 months and again at 18 months.
The provider and the proposed location will be known once the evaluation of the tender submissions is completed by end of October 2017.
As the tender process is still underway, it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual organisations who may be included in the tender process.
It is estimated that it will cost in the region of €1.5m a year to run the SIF. The HSE has been allocated €750,000 in 2017 to set up the facility before the end of the current year.
267. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount recouped through the ancillary State support facility under the nursing home support scheme for each year of its operation; the amount owed by participants in the nursing home support scheme who are availing of the ancillary State support facility; if the collection of funds owed under the ancillary State support facility has been unable to take place; if so, the amount; if funds owed under the ancillary State support facility have been cancelled; if so, the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40156/17]
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.
268. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the obligation he or the HSE has to engage with the public or patients regarding health service planning, for example on the reconfiguration of acute hospital services; the legislative or statutory basis for this obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40157/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the avenues available to persons to be involved in decisions regarding health service planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40172/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
Among the overarching principles that underpin governance arrangements in the Department of Health are those of openness, effective public consultation processes and comprehensive engagement with stakeholders. I would like to emphasise both my own and my Department’s commitment to openness and transparency in all aspects of our work, including engagement and communication with the public, service users, public representatives and stakeholders generally. This is in line with commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government and in Working Better Together, the Department's organisational change programme. Consultation is now a core feature of initiatives and policy developments across the health area, with a view to supporting considered, evidence based policy making. My Department's website includes details of various public consultations, involving calls for submissions on various policy and strategic initiatives by the Department, including those still underway.
The recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017 - 2026 provides a good example of this. A Cancer Patient Forum was established as part of the strategy development process to represent the views of patients and patient groups and to enable them to inform the development of the strategy. In addition, a public consultation was undertaken to obtain the views of the public and of organisations on current cancer services and priorities for the future.
The 2004 Health Act also provides for mechanisms for consultation on health service planning. Section 42 of the Act provides for the establishment of not more than four Regional Health Forums, the membership of which is composed of members nominated by city and county councils. The Regulations providing for the establishment of the Regional Health Forums, the Health Act 2004 (Regional Health Forums) Regulations 2005, were made on 12 December 2005 and provided for the establishment of the Forums on 1 January 2006.
The function of the Regional Health Forums, as set out in the 2004 Act, is to provide local public representatives with an opportunity to make representations to the Health Service Executive on the range and operation of health and personal social services in their area and ensure that such public representatives would continue to be heard in relation to the operation and development of health and personal social services in their areas.
I have asked the HSE to respond direct to the Deputy in relation to the avenues they make available to the public for involvement in decisions regarding health service planning.
270. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if additional costs caused by decision of Government, or local or Government agencies, will be directly funded by Government in such areas as the nursing home sector in which contracts and price are controlled by the HSE; if an economic impact analysis has been undertaken by his Department or the HSE relative to the negative impact these increased costs (details supplied) will have on the fair deal scheme in 2018; if the national forum for elderly care as requested by the sector will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40181/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The legislation underpinning the Nursing Homes Support Scheme requires each private nursing home to negotiate and agree a price for long-term residential care services with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme. The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of its function, and negotiates with each nursing home on an individual basis. The NTPF may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process with the objective of setting a fair price which delivers value for money to the individual and the State. In negotiating with nursing homes, the NTPF has regard to:
- Costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the nursing home and evidence of value for money;
- Price(s) previously charged;
- Local market price; and
- Budgetary constraints and the obligation on the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.
When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. A number of issues have been identified for more detailed consideration, including a review of pricing mechanisms by the NTPF, with a view to:
- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;
- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.
A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the review of the pricing system for private long-term residential care facilities. This Steering Committee is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the NTPF, and work in this area is ongoing and well advanced.
In relation to the Deputy's reference to a national forum for elderly care as requested by the sector, while consultation is, and always will remain, an important part of our approach, it is considered that it would be inappropriate to delegate elements of public policy, possibly including budgetary policy, to any consultative forum, particularly where some of those represented may have a commercial vested interest in the outcome. That said, there are a number of mechanisms through which consultation and ongoing engagement takes place. The Department engages with key stakeholders regularly to discuss concerns and ideas, and hosts an annual stakeholder forum under the umbrella of the National Positive Ageing Strategy.
271. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to a public statement issued by the HSE on 27 April 2017 regarding respite services in counties Carlow and Kilkenny, the progress made on each project and the level of funding provided; the general respite services provided in counties Carlow and Kilkenny to parents of children with disabilities, including overnight services; if an organisation (details supplied) continues to provide interim services in County Carlow; if a long-term solution has been agreed; if a full service provider has been put in place to replace a centre (details supplied); the status of the provision of a purpose-built respite service centre for County Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40182/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the issues raised by the Deputy relate to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
272. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding a project (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the recent meeting in Kilkenny with the Minister of State for disability has brought a solution to the various issues including funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40183/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of the State is paramount. This Government’s primary concern is that the needs of the residents are being prioritised and addressed.
As the particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
273. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited with an organisation (details supplied) for a person who has been on the waiting list for two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
However, as the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
274. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason the scoliosis waiting list targets were missed; the steps he will take to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40195/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra275. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of children affected due to the scoliosis waiting list targets being missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra276. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if new targets are now being set as a result of the previous scoliosis waiting list targets being missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40197/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 276, inclusive, together.
As you are aware, the HSE, working with a number of stakeholders, is actively implementing the action plan that they developed for 2017 to ensure that no patient who requires surgery will be waiting more than four months for scoliosis surgery by the end of the year, where clinically appropriate. The HSE and the Children’s Hospital Group have confirmed that they are committed to ensuring that no child will be waiting over 4 months by year end and are focussed on maximising all available capacity both internally and externally to achieve this target.
277. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the difference in capacity between the old emergency department at the University of Limerick hospital and the new emergency department at the hospital. [40198/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
278. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is waiting for cataract surgery will have this procedure carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40201/17]
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 is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient’s general practitioner consider the patient’s condition warrants and 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.
