Written Answers Nos. 388-411
388. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that additional funding is provided to an organisation (details supplied) to assist it to provide necessary support services for children and parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50224/17]
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.
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.
389. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason children under six years of age in County Kerry do not receive counselling in view of the fact that children under six years of age in County Cork do receive this counselling (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50252/17]
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.
390. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the report on the centralisation of trauma care will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if this report will be published in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50253/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the hospitals in which trauma care will be terminated; the hospitals which have been referenced outside cities that could be used as trauma units; and the additional resources and expertise he plans to allocate to those units. [50254/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
In 2015, my predecessor established a Trauma Policy Steering Group, chaired by Professor Eilis McGovern, to make recommendations in relation to the development of a trauma system for Ireland. Patients who have used trauma services and clinicians were at the heart of the development of the plan. The Steering Group completed its final report in July 2017 and I expect to bring the report to Cabinet before the end of the year.
This is about delivering best outcomes for the small number of patients each year who suffer major trauma, that is, injuries which have the potential to cause prolonged disability or death, and ensuring they get the right care in the right place at the right time.
392. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the 50 new beds announced in the media will open at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the additional funding and staff that will be allocated to these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50255/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the package of measures being funded for this winter and throughout 2018, funding of almost €3 million has been agreed to support the opening of significant new facilities at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, including opening and refurbishment of around 50 of the beds in the new wardblock resulting in a net increase of 25 beds. In addition, this funding will also deliver the opening of the new Emergency Department scheduled for May 2018.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
393. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the needs of persons with PKU, in view of the HSE’s recent refusal of Kuvan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50259/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In reaching a decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which it may have sought, including, for example, advice from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
Sapropterin (Kuvan) was considered under the national pricing and reimbursement processes in 2009. At that time, insufficient evidence was available to support the pricing and reimbursement application submitted.
In 2016, the HSE was advised that a new health technology assessment dossier would be submitted on sapropterin. The NCPE completed its assessment of the new dossier in September 2017 and did not recommend sapropterin for reimbursement, as it was not deemed cost effective at the price sought by the company.
The HSE assessment process is ongoing and the HSE will take into account any relevant expert advice when making its decision, in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
394. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons in each CHO awaiting CAMHS mental health treatment for more than three months, by month, to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50260/17]
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.
395. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if in the income assessment for medical cards for over and under 70 years of age the actual interest earned on savings can be assessed as an option rather than the nominal interest based on a rate per €1,000 euro over the exempted thresholds; if not, when the regulations governing the means test were changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50268/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the case of the assessment process for medical cards, both for under 70 and over 70 cards, investment amounts up to €36,000 for a single person and €72,000 for couples are disregarded for assessment purposes.
For savings and investment amounts over these limits, a notional rate of interest will be applied to determine the amount to be taken into account as income for assessment purposes. The notional rate is currently 0.68% with effect from 7 November 2017.
A medical card applicant may opt to have the actual income in interest received from the financial institution applied for the purposes of means assessment. The applicant must provide a certificate of interest paid in the last full calendar year.
396. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of the recommendations from the national rare disease plan that have been implemented; the number that will be implemented before the end of 2018; when the timeframe for the plan is due to come to a close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50274/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a new working group to review the implementation of the 2014 to 2018 rare disease plan; his further plans to issue a consultation in 2018 on the drafting of a new rare diseases plan to commence in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50275/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together.
Earlier this year, the Department published a progress report on the National Rare Disease Plan and this is available on the Department’s website at http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/interim-report-on-national-rare-disease-plan-for-ireland-2014-2018/. It provides an update on all 48 recommendations as outlined in the Plan and progress to date.
One of the principal recommendations in the Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases which is responsible for assisting with mapping and developing care pathways for rare diseases; facilitating timely access to centres of expertise- nationally and internationally; and developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be sufficient expertise in Ireland.
In line with the National Rare Diseases Plan, the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and the Department of Health, encouraged designated centres of expertise in Ireland to apply for membership of European Reference Networks during the first round of calls from the European Commission for participation in European Reference Networks. Three of these centres are now represented on ERN network.
Membership of ERNs will bring opportunities for engaging in research relating to Rare Diseases in keeping with the National Rare Diseases Plan. Further centres are expected to apply for membership or affiliated membership of ERNs when the next call takes place in early 2018.
The establishment of a National Rare Disease Office (NRDO) featured prominently in the recommendations of the Rare Disease plan. The office provides current and reliable information about rare diseases to the general public, health care professionals, researchers and policy makers. The National Rare Diseases Office is responsible for updating Orphanet Ireland. Orphanet is the international rare disease reference and information portal funded by the EU. The office also manages the National Rare Diseases Information Line (a Freephone service) and provides online information about rare diseases on http://www.rarediseases.ie/.
A number of recommendations about access to appropriate drugs and technologies were contained in the plan. One chief recommendation in this regard refers to the HSE developing a Working Group to bring forward appropriate decision criteria for the reimbursement of orphan medicines and technologies; and that the approach should include an assessment system similar to that for cancer therapies established under the National Cancer Control Programme. The HSE Acute Hospitals Division has developed the terms of reference, required membership and reporting relationship for this committee. A Chairperson has now been identified and it is expected that the Group will convene in the near future .
The national plan for rare diseases recommended that the Health Identifiers Bill and the Health & Patient Safety Bill be published. The former was published in 2013 and enacted in 2014. The Individual Health Identifier part of the project is now being implemented by the HSE. A revised and much expanded General Scheme of a Health Information and Patient Safety Bill was approved by the government in November 2015 and published on the Department's website.
Two recommendations referred to training in rare diseases for healthcare professionals. The Department of Health has contacted formally the various healthcare representative and professional bodies about implementing these recommendations. The National Rare Diseases Office developed eLearning modules for healthcare professionals. These modules are available on http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/rarediseases/healthcareprofessionals.html.
The issue of rare diseases and of the creation of an all-island patient register has been raised in the context of ongoing discussions at North-South meetings. It is also anticipated that the Model of Care for Rare Diseases will set out recommendations for rare disease registries. This model of care is in development by the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases.
The National Rare Disease Plan continues to be implemented. It recommended that an Oversight Implementation Group of relevant stakeholders, including patients' groups, be established to oversee and monitor implementation of the plan’s recommendations. This group was established by the Department of Health in 2015 and it has met on a number of occasions .
The Department will consider the matter of a further plan as part of its Work Programme for 2018.
399. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a suitable high-dependency nursing home placement will be allocated to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50277/17]
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.
400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [50278/17]
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.
401. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the projections (details supplied) which mean that an additional 500 acute beds will be required in the midlands region covering Mullingar, Tullamore and Portlaoise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50279/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has referenced, the ESRI recently published projections of demand for healthcare at a national level. The projections are for the time period 2015 and 2030 and show significant increases in demand across all health services, including acute hospitals. The ESRI research shows the demand for in-patient bed days (exclusive of maternity activity) is projected to increase by between 32 and 37 per cent by 2030. It is important to emphasis that this analysis was carried out at a national level and is based on national population projections. It is also important to recognise that the analysis is based on current patterns of healthcare utilisation and does not take account of changes in our model of care, especially the development of a more comprehensive community-based care system as advocated by the Sláintecare report.
Complementary to the ESRI work, my Department is currently undertaking a national Health Service Capacity Review. As I have previously stated, this national Review has a wider scope than previous exercises and includes key elements of primary and community care infrastructure in addition to hospital facilities. It is examining in detail the demand for all key types of hospital activity, including inpatient, daycase, outpatients, critical care, and emergency, in addition to those non-acute areas which most impact on hospitals, such as primary care and the care of older persons.
A Steering Group is overseeing the project, with support from external consultants commissioned to provide technical, analytical and engagement expertise. An independent international peer review group is involved in ongoing review and validation of the methodology and approach. My Department has also undertaken a public consultation process to ensure that stakeholder views are fed into the Review.
The findings from this Review will provide a basis for determining both the extent of capacity requirements over the next 15 years and the type of capacity that is needed at a national and regional level. The emerging findings from the review will inform the development of a new 10 year national capital plan later this year.
I expect to receive the final report of the Capacity Review by the end of the year.
402. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with dyspraxia development co-ordination disorder who are under 12 years of age, 12 to 18 years of age, and over 18 years of age, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50289/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra403. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the reason recent requests from the organisation to fund two key posts were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50290/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together.
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 questions 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.
404. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if a solution has been found to resume a group (details supplied) in Our Lady’s Hospital, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim; if the relevant persons have been informed in relation to the service restarting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50298/17]
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.
405. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason midwife-led care options, including homebirth, midwife-led hospital units and birthing centres were not included as part of the national maternity strategy, Creating a Better Future Together 2016 - 2026; if his attention has been drawn to the inequalities facing pregnant women in County Donegal forced to give birth in exclusively obstetric-led units in Letterkenny or Sligo hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's first National Maternity Strategy - Creating A Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 - recognises pregnancy and birth as a normal physiological process. It aims to ensure that appropriate care pathways are in place in order that mothers, babies and families get the right care, at the right time, by the right team and in the right place. Similarly, it recognises that, while all pregnant women need a certain level of support, some will require more specialised care. Accordingly, it proposes an integrated model that delivers care at the lowest level of complexity and encompasses all the necessary safety nets in line with patient safety principles.
The Strategy makes it clear that women should be offered choice regarding their preferred pathway of care, in line with their clinical needs and best practice. The model consists of three care pathways - supported, assisted and specialised. The Supported Care Pathway is intended for normal-risk mothers and babies, with midwives leading and delivering care within a multidisciplinary framework. Care will be delivered by the community midwifery team, with most antenatal and postnatal care being provided in the community and home settings. The woman can exercise a choice with her healthcare professional with regard to the birth setting, which may be in an Alongside Birth Centre in the hospital, or at home. The Assisted Care Pathway is intended for mothers and babies considered to be at medium risk, and for normal-risk women who choose an obstetric service, while the Specialised Care Pathway is intended for high-risk mothers and babies.
With regard to birth settings, the Strategy proposes Alongside Birth Centres for the Supported Care Pathway and Specialised Birth Centres (current labour ward) for the Assisted and Specialised Care Pathways. Freestanding birth centres are not recommended in the Strategy as it is considered that it will first be necessary to monitor and evaluate the implementation of Alongside Birth Centres in an Irish context.
In relation to the terminology used to describe the new model of care, the Strategy, unapologetically, places mothers at the centre. Therefore, profession-centric terms such as "consultant led" and "midwifery led" have been avoided, as far as possible, as they incorrectly place an emphasis on the profession. As I have outlined already, in future, maternity care in Ireland will be provided in an integrated manner, by a multidisciplinary team, with women seeing the most appropriate professional, based on their individual need.
Finally, I should mention that the Strategy will be implemented on a phased basis over the coming years and this work will be led by the HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme. Last month, I was pleased to launch the Programme’s detailed Implementation Plan for the Strategy. That plan seeks to ensure that each maternity network will have all three care pathways in place and operational in 2018. The Plan also provides that by early 2019, a minimum of 20% of pregnant women presenting at our maternity hospitals/units, including those units in the north west, will have access to the supported care pathway.
406. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason for the cuts made to organisations providing services and advocacy for those that suffer from dyspraxia-DCD; his plans to consider increasing the funding to organisations such as an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50302/17]
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.
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.
407. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of posts filled for HSE occupational therapists in each primary care setting in County Donegal; the number of vacant occupational therapist posts in the county; the reason for the vacancy to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50310/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
408. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if home help services will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50325/17]
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.
409. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the dyspraxia assessment which has been ongoing since 2015 for a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be completed and available to the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50326/17]
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.
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.
410. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the status of the centralisation of trauma units; his plans to close St Luke's Hospital Kilkenny accident and emergency unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50329/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to close the Emergency Department at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny.
In 2015, my predecessor as Minister for Health established a Trauma Policy Steering Group, chaired by Professor Eilis McGovern, to make recommendations in relation to the development of a trauma system for Ireland. Patients who have used trauma services and clinicians were at the heart of the development of the plan. The Group has now completed its report and I intend to bring it to Cabinet before the end of the year.
This is about delivering best outcomes for the small number of patients each year who suffer major trauma, that is, injuries which have the potential to cause prolonged disability or death, and ensuring they get the right care in the right place at the right time.
411. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have accessed psychiatric day care services in both Drogheda day care centre and Ladywell day care in County Louth in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [50336/17]
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.
