Written Answers Nos. 138-157
138. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners participating in the GP visit card scheme for those under six years of age in the Dublin 1, 3 and 7 areas; and the way in which this cover compares with the national average per 1,000 of population. [3769/18]
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.
139. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary care centre for east County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3786/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra140. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary care centre for Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3787/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
141. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the financial contribution his Department and the HSE will make for the provision of a second hospice suite at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3798/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to this matter.
142. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a reply will issue to correspondence from an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3800/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra144. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the reason registered chiropractors have not been included in the European Union Basic Safety Standards For Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation Regulations 2018; his plans to amend the regulations to include members of that profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3813/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been brought to the amended European Union Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation Regulations 2018 as suggested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3814/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3845/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health his views on a request made by an organisation (details supplied). [3847/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 144, 145, 148 and 149 together.
These questions relate to the transposition of the medical provisions of the Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD) by my Department and whether chiropractors will be designated as referrers and practitioners in the transposing regulations.
Ionising radiation has many beneficial applications however as the use of ionising radiation increases, so does the potential for health hazards if not properly used or contained. The BSSD is an essential piece of legislation which protects the public, patients, workers and others from all forms of ionising radiation.
The Department of Health conducted a general consultation on the BSSD in June 2017 and sought views on the provisions of the Directive where Member States had discretion. The Chiropractic Association of Ireland (CAI) was included in the Department's notification of the consultation process and arrangements were made to contact all licence-holders of ionising radiation equipment advising them of the consultation. Information on the consultation process was posted on the Department’s website. No response was received from the Chiropractic Association of Ireland or any individual identifying as a chiropractor.
The transposing statutory instrument for the BSSD will revoke and replace existing regulations from 2002. The existing regulations do not designate chiropractors as referrers or practitioners. Chiropractors who refer individuals for medical exposures, carry out medical exposures or other related functions are not in compliance with the existing regulations.
The current regulations lack inspection or enforcement provisions, however, in the new regulations HIQA will have the inspection and enforcement powers to enforce compliance and contravention of the new regulations will be an offence.
The statutory instrument transposing the BSSD will designate those who may refer for radiological tests, those who may carry them out and other functions and in this regard I propose to designate nurses, doctors, dentists and radiographers as appropriate.
The proposed designation of relevant professionals is based on patient safety and public health considerations reflected in the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has overall responsibility for the transposition of the BSSD. My Department will finalise the medical provisions of the BSSD in the coming weeks.
143. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if approval will be given for the freestyle libre device to be included in the long term illness scheme. [3809/18]
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.
146. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive and his Department are not including persons of all ages in the libre reimbursement scheme; if they will be included at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/18]
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.
147. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the status of persons with type 1 diabetes that wish to use freestyle libre in view of the recent decision to reimburse the cost of this technology for children and young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3842/18]
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.
150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when the freestyle libre system will be made available under the LTI scheme for persons with diabetes; if availability will not be restricted only to persons with type 1 diabetes but will be made available to each person on multi daily insulin injections based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3862/18]
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.
151. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the level of consultation with health care support assistants in establishing a new roster system; if he and the HSE will ensure continuity of care on the rosters with regard to the time needed to carry out duties required; the minimum number of persons on each roster and other issues including travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3871/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3898/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when Versatis 5% medicated plasters can be restored in the quantity required to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key objective of the health service. However, the challenge is to do this in an affordable and sustainable manner. The medicines bill for the community drugs schemes – primarily the GMS, Long Term Illness and Drugs Payment schemes and the High Tech Arrangement – was approximately €1.8 billion in 2017.
To ensure patients receive the highest quality care, resources invested in medicines must be used efficiently and effectively. This requires an integrated approach to secure best value for money for all treatments, greater efficiencies in the supply chain and the use of the most cost-effective treatments.
Lidocaine 5% medicated plaster is licensed for the symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain associated with previous herpes zoster (shingles) infection, known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), in adults. It has been reimbursed in the community drugs schemes since 2010. The projected budget impact on introduction was low due to the specific licensed indication but total expenditure has increased significantly, from €9.4 million in 2012 to over €30 million in 2016, mainly from off-license use for pain not associated with shingles.
An HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) review of this product highlighted that the clinical evidence for its use in PHN is limited due to lack of comparative data, and its value is uncertain for all other types of pain. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics estimated that, in Ireland, only 5-10% of prescribing of this product has been for the licensed indication of PHN.
Following the MMP review, the HSE introduced a new reimbursement system for the product from 1 September 2017. This process supports its appropriate use, ensuring that PHN patients continue to receive this treatment. The HSE estimates that this protocol will reduce annual expenditure on this product by approximately 90%.
Under the protocol, all patients who were receiving antivirals for shingles were automatically approved for the lidocaine medicated plaster for three months. No action was required by GPs and the patient’s pharmacy was notified of his or her approval status.
These patients were identified and automatically registered on the HSE-PCRS system for three months and continued to receive the treatment from their pharmacy until 30 November 2017. However, since 1 December 2017, non-shingles patients no longer receive this item under the community drugs schemes. The HSE has produced information leaflets for patients and advised GPs on treatment alternatives.
In exceptional circumstances, the product may be approved for supply through the community schemes for unlicensed indications. GPs apply for reimbursement for unlicensed indications through the online system. The MMP reviews applications before a decision is made and communicated to the GP.
Full details of the review are available on the HSE website at http://hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/medicinemanagementprogramme/yourmedicines/lidocaine-plaster/lidocaine-medicated-plaster.html .
This decision is a matter for the HSE. However, I fully support the objectives of the HSE Medicines Management Programme.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if in the case of renewal of medical cards in the case of persons (details supplied), his attention was drawn to the fact that their card renewed with an incorrect doctor; if the error will be corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3902/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which rehabilitation and-or support can be made available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3922/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
156. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if solar farmlands are covered in the single farm payment; if not, his plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3700/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupport under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is payable upon activation of an eligible hectare per payment entitlement. In general terms an eligible hectare is one that is used for an agricultural activity.
In line with the Department’s current approach on land eligibility, where the area of a parcel covered by solar panels is 70% or greater of the overall parcel, that parcel will be wholly ineligible. If less than 70% is covered by solar panels and the agricultural activity is not hampered by the presence of the solar panels, the area not covered by solar panels may be eligible.
There are no proposals to change the eligibility requirements pertaining to solar panels at present.
157. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment being issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under the Inishowen flood damage relief measure 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3704/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Flood Damage Relief Measure was received from the person named by the Department on 22nd September 2017. This application is currently being processed. A Department official has made direct contact with the applicant with a view to resolving outstanding issues. Upon resolution any payment due will issue to the applicant.
