Written Answers Nos. 380-399
380. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the recruitment policies, including if there is maintenance of panels of suitable candidates, for temporary staff to cover long-term absences of Health Service Executive staff from the workplace due to, but not limited to, maternity leave or sick leave; the budget allocated to both County Mayo and nationally for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4081/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
381. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who qualify for adult respite care in County Mayo; the criteria used to determine if a person qualifies for respite care; the way in which the list is maintained; the number of adults who are receiving respite care in County Mayo; the care that is provided; the waiting times for the receipt of such care in County Mayo; if the waiting time is dependent on particular factors, for example the severity of the condition of the care recipient and-or his or her time on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4091/18]
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.
382. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the longest length of time a child has spent in an adult psychiatric ward; the age of the child in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4097/18]
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.
383. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the steps will he will take to ensure that the winter 'flu vaccine serves as the optimal vaccination protection in view of the recent 'flu epidemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4098/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra384. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his Department will create a tendering process for four-strain influenza protection; if a cost-benefit analysis of this need has been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4099/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra385. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his Department will revise the terms affecting tendering for production of the 'flu vaccination to counter four strains of flu instead of three strains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4100/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra410. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if a tender has been completed for the next winter 'flu vaccination; the cost of this tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4209/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra411. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if a cost assessment has been conducted on the amount a quadrivalent vaccine would cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4210/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra412. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the additional estimated cost to provide a quadrivalent vaccine for winter 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4211/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 to 385, inclusive, and 410 to 412, inclusive, together.
Vaccination is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of all health care interventions. The seasonal influenza immunisation campaign is one of the cornerstones of the HSE’s Winter Initiative Plan. The HSE launched their influenza immunisation campaign for winter 2017-18 on 2 October 2017. The primary focus is to increase vaccination rates among healthcare workers and among at risk groups.
The initial reports indicate an increase in the numbers receiving the vaccine this year:
- Health Care Workers in Acute Hospitals - the uptake is now 37.9%, which is higher than the total uptake last winter (33.7%);
- Health Care Workers in Long Term Care Facilities - this is now 32.2% (up from 27% at the end of the last flu season). The uptake of vaccine in long term residents is now 89.9%;
- At risk groups - over 900,000 vaccines distributed an increase of 109,000 on last year;
- Immunisation of over-65s. To date uptake is 61.9% (an increase of 3% on the same period last year);
- Other at risk groups - PCRS figures indicate that 180-200,000 medical card/GP services card holders have received the vaccine.
However, these figures are preliminary and more detailed information will be available in 2018.
The influenza vaccine purchased by HSE is based on WHO advice on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2017/8 northern hemisphere Flu season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2017-2018 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:
- an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
The WHO issued this advice on 2 March 2017. This season (2017/18) the HSE procured the trivalent inactivated Influenza vaccine (Split Virion) BP seasonal influenza vaccine for all those in the recommended at risk groups and health care workers and carers. The trivalent vaccine used in Ireland is the most widely used influenza vaccine in Europe. The initial evidence suggests that the vaccine provides higher protection against the Influenza A strains than recent years (H3N2 & H1N1). While it is less effective against the B strains predominating this year, people who received the flu vaccine in recent years should still have some residual immunity.
In Ireland the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) an independent committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which comprises experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics, and public health makes recommendation on vaccination policy in Ireland. Their recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. I am aware that NIAC is considering the need to expand the current recommendations for influenza vaccine, including the potential community wide benefit of extending recommendations to include all children..
The HSE National Immunisation Office and HSE Procurement are responsible for the purchase of influenza vaccine. To ensure vaccine supply, this tender process must be completed 9 months in advance of the first delivery into Ireland at the end of August. I have been informed by the HSE that the Executive has already completed and awarded the tender for the supply of trivalent inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine for 2018/19 at a cost of €3.2- 4 million (depending on whether contingency doses are procured). The composition of the vaccine will be based on the advices of the WHO for the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season.
The cost of providing quadrivalent vaccine for 2018/19 is estimated by the HSE to be of the order of €9 million. This cost is based on the commercial price of the vaccine. The actual cost to the HSE would depend on the outcome of a tendering process.
As Deputies are aware, the HSE has responsibility for the procurement of all vaccines used in the State’s immunisation programmes and it would be highly inappropriate to interfere in any procurement carried out by any State agency.
386. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for home help by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4103/18]
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.
387. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [4113/18]
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.
388. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of speech therapy for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4114/18]
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.
389. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the cost of including products to treat head lice on the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4115/18]
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.
390. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied). [4118/18]
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.
391. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the annual figure for the throughput of the minor injuries units in hospitals; the peak times for attendances; and the weekend attendance figures. [4119/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
392. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the funding being allocated to recruit an additional full-time speech and language therapist for CHO area 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4121/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
393. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4123/18]
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.
394. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 26 October 2017, when a reply from the Health Service Executive will issue. [4124/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to reply to you on this issue as soon as possible.
395. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied). [4126/18]
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.
396. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the outcome of an application by a person (details supplied). [4128/18]
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.
397. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide the Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to diabetes patients of all ages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4129/18]
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.
398. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have availed of the licence to use medicinal cannabis since the scheme was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4152/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, under existing legislation, medical practitioners who wish to prescribe cannabis for medical use may apply for a licence to do so. The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the granting of such a licence must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
To date four licences in respect of four individual patients have been granted.
399. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the compassionate access programme for access to medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4153/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March, following the publication of the Health Products Regulatory Authority’s report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’, I established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme, for patients with certain medical conditions which have failed to respond to all standard treatments.
The Expert Group has drawn up clinical guidance for healthcare professionals treating patients through the Access Programme. Officials in the Department of Health are working on legislation to underpin the Access Programme.
The work is well advanced but will take some further time to complete.
In the meantime, and for medical conditions not included in the Access Programme, medical practitioners who wish to prescribe cannabis-based products containing THC may apply under the Misuse of Drugs Act for a licence to do so. The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the granting of such a licence must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
