Written Answers Nos. 271-291
271. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if melatonin will be added to the list of medicines covered by the medical card (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14614/18]
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.
272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the levy on health insurance for elderly persons (details supplied) is a once-off payment upon joining a scheme or is a yearly payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLifetime Community Rating, which came into operation on 1 May 2015, is designed to encourage people to join the private health insurance market at younger ages. This supports affordable community-rated premiums for everyone who wishes to purchase health insurance. Since May 2015, ‘late entry loadings’ apply for those aged 35 and over who purchased health insurance for the first time. The loadings are set at 2% per year starting at age 35, up to a maximum loading of 70% at age 69 and over. These loadings are not a once-off payment and originally applied for each year that the customer held health insurance. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2017 introduced a cap on loadings so that loadings now apply for a maximum period of 10 years. There are also exemptions available for people who previously had health insurance but cancelled it. In such cases, the level of loading will then be reduced by the relevant credited period(s). More information on this and other health insurance related matters are available on the Health Insurance Authority's website www.hia.ie.
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be taken into care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14617/18]
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.
274. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the value of contracts for services awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department since 2010, in tabular form; and the type of work undertaken by the company. [14631/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available and I will revert to the Deputy once the Department has collated the required information.
275. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14643/18]
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.
276. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a service will be provided to persons (details supplied). [14645/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE carefully considered the pricing and reimbursement of human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (Respreeza). The manufacturer, CSL Behring, was notified in August 2017 that the HSE was unable to recommend reimbursement. The HSE concluded that there was not enough evidence to suggest that patients would derive a clinically meaningful benefit from this treatment and that the current price was not a cost effective use of resources.
A number of patients were on an access scheme for this product, operated by the manufacturer, for the treatment of Alpha-1 deficiency. This scheme was being run independently by the manufacturer without reference to the HSE.
Late last year the company decided to terminate the access scheme. Following interventions by the HSE, the company modified its decision and agreed to continue to supply the medication free of charge for the patients on the access scheme for a further six months, or until the next clinical trial commences in mid 2018, but stipulated that it would not cover the cost of administering the medicine. Due to the critical and exceptional circumstances, the HSE decided to facilitate a transitional arrangement, under which it would fund the necessary nursing service to ensure that patients would continue to receive the medicine until a new clinical trial commences in 2018. The terms of this transitional arrangement, under which the HSE has agreed to fund the administration of the drug, include a requirement that the lead clinician (who is the patients' treating consultant) ensures that appropriate alternative treatment regimes are put in place in good time for those patients not proceeding onto the next trial.
The HSE is liaising with the treating consultant and the pharmaceutical company in relation to the longer term care of this group of patients and in order to ensure that appropriate care arrangements are in place for each patient in advance of an anticipated further clinical trial which is expected to begin later in 2018.
The HSE has asked that the plan for the longer term care of this group of patients would be finalised without delay.
This transitional arrangement does not alter the reimbursement decision of the HSE in relation to Respreeza.
The HSE has advised the company that it is willing to undertake a timely review of any new application for reimbursement.
277. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be rescheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14646/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
278. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been a delay in organising a home care package for a person (details supplied); and the steps which will be taken to organise same in view of the fact that the person has been in hospital for seven weeks due to no home care package being available. [14680/18]
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.
279. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if provision is made in the 2018 financial allocation to the HSE to progress the proposed upgrade of a health facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14696/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
280. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide in February 2018; the number of such ambulances that waited longer than 20 minutes to hand over patients, receive their trolleys back and return to responding to calls; and the number that waited longer than 40, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes for same, in tabular form. [14703/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
281. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the process which has been established regarding pay for section 39 organisations; and if the interim report due at the end of March 2018 is completed. [14705/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 9 February 2018, an agreement was reached between my Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies. The HSE are to carry out an analysis to establish, with supporting evidence, the following:
- Whether, when and to what extent reductions in pay rates were applied during the crisis in each relevant organisation;
- Whether, when and to what extent restoration of pay reductions has happened;
- Identify the financial implications for each organisation, taking account of all sources of funding, associated with addressing the issues identified and propose an appropriate plan for phased resolution in each case.
The HSE has issued detailed questionnaires to an agreed list of organisations. The interim report, to which the question refers, is expected from the HSE shortly.
282. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans to decrease day cases across the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14766/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) publishes the Inpatient/Day Case and Outpatient waiting list figures on its website each month. The publication includes Inpatient and Day Case Adult and Child Analysis.
The most recent figures published by the NTPF for the end of February 2018 indicate that there is a total of 79,039 people on the Inpatient/Day case waiting list, of which 56,180 are waiting for a day case procedure. Of this figure, 59% are waiting 6 months or less, 15% are waiting 12 months or more.
October's Budget announced a total 2018 allocation of €55m for the NTPF for 2018. This significant increase in funding more than doubles the 2017 total allocation of €20m.
The Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan 2018, developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF will be published shortly. The Plan will set out ambitious targets for both the HSE and NTPF to reduce the overall number of patients waiting for treatment.
283. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the reduction of staff at a service (details supplied); if the HSE has identified the impact on services; if contingency plans have been put in place for the potential loss of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14772/18]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an emergency or discretionary medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14816/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a discretionary medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
However, there is insufficient information contained in the PQ for the HSE to investigate this issue. Therefore the Deputy should forward the requested information directly to the HSE.
286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that their circumstances have not changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a discretionary medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14821/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
288. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional resources for primary care; if his attention has been drawn to the particular difficulties facing many general practitioner practices in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14882/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system. The Slaintecare Report also made significant recommendations in relation to shifting the model of healthcare towards a more comprehensive and accessible primary care service in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country.
The provision of a €25 million primary care development fund in Budget 2018 is evidence of this Government's continued investment in primary care. This funding has been allocated to enable a range of primary care initiatives to be progressed in 2018 which will focus on disease prevention and early intervention, particularly through the further development and expansion of GP services, community intervention teams and the recruitment of additional occupational therapy posts. Throughout 2018 there will also be a continued focus on the development of primary care centres and primary care teams.
General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. There is a clear need to modernise the GMS contract and ensure that general practice is a viable and rewarding career for medical graduates. The aim is to develop a contract with a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion and disease prevention and for the structured ongoing care of chronic conditions.
A new contract must be flexible and be able to respond to the changing nature of the GP workforce. It must also include provisions in relation to service quality and standards, performance, accountability and transparency. This will be key in making general practice a more attractive career. I expect that engagement with GP representatives on contractual issues will commence in the coming weeks.
The Government is committed to increasing GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. Efforts undertaken in recent years to increase the number of practising GPs include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS/GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday, as well as the introduction of enhanced supports for rural GP practices.
The Government has taken steps to expand GP training. In 2009, there were 120 GP training places and this year there are over 190 GP training places available for the 2018 GP training intake. The Government is committed to further increasing this number to 259 places annually.
289. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the adequacy of the number of solemnisers, the restrictive timing of ceremonies at which they officiate and the fact that they only provide this service from Monday to Friday will be addressed in view of the significant increase in public demand for civil marriage ceremonies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14894/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
290. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the proposed sale of a wind farm (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [14554/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra291. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the amenity development will continue to be maintained and overseen by Coillte in view of the proposed sale of a wind farm (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [14555/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together.
Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the commencement of a market process in relation to the possible sale of wind farm assets, are the responsibility of the company.
Coillte has, however, advised that it formally commenced a market engagement process last week to seek expressions of interest from potential investors to acquire up to half of Coillte’s 50% stake in the Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm.
Coillte also advised that, in the event of a successful sale of half of its 50% share in Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm following the expression of interest stage, Coillte intend to retain the remaining 25% share in the overall project and a corresponding level of involvement in the management of the wind farm. Coillte add that it would therefore have a basis to ensure that the management of the amenity is maintained in line with the current standards of Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm DAC.
