Written Answers Nos. 657-674
657. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views on the misuse of drugs within the Traveller community; the steps that have been taken to deal with this matter; the additional resources that have been invested in addressing the challenge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15013/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery – a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025, recognises that drug and alcohol use is a complex issue requiring an inter-departmental response, focused on promoting healthier lifestyles within society.
The strategy recognises that poor living conditions and high levels of unemployment and educational disadvantage contribute to the higher risk of drug and alcohol misuse among the Travelling community. It includes specific actions to improve the capacity of services to address the needs of people who use drugs and alcohol from specific communities, including the Traveller community.
Good practice guidelines, developed by Pavee Point, provide useful and practical advice on supporting Travellers who need to use treatment services. The HSE recently established a pilot scheme to develop an information pack for early intervention for problem alcohol and drug use in the Traveller community which will be rolled out nationally once the pilot is complete.
In addition, the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, published by the Department of Justice and Equality in 2017, includes health actions dealing with substance misuse in the Traveller community.
The Standing Sub-Committee of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery drives the implementation of the strategy and promotes coordination between national, local and regional levels. It plays a key role in ensuring that the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and other key stakeholders are engaged in supporting the implementation of the strategy. A representative of the Traveller organisation, Pavee Point, is a member of the Standing Sub-Committee.
I am satisfied that the implementation of the national drugs strategy will address the specific needs of the Traveller community and I encourage Traveller organisations to work with the local drug and alcohol task forces and other agencies in achieving this objective.
658. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the increasing number of drug related deaths and suicides taking place in south-west County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15014/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Drug Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is an epidemiological database administered by the Health Research Board which records cases of death by drug and/or alcohol poisoning and death among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent. The Health Research Board published a report on the NDRDI in December 2017, which analyses deaths up to 2015, the latest year for which data are available.
The HRB report indicates that in 2015, there were 695 drug-related deaths in Ireland. Of these, 36 were recorded for individuals living in the local health office area (LHO) of Dublin South West.
Of these, 14 were poisoning deaths (directly due to the consumption of drugs including alcohol). Most deaths involved an opioid drug.
A further 22 were deaths recorded in people who use drugs in 2015 in LHO Dublin South West. Of these, 11 were due to traumatic causes and 7 were due to medical causes.
I am committed to minimise the harm caused by the use and misuse of substances, especially where this harm can lead to death. My Department's initiative to establish a supervised drug injecting facility in Dublin inner city will contribute to this objective.
660. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [15021/18]
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.
661. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of reforms to the general practitioner contract in view of his recent public statement committing to same. [15030/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra662. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the most recent formal contract negotiations with general practitioners were undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15031/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 661 and 662 together.
The Government is committed to delivering more non-acute care within the primary care sector, so that better care close to home can be provided for communities around the country.
General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. It is generally accepted that there is a need to modernise the current GMS contract and ensure that general practice is a viable and rewarding career for medical graduates. My aim is to develop a contract which has 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.
It is essential that engagement on GP contractual issues is aimed squarely at meeting the substantial challenges, current and future, the health service and general practice face. The latest phase of engagement with GP representatives commenced in January 2017, and discussions were progressed on a wide range of items throughout 2017. The last meeting between the Department of Health/HSE team and the IMO took place in December 2017. The last meeting with the NAGP took place in October 2017.
Discussions are currently paused, and, at my request, officials of my Department are working with their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and in the HSE to ensure that the overall approach is focused fully on the strategic challenges and on the Government’s health services reform agenda. It is important to ensure that any new contract will result in service improvements across general practice benefitting both patients and GPs.
I expect that engagement with GP representative bodies will commence shortly. I look forward to progress being made in the coming months on the GP contract.
663. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with a medical card in County Louth assigned to a general practitioner by the HSE having been unable to find a general practitioner themselves in the past six, 12 and 18 months, respectively. [15032/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra664. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with a general practitioner only card in County Louth assigned to a general practitioner by the HSE having been unable to find a general practitioner themselves in the past six, 12 and 18 months, respectively. [15033/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra665. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons holding a medical card in County Louth assigned to a general practitioner by the HSE having been unable to find a general practitioner themselves who were returned to the HSE by a general practitioner in the past six, 12 and 18 months, respectively. [15034/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra666. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons holding a medical card in County Louth registered with a general practitioner in the county; and the number registered with a general practitioner outside the county. [15035/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra667. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons holding a general practitioner only card in County Louth registered with a general practitioner in the county; and the number registered with a general practitioner outside the county. [15036/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra668. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons holding a medical card in County Louth waiting to be assigned to a general practitioner by the HSE; and the length of time these persons have been waiting. [15037/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons holding a general practitioner only card in County Louth waiting to be assigned to a general practitioner by the HSE; and the length of time these persons have been waiting. [15038/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra670. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there are persons who hold a medical card in County Louth who do not have a general practitioner. [15039/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra671. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there are persons who hold a general practitioner only card in County Louth who do not have a general practitioner. [15040/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra672. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners registered within County Louth; the number of these unable to accept new patients; and the number eligible to retire in 2018. [15041/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra673. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who have retired from practising in County Louth in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018. [15042/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra674. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of new general practitioners who have commenced practising in County Louth in each of the years 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018. [15043/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra684. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his views on the cap in place for north east doctor on credit, NEDOC, visits from persons who were not registered with a general practitioner; the NEDOC services in CHO8 applying this cap; and the actual caps in each of these services in CHO8. [15098/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra685. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the consultation that has taken place between NEDOC and his Department following media reports that services covering counties Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan have been inundated with persons unable to register with a general practitioner in those areas. [15099/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra686. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if NEDOC services in County Louth are directing persons who are not registered with a general practitioner in the area to emergency departments for alternative treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15100/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 663 to 674, inclusive, and 684 to 686, inclusive, together.
As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
