Written Answers Nos. 741-758
742. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of pieces of legislation both enacted and published by his Department which originated in work carried out by the Law Reform Commission in each of the past ten years in tabular form; the details of each piece of legislation in the corresponding year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15350/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Law Reform Commission's Report Bioethics: Advance Care Directives (2009) was taken into consideration by my Department when developing the policy and legislative provisions relating to advance healthcare directives. The legislative provisions are in Part 8 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
743. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason a procedure for a person (details supplied) took much longer than usual; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15358/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
744. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Tallaght Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15359/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
745. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the laundry department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth; the short to medium term plans for the department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15362/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
746. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new 100 bed unit at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15367/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy directly with the information requested in respect of St Mary's Hospital, Drogheda.
747. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 28 March 2018, the future of the provision of this service at Sligo University Hospital beyond 2019; the reason this service has only been renewed for 12 months; the cost of providing this service on an annual basis; the number of women who have availed of the service in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 in County Sligo since it was returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE advise that, while the Saolta Hospital Group have renewed the contract for one year, there is an option to renew it for a further 12 months if the service runs efficiently over the course of this year.
Saolta Hospital Group have also provided details on the number of women who have availed of the service between November 2016 and March 2018, and the cost involved.
|
Week |
Date |
Attend |
Cancellations |
Did Not Attend |
Total Cost € |
|
Week 1 |
November 2016 |
52 |
1 |
8 |
€ 25,633.29 |
|
Week 2 |
March 2017 |
76 |
0 |
13 |
€ 25,658.05 |
|
Week 3 |
November 2017 |
113 |
0 |
16 |
€ 24,709.30 |
|
Week 4 |
March 2018 |
74 |
0 |
12 |
€ 25,463.00 |
|
|
Grand Total |
315 |
1 |
49 |
€ 101,463.64 |
748. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status on the provision of respite care in County Louth following the recent HSE forum held to include the recommendations from key stakeholders and representatives in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15376/18]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
749. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the process of the recently announced review of hospital car park charges; the estimated date of completion and other details that relate to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra951. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health when the review of hospital car parking charges will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16298/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 749 and 951 together.
Last month, I requested that the HSE carry out a review of hospital car parking charges, with the aim of establishing clear national guidelines in this area. The review will involve the relevant stakeholders and will take account of the income generated by charges, the impact of any reduction in car parking income on hospital services and the views of patient advocacy groups. The HSE expects that the review will be completed by mid 2018.
750. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the fact that the charges imposed on medical card holders by some general practitioners for the completion of forms such as a driver licence application are not covered by the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15382/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GMS GP contract stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".
Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS or GP Visit Card contracts are a matter of private contract between clinicians and their patients. I have no role in relation to such fees.
There are no plans at present to include the completion of forms required for driving licence applications as a service to be provided to GMS patients under the GMS or GP Visit Card scheme.
751. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the FreeStyle Libre monitoring system will be made available under reimbursement to children with type 1 diabetes who receive insulin from an insulin pump as opposed to multiple daily injections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15386/18]
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.
752. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the increased accuracy and benefits of the FreeStyle Libre system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15387/18]
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.
753. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to a deferred reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 444 and 452 of 27 February 2018 by the HSE (details supplied), if a further breakdown of the table contained therein that identifies the number of office staff and the number of trained medical staff who have availed of the shorter working hours scheme can be provided; if the breakdown can also include the locations of each hospital by name rather than by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15410/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
754. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to access for all type 1 diabetes patients to the FreeStyle Libre device under the reimbursement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15411/18]
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.
755. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time and part-time staff at AP level working in his Department's mental health unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15435/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are five Assistant Principal Officers working on a full time basis in my Department's Mental Health Unit.
756. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to his Department's mental health unit in 2017; the funding spent by the unit in 2017; the 2018 budgetary allocation to the unit in terms of salary and non-slary allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15436/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health's Mental Health Unit comprises 1 Principal Officer, 5 Assistant Principal Officers (including one on secondment from HSE), 1 Administrative Officer, 4 Higher Executive Officers and an Executive Officer. The Unit does not have a specific budget allocation as the pay costs of the unit are included in the Department's overall salary expense. Salaries are paid in line with Civil Service Pay Policy and pay-scales, which can be found on the website: www.circulars.gov.ie.
Non-salary expenses are paid as and when they arise and are subject to approval. The cost for 2017 was €114,278. The cost for the first quarter of 2018 was €7,847. These costs include such items as the Youth Mental Health Task Force and the Oversight Group reviewing A Vision For Change. There is no estimate of cost for the remaining three quarters of this year.
757. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the draft legislation, law or policy that each AP in his Department's mental health unit has worked on during 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15437/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra758. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of days worked on drafting the general scheme of his Department's new mental health legislation; the number of APs who have worked on this project; his views on the delayed publication of the Bill's draft scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15438/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 758 together.
There is one Assistant Principal Officer in my Department working full time on mental health legislation, assisted by one Higher Executive Officer. In addition and following the appointment of an additional AP to the Unit, it has been possible to reallocate the workload to prioritise the need to progress the Units legislative requirements.
Amendments to the Mental Health Act 2001 based on the recommendations of the Expert Group Review of the Act in 2015 are currently being progressed. The review contained 165 recommendations, most relating to proposed changes to our mental health legislation. The review contains recommendations relating to revised criteria for detention, revised definitions of mental illness and treatment, a greater role for Authorised Officers where involuntary admissions are being considered, improved safeguards for involuntary admission to Approved Centres, improved safeguards for change of status from voluntary to involuntary patient and shorter times for Tribunal hearings. These changes, and others, when included in revised mental health legislation, will further improve the protections available to involuntary patients in this country.
Government has approved plans to proceed with the general scheme of a bill and officials are working on the heads of the amending bill which will legislate for the recommendations of the Review. My Department and I accept the importance of advancing this work as quickly as possible. It is a comprehensive legislative undertaking which must now also take account of the provisions of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 which was enacted after completion of the Expert Group Report. I expect the text of the General Scheme of a Bill to be significantly progressed by Quarter 3 2018 with consultation then to take place with the Mental Health Commission on refining the draft text. Once the General Scheme is completed, it will be forwarded to Government for approval before publication.
In addition to the drafting of the General Scheme of a Bill, the above staff have been working on the following Bills/Acts in 2017 and to date in 2018:
- Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015;
- Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016;
- Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017;
- Mental Health Parity Bill 2017;
- Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2017;
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards under the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016;
Staff are also required to deal with legislative proposals emanating from other Departments that may have an effect on Mental Health legislation. Such Bills would include, for example:
- Guardian Ad Litem Arrangements under the Child Care Act 1991;
- Adult Safeguarding Bill 2017;
- Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2016; and
- General Data Protection Regulations Bill 2017.
