Written Answers Nos. 860-876
860. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the closure of the Dunleer health centre is due to health and safety concerns or a lack of infrastructural investment in the centre over the past seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15790/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
861. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if minor capital funds will be made available to the HSE to refurbish Dunleer health centre to restore this facility for the use of the local community and to ensure the continuation of child health and development services; and if the centre will continue to be available to local voluntary services on a weekly basis. [15791/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure projects, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the refurbishment of Dunleer health centre.
862. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for cataract surgery in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. [15809/18]
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.
863. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours can be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15825/18]
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.
864. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of colonoscopy procedures performed in each of the years 2014 to 2017, in each public hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15826/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
865. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who has been waiting over two years and three months for a MRI can be seen under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15834/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
The NTPF and HSE are in the process of finalising Waiting List Action Plans and Initiatives for 2018. This will include ambitious targets for both the HSE and NTPF to reduce the overall number of patients waiting for treatment as well as a specific focus on scheduling additional joint replacements and other high volume procedures.
However, it should be noted, that as MRIs are used as a diagnostic tool and not a treatment, they do not currently fall under the remit of the NTFP. Therefore in relation to the waiting list status of the person concerned at Tullamore Hospital, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Under 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.
866. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when construction will commence in Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15845/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy directly with the information requested in respect of Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon.
867. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for assessment for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy in County Kildare; the measures that will be taken to end same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15846/18]
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.
868. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the thrombolysis rates in each hospital providing the service here in each of the years 2011 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15849/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this P.Q. relates to a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
869. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason for the difference being quoted by his Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE and organisations (details supplied) as to the level of FEMPI cuts imposed on general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15850/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. GPs are also remunerated for services they provide on behalf of the HSE under other public health schemes, such as the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme, etc.
The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009, imposed a range of adjustments to health contractor payments. These included different levels of reductions to various GP fees and allowances and the elimination of certain payments.
Despite reductions to the payment rates of health contractors made under FEMPI legislation, the total fees paid to GPs under the GMS scheme have increased during this period from just over €472 million in 2009 to approximately €517 million in 2017. This increase in fees is largely due to significant developments and investment in GP services introduced in recent years, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional financial support provided by the HSE.
The adjustments to GP payments made under FEMPI were introduced by Regulations made under the Act. In response to recent queries from the media, my Department has provided information on the fee adjustments, as set out as follows.
SI 262 of 2009 applied an 8% reduction to the range of GP fees and allowances payable under the GMS Scheme, the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme and the (Health Amendment) Act 1996.
SI 638 of 2010 applied reductions to a range of GP fees and allowances payable under the GMS Scheme, the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, the Health (Amendment) Act 1996 and the HeartWatch Programme, which equated to an approximate overall reduction of 9% to payments under these schemes.
- A 50% reduction was applied to the capitation fee in respect of patients aged 70 years or more who reside in a private nursing home (approved by the HSE) for continuous periods in excess of 5 weeks.
- The “distance from the GP’s surgery” was removed as a factor in calculating capitation fees, which were standardised at the 0-3 miles rate within the various age and gender categories.
- The “distance from the GP’s surgery” was removed as a factor in calculating out-of-hours fees and new rates applied.
- The “distance from the GP’s surgery” was removed as a factor in calculating Special Type Consultation (STC) fees in respect of temporary residents, EEA visitors and consultations where a GP sees another GP’s patient in an emergency and a 5% reduction was applied to STC fees.
- The Fund for the Development of General Practice (introduced in 1993) was abolished.
- A 5% reduction was applied to payments in respect of the practice secretary/nurse/manager subsidy.
- An 8% reduction was applied to other payments, including special items of service; leave cover; locum expenses under the fee per item contract; dispensing fees; rural practice allowance; and payments under the Health (Amendment) Act 1996.
- An 8% reduction was applied to fees under the Maternity & Infant Care Scheme.
- A 15% reduction was applied to fees under HeartWatch scheme.
SI 556 of 2011 reduced the administration fees payable to GPs for childhood immunisations under the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme by 7.5%, and the fees for administration for influenza and pneumococcal immunisations under the GMS scheme by 33%.
In 2013, an overall reduction of 7.5% was applied to a range of GP fees and allowance. SI 278 of 2013 reduced the fee payable to GPs for administering the influenza vaccination to the same rate as the fee payable to pharmacists for administering the same vaccination. SI 277 of 2013 introduced the following measures:
- Elimination of the special fee payable in respect of discretionary medical cards.
- A reduction of 3.1% in respect of the following fees:
- Capitation Fees
- Supplementary Out-of-Hours Fees
- Asylum Seekers / Non EU Nationals.
- A reduction of 1% in respect of the practice nurse/secretary/manager subsidy.
- A reduction of 7.5% in respect of the following payments under the GMS scheme:
- Out-of-Hours fees,
- Special Type Consultations (STCs),
- Special Items of Services (excluding immunisations),
- Rural Practice Allowance,
- Dispensing Fees,
- Second Medical Opinion,
- Leave cover.
- A reduction of 7.5% in respect of the following payments paid to GPs under the General Medical Services (GMS) 1972 Fee-per-Item Contract:
- Fee-per-Item Consultation Fees
- Homes for the Aged Consultations
- Rural Practice Allowance,
- Locum Expenses & Practice Expenses,
- Special Items of Service.
- A reduction of 7.5% in respect of the following payments:
- Health Amendment Act 1996 (Hepatitis C patients),
- Maternity & Infant Care Scheme,
- HeartWatch Programme.
870. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if the provision of an electric powered wheelchair will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15853/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
871. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high waiting list for ENT assessments in County Cork; if the replacement consultant has been appointed following the recent retirement of the previous consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15854/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is acknowledged that waiting times are often unacceptably long and that this places a burden on both patients and their families. Consequently, last October's Budget announced a total 2018 allocation of €55 million for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) for 2018 which more than doubles its 2017 total allocation which was €20 million. This significant increase in funding reflects the fact that reducing waiting times for patients is one of this Government's key priorities.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, Minister Harris has asked the HSE, in conjunction with the NTPF, to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2018 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient Services which will set out ambitious targets for both the HSE and NTPF to reduce the overall number of patients waiting for treatment.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
872. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 13 March 2014, when persons will be fully reimbursed for prescription charges as a result of the then Minister's announcement on 2 July 2013 that eligible persons who paid prescription charges prior to 1 December 2013 will be refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15856/18]
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.
873. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who has been on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment for some time can expect to secure treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15862/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
874. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if increased funding and necessary resources will be available to deal with the significant waiting lists for psychology treatment for young persons in view of the fact there are currently over 7,000 children on a waiting list for such psychological interventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15893/18]
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.
875. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the demand for PD-L1 biological markers in the licensing of pembrolizumab by the HSE will be removed for patients suffering from lung cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15894/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra876. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the demand for PD-L1 biological markers in the licensing of pembrolizumab by the HSE will be removed on a case-by-case basis for patients suffering from lung cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15895/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra941. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if the demand for PD-L1 biological markers in the licensing of pembrolizumab by the HSE will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16258/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 875, 876 and 941 together.
Neither the HSE nor the Minister for Health has any role in the licensing or authorisation of medicines in Ireland. Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market, the manufacturer must seek a marketing authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or, in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
In the case of pembrolizumab, because of the biotechnology nature of the active substance involved, the drug was centrally authorised by the EMA. This authorisation covers several types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when the tumour produces a protein known as PD-L1.
In order to amend the authorisation of pembrolizumab, the company which holds the marketing authorisation would need to submit a case and supporting data to the EMA.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of licensed medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. It is a pre-requisite that any new medicine submitted to the HSE for reimbursement must first hold a marketing authorisation granted by the HPRA or the EMA.
