Written Answers Nos. 74-93
74. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reduce waiting times for primary care ophthalmology appointments in the north Lee local health area in which 2,382 children and young persons were waiting over a year in January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17037/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
75. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to recruit a new cardiologist at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17094/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
76. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his views on waiting lists for children with scoliosis needing surgery; if new targets will be forthcoming for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16976/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department of Health and the HSE in the 2018 HSE National Service Plan.
€9 million funding has been provided in 2018 to improve access to paediatric orthopaedic services including scoliosis. The 2018 HSE National Service Plan includes a commitment from the HSE to continue to improve access to paediatric orthopaedics, including surgery for scoliosis, in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital Group, to achieve clinically appropriate waiting times. This will be underpinned by the development of a standardised pathway of care for children and adolescents with scoliosis which will be evidence-based and patient-centred.
The HSE, in their Service Plan, has also committed to the development of a service for young adults with scoliosis in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, and Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital for patients transferring from paediatric services.
In addition, a Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive, contemporary, and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
It is estimated that in 2018 the Children's Hospital Group will carry out 196 spinal fusions and that 51 procedures will be outsourced. This activity will ensure that by the end of 2018 there will be no patient waiting over the 4-month administrative target (where clinically appropriate).
77. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason the Dublin south west and Dublin west LHO areas experienced a reduction of 70,567 home help hours in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17100/18]
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.
78. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the additional resources allocated to community based programmes aimed at healthy food and healthy living as contained in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8928/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the launch of Healthy Ireland, expenditure on its implementation from within the budget of the Department of Health has been the following:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2013 |
€89,315 |
|
2014 |
€586,470 |
|
2015 |
€607,707 |
|
2016 |
€1,156,405 |
|
2017 |
€996,837 |
|
2018 |
€22,307 |
In addition to the expenditure noted above, other expenditure arising within the Department could also be described as "Healthy Ireland" depending on classification. It is not possible to disaggregate this expenditure with respect to obesity alone. The approximate costs associated with both development and publication of the new Health Eating Guidelines & Food Pyramid and the national Obesity Policy & Action Plan were €55,719 and €19,186 respectively. In addition new Nutrition Standards for schools, with an initial focus on school meal programmes funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, have also been developed. These Nutrition Standards were published in September 2017. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has informed my Department that the total budget for school meals this year is €54m.
Separate to the expenditure detailed above, the Government, in July 2016, approved the creation of a Healthy Ireland Fund and subsequently provided an initial allocation of €5 million in Budget 2017 to kick-start its establishment. The Fund was announced by An Taoiseach on Monday 2 October 2017. €5 million was allocated in Budget 2018.
The Healthy Ireland Fund will help drive the cross-governmental approach as set out in the Healthy Ireland Framework to improve the mental and physical health and wellbeing of the population. The main aim of the Fund is to support innovative, cross-sectoral, evidence based projects, programmes and initiatives that support the implementation of the key national policies in various areas including Obesity and Physical Activity. In particular the Fund will be for projects and programmes aimed at children and young people and their families, and supporting communities and vulnerable groups who are at most risk of experiencing health inequalities.
Finally, as some of the issues raised in the Deputy’s questions are service matters, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
79. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the new programme to promote community awareness of alcohol-related harm from the last quarter of 2017 to the summer of 2018 will be fast tracked; if the associated funding will be increased from €0.25 million to €0.5 million in view of the fact it will be a full year since the new national drug and alcohol strategy was published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16290/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national drug strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery. A Health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2015, aims to protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing related to substance misuse by preventing early use of alcohol and other drugs among young people, influencing behaviours and challenging social norms and attitudes.
Substance misuse prevention strategies targeting families, schools and communities are an effective way of promoting health and welling among the population. Raising awareness of the risk of substance use and increasing understanding of the harmful effects of substance misuse is an important part of the work of prevention.
Prevention is a collaborative effort involving a range of stakeholders. Prevention programmes should be evidence-based, adhere to quality standards and involve participants in programme design and implementation.
To support this objective, my Department is developing a new programme to promote community awareness of alcohol-related harm. An additional €0.25m will be made available in 2018 to fund phase 1 of the scheme, with the expectation that this will increase to €1m in 2019. It is anticipated that the scheme will commence in the last quarter of 2018.
My Department is undertaking preparatory work to develop the programme and will consult with relevant stakeholders, including the bodies overseeing the national drugs strategy. It is important that the additional resources are used carefully to maximise the impact. I will provide further details on the programme when this work is completed.
80. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if his Department monitors the number of general practitioner practices that are unable to take on new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17097/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
81. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans for the provision of a modular cath laboratory which would allow for the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI, in addition to or to replace the mobile diagnostic unit at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17014/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing an independent review of the need for a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford (UHW), the Herity report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population for Waterford University Hospital could be accommodated within a single cath lab. Funding has been provided to support extension of the existing cath lab operating hours to 12 weekly sessions per week, or by 20%, as recommended in the Herity Report. Recruitment efforts to support this service extension are ongoing.
A mobile cath lab was deployed in October 2017 for an initial period of 20 weeks and this was extended in February for another 10 weeks to allow further time for the recruitment effort. A modular cath lab has also been proposed, as an interim solution pending the outcome of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services, and my Department is currently examining this proposal.
The aim of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. In terms of scope, the National Review will cover scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults. The Steering Group for the review held its first meeting on 31 January last.
82. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16237/18]
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.
83. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if delayed ambulance response times will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16831/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
84. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a scheme put forward by a union (details supplied) under which women could access contraception directly from their community pharmacist without prescription and without charge, regardless of eligibility, in order to improve access to contraceptives. [17009/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received a proposal from the Irish Pharmacy Union recently in relation to provision of contraception services through pharmacies. The proposal will be considered in due course.
85. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 393 of 26 September 2017, the position regarding the new emergency department in University Hospital Galway, UHG; the timeframe for delivery; if a short to medium plan for managing the demand for both scheduled and unscheduled care for UHG and Merlin Park Hospital has been developed; if so, if he will provide a copy of the plan; when it started and finished, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17115/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
86. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when the proposed new cystic fibrosis unit in Beaumont Hospital will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government contains a Government commitment regarding the development of a dedicated Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Unit in Beaumont Hospital, to be progressed in the context of a CF Model of Care.
This CF Unit capital project will thus be underpinned by the “Model of Care for People with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland” which is being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Cystic Fibrosis (NCPCF). The Model of Care will set out standards and requirements for the physical and human resources to be provided for treatment of cystic fibrosis patients from a national perspective.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform governs the processes surrounding the development of healthcare projects by way of guidelines, principally the Public Spending Code. Further rigour is demanded by, and set out in, relevant EU Directives. All proposed projects must be submitted to the HSE’s Capital and Property Steering Committee for approval and prioritisation prior to inclusion in its multi-annual Capital Plans.
In terms of the progression of the CF Unit capital project I am happy to confirm that it has been included in the National Planning Framework under Project Ireland 2040, as well as being recommended for inclusion in the capital plan by the HSE National Capital Steering Committee.
87. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of the construction programme for primary care centres through the National Development Plan 2018-2027, with specific reference to the Fingal area of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16707/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently officially opened one of the largest primary care centres in the country at Coolock on the northside of Dublin.
In line with health strategy a decisive shift towards primary care is required to meet growing demands for health and social care services.
The construction programme for primary care centres will continue throughout the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027. The National Development Plan will support the completion of projects currently in construction and planning, and will meet the future health needs of the population. This primary care centre programme will also include provision of diagnostic facilities in the community.
The HSE will continue to pursue the delivery of primary care centres in line with national requirements of appraisal, design, planning, tender and construction.
The Health Service Executive has been successful in developing a network of primary care centres across the country. 114 primary care centres are now operational. 6 have opened so far this year. Another primary care centre became partially operational this month and a further 13 are scheduled to open in 2018.
88. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the reason the Dublin south east, south city and Dún Laoghaire LHO areas experienced a reduction of 36,236 home help hours in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17047/18]
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.
89. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when work will commence on the two new Dublin hospitals promised in the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17101/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan provides €10.9 billion to invest in infrastructure, equipment and additional service capacity for the public health sector.
The National Development Plan is a ten year plan which will provide the capital funding to develop dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway. We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the populations health needs and achieve value for money.
As is to be expected with a ten year plan, many proposals, including a dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities in Dublin, are at a very early stage and will require to progress through appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm location, timeline or funding required can be established.
90. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the proposed four new elective-only hospital facilities nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17091/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan is a ten year plan which will provide the capital funding to develop dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities.
We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the populations health needs and achieve value for money.
New dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities will be delivered in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
These facilities will provide high volume, low complexity procedures on a day and outpatient basis, together with a range of ambulatory diagnostic services.
The aim is to both increase capacity in the hospital system and provide a better separation of scheduled and unscheduled care, in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the Sláintecare Report. They will provide increased, protected capacity for elective treatment and free up capacity in major acute hospitals to address higher complexity and emergency care.
These new standalone ambulatory, elective-only hospital and diagnostic facilities will be developed in line with hospital groups' strategic plans.
As is to be expected with a ten year plan, many proposals, including proposals for dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities, are at a very early stage and will require to progress through appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm location, timeline or funding required can be established.
91. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to use a drug approval and reimbursement system for MS drugs similar to that in Germany (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16408/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention. The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an on-going basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I am keen to engage with Industry and to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily introduced in Ireland. However, any innovative approaches that may be tabled must be compatible with the statutory provisions which are in place and must also recognise the fundamental pricing/funding issues in the context of finite Exchequer resources.
92. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the way in which the clinical staffing levels for the community psychiatry of old age mental health services in CHO7 compare to that recommended under A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17102/18]
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.
93. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the reason 519 persons over 75 years of age waited more than 24 hours in the emergency departments of Beaumont and the Mater Hospitals during the first two months of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17106/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgainst a background of growing demand for unscheduled care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, Government provided €30 million in 2017 and a further €40 million in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs). Almost 50% of this funding was used to deliver home support packages and transitional care beds to reduce the incidence of delayed discharges. Furthermore, over 200 beds have been opened this winter and more beds are due to come on stream later in the year.
Notwithstanding the increased level of resources provided, this winter has been particularly difficult for our health services with ED attendances up 3.7%, admissions up 3.3% and trolleys up 13.1% during the first quarter of the year, as compared to the same period in 2017. In addition, ED attendances by patients 75 years and older rose by 5.9% and admissions by 7% in the same period.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy regarding waiting times at Beaumont and the Mater Hospital Emergency Departments, as this is a service matter, I have referred it to the HSE for a direct response.
