Thursday, 26 Apr 2018

Written Answers Nos. 134-154

Primary Care Strategy

Ceisteanna (134)

John Brassil

Ceist:

134. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is publishing a primary care operational plan in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18351/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

HSE Planning

Ceisteanna (135)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

135. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is publishing a social care operational plan in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18352/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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. 

Under the Health Act 2004, responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services rests with the Health Service Executive(HSE). The decision to publish a Social Care Operational Plan for 2018 is a service matter for the HSE. I have asked the Executive to update me on the current status of this Operational Plan and I will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as I receive this information.

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (136)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

136. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting speech and language services in counties Laois and Offaly; the number waiting more than one and two years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (137)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

137. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting occupational therapy; the number waiting more than one and two years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Home Help Service Data

Ceisteanna (138)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

138. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been granted home help hours in counties Offaly and Laois but are still awaiting the service; and the number who are waiting more than six months. [18365/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Psychological Assessments Waiting Times

Ceisteanna (139)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

139. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting psychological assessments in counties Laois and Offaly; and the number waiting more than one and two years, respectively. [18366/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Physiotherapy Provision

Ceisteanna (140)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

140. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Offaly and Laois awaiting physiotherapy; and the number waiting more than one and two years, respectively. [18367/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Hospitals Funding

Ceisteanna (141)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

141. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a substantive reply will issue in response to correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding for a hospital in County Cork. [18380/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I understand that the Deputy received a substantive response from the HSE on 9 April last, which advised that funding to complete the initial design stage of a regional gastroenterology centre, initial design stage of a radiology upgrade and all design stages of operating theatres upgrade has been approved.

Home Help Service Provision

Ceisteanna (142)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

142. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in the case of a person (details supplied) regarding restoration of home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18388/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 143 withdrawn.

Home Care Packages Provision

Ceisteanna (144)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

144. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to make a decision on the recommendation of a person's (details supplied) consultants that the person be afforded a seven night a week home care package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18422/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Health Insurance

Ceisteanna (145)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

145. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the opportunities that exist to appeal the nine month loading clause available to citizens from another country taking up residence here in view of the fact that the clause is not immediately apparent when assessing health insurance products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18423/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under Lifetime Community Rating (LCR), anybody who lived outside of the State on 1 May 2015 and who subsequently moves to live in Ireland has nine months to purchase inpatient private health insurance without incurring loadings.

For persons considering the purchase of health insurance, the independent regulator the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) has a helpful comparison tool on its website for use when assessing the range of health insurance products available (www.hia.ie). The HIA homepage also has a dedicated section about LCR specifically, which outlines clearly for consumers the purpose of the scheme, the circumstances in which loadings may apply and contains an explanatory section of relevant information.      

In addition, when a person contacts a private health insurer to discuss health insurance, the insurer will discuss products available, including the premium price and the application of any loadings that may apply on the premium.  

If a person wishes to make a complaint, following the purchase of a health insurance product, they should first discuss it directly with their insurer. If unable to resolve the complaint, they can contact the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (146)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

146. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) with complex medical needs will be offered an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18435/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Ceisteanna (147)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

147. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the status of the medicinal cannabis compassionate access programme; when the programme will commence; the categories of patients who will have access to it; the forms of medicinal cannabis that will be potentially available; and the process by which persons will be able to access it. [18441/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Products Regulatory Authority’s (HPRA) report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’ recommended that if access to cannabis is to be permitted for medical purposes, that it's use should only be initiated as part of a structured process of formal on-going clinical evaluation, in a limited number of clearly defined medical conditions, which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments, and where there is at least modest evidence that cannabis may be effective. The report noted that all such patients should be under the direct supervision of an appropriately trained and experienced medical consultant. The specified medical conditions (medical indications) are:

- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;

- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;          

- Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.

On foot of this report, I undertook to establish an Access Programme to facilitate access to cannabis-based treatments in certain circumstances, in line with the HPRA’s recommendations.

I established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Cannabis Access Programme. The Expert Reference Group has developed clinical and practice guidelines for the cannabis access programme. These have been finalised and will be published shortly.

The HSE has been requested to establish and maintain a Register to facilitate the programme and work is continuing in relation to the sourcing of suitable quality-controlled, affordable cannabis-based products for Irish patients.

Drafting of secondary legislation to underpin the access programme continues and will be finalised once appropriate cannabis product supplies have been established.

HIV-AIDS Programmes

Ceisteanna (148, 149, 150, 151)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason a sexual health website that has been promoted in HSE advertising and literature does not exist (details supplied); the steps he will take to rectify the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18454/18]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the attention of doctors is drawn to the correct protocols for the issuance of prescriptions for PrEP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18455/18]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the clinics that are supporting PrEP users (details supplied) can remain in operation in advance of the PrEP working group concluding its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18452/18]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the work of the PrEP working group; the number of meetings the group has held to date in 2018; the timeframe for the group to complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18453/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 151, inclusive, together.

As these questions relate to service matters, they have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (152)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

152. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to a parliamentary question from this Deputy (details supplied), if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no progress has been made on waiting times for appointments and that children continue to wait in excess of two years for an appointment; if he has sought clarification as to the reason this remains the case; the steps being taken to ensure sufficient resources are in place to provide an acceptable service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18459/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Ceisteanna (153)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

153. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a device for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18475/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Dental Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (154)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) can obtain dental treatment in view of the fact that attempts to date have been unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18492/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.