Written Answers Nos. 328-345
328. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of areas in County Wexford without a general practitioner; the position regarding these vacancies; when it is planned that such posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23151/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
329. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO1 when compared with the community healthcare organisation's 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23152/18]
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.
330. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO2 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23153/18]
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.
331. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO3 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23154/18]
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.
332. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO4 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23155/18]
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.
333. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO5 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23156/18]
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.
334. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO6 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23157/18]
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.
335. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO7 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23158/18]
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.
336. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO8 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23159/18]
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.
337. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the underspend on mental health services within CHO9 when compared with the CHO’s 2017 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23160/18]
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.
338. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health his plans to initiate a national day for the front-line emergency and security services in view of a request by a forum set up to advance the project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this year, I met with the group referred to in the Deputy's question and was happy to support their proposal for a National Day to honour our frontline emergency and security services.
I understand that at a reception held in Dublin Castle last April to honour the work of the emergency services during Storm Emma, An Taoiseach announced that the first Saturday of every September will be National Frontline Services Day. Consideration will be given as to how the Government will mark the day in 2018.
339. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons detained here under the Mental Health Act 2001 in each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23166/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Annual Report of the Mental Health Commission includes figures for the number of admission orders issued each year. It should be noted that the figures published by the Commission relate to the number of admission orders issued rather than the number of people admitted on an involuntary basis.
The number of such orders issued in 2015 was 2,363 while the figure for 2016 was 2,414. The Commission’s 2017 Annual Report has not yet been published, but I understand from the Commission that the relevant figure for 2017 is 2,337.
340. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to issue a status update with regard to the Finglas primary care centre in view of the fact that the same response has been received since 2016 and the project has been promised since 2013. [23175/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has asked the Health Service Executive to provide the Deputy directly with the information requested in respect of Finglas Primary Care Centre.
341. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23181/18]
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.
342. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the payment mechanism in place for families that have recently lost a relative under the care of the fair deal scheme; if the balance on an account can be paid off in instalments when family land has been listed against the deceased patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23186/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere a resident under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) has assets including land or property, they may defer their contribution to care based on such assets under Ancillary State Support (also known as Nursing Home Loan). This contribution becomes payable on their death.
Collection and recovery of repayable amounts of the Ancillary State Support is a function of the Revenue Commissioners, acting as a collecting agent for the HSE. Where the HSE has advanced monies by way of Ancillary State Support it calculates the amount due in relation to such support and gives notice of that amount and particulars of how it is calculated to the relevant accountable person.
The HSE notifies Revenue of amounts that become due for collection and in all circumstances Revenue makes contact with the relevant person before any collection activity is initiated. Where there are personal or financial difficulties, Revenue will always work with the person, provided there is meaningful engagement. While there is no provision for instalment arrangements under Ancillary State Support, if the accountable person wishes to pay by instalment arrangement then these payments are accepted by Revenue. Late payment interest charges may apply in such circumstances. I would therefore urge family members of the deceased to engage directly with the Revenue Commissioners on this matter.
343. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent psychological consultants in perinatal services in each hospital here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/18]
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.
344. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent psychiatric consultants in perinatal services in each hospital here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23188/18]
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.
345. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issue of steroid abuse here; if punishing gym owners will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23189/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone. They have a number of physiological effects; growth of skeletal muscle and bone, and the growth and maintenance of the reproductive system. As such they are medicinal products and medicines containing anabolic steroids are subject to prescription control.
Under the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended, it is prohibited for a person to supply prescription-only medicines, except in accordance with a prescription. The supply must be made from a registered pharmacy by, or under the personal supervision of, a registered pharmacist. The mail order supply of prescription-only medicines is also prohibited. A person who contravenes these Regulations is guilty of an offence.
The inappropriate use of prescription-only medicines can cause significant harm. While a doctor may prescribe anabolic steroid containing medicines to treat specific medical conditions, the misuse of such drugs and their derivatives, for non-medical purposes, poses a significant risk to human health. In addition, prescription-only medicines that are supplied illegally, including anabolic steroids, have often been shown to be falsified and there can be no guarantee as to their safety, quality or efficacy.
In 2017 the Department of Health launched a new National Drugs Strategy. The new strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025” has committed to establishing a working group to examine the evidence in relation to current and emerging trends of drug use including the use of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPED), which includes anabolic steroids. This will be pursued by the HSE in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders during the term of the action plan of the strategy.
This action arose from reports by service providers of an increase in people who use IPED accessing the needle exchange programmes. However, these harm reduction services are traditionally geared toward users of psychoactive substances not IPED. Therefore, expanding the range and nature of models of practice may service to enhance accessibility, engagement and effectiveness for this at-risk group.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the Competent Authority for the implementation of EU and national legislation relating to medicines in Ireland. The Agency’s role includes monitoring and inspecting medicinal products on the market to ensure their safety, efficacy and legality.
One of HPRA’s roles is to investigate potential breaches of legislation and, where necessary, to take corrective action including legal proceedings. The HPRA works closely with Revenue’s Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and international enforcement agencies to prevent the unauthorised flow of illegal medicinal products, including anabolic steroids.
In 2017, the HPRA detained 449,411 anabolic steroid dosage units (tablets, capsules, vials, etc.), compared to 109,006 units detained in 2016. This reflects the impact of intelligence-led enforcement activity by the HPRA, acting in conjunction and in cooperation with Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochána. Another action in "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery" provides for An Garda Síochána and Revenue Customs Service to invest in capacity building measures for the monitoring of online drug markets and prevent their use as a means of trafficking illegal drugs and other substances into Ireland.
The focus of the HPRA when investigating breaches of the legislation relating to medicines is on the supplier. Prosecutions have been initiated by the HPRA in relation to the unauthorised supply of anabolic steroid containing medicines. These prosecutions have included the offences of manufacturing, advertising and supply without prescription to individuals and for wholesale supply.
If any person, including those in control of gymnasia, is offering, facilitating the supply of, or supplying anabolic steroid containing medicines in breach of the legislation, they risk investigation by the HPRA and may face enforcement actions up to and including prosecution.
In addition to enforcement activities targeting the illegal supply of anabolic steroid containing medicines, the HPRA plans to launch a targeted information and education campaign later this year to highlight to users of illegally supplied products the very significant health risks associated with taking anabolic steroids.
