Written Answers Nos. 419-438
419. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of employees that have not been released from their contracts within the time limit set out for post-recruitment release arrangements under the HSE HR Circular 001/2015; and having been offered a new position, the particulars of the positions; the steps being taken to ensure compliance with the circular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23498/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
420. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason the attention of the parents and members of a group (details supplied) was not drawn to the new standard operating procedures put in place as part of the assessment of needs process; if the group will be consulted to ensure the best interests of the child and families remain central to new processes being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/18]
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.
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.
421. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason more than 16,000 persons had been waiting over a year for an outpatient appointment in County Cork hospitals in April 2018. [23513/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that Outpatient waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
Each year 3.3 million patients attend Hospital Outpatient clinics for appointments, with demand for services growing year-on-year. A key component of the management of waiting lists by hospitals is the categorisation of patients by clinical priority to ensure that all patients receive care in timely and clinically appropriate matter.
The HSE National Service Plan 2018 sets out a target that 80% of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment will be seen within a 52 week wait timeframe. Based upon HSE figures for March 2018 these hospitals are seeing on average over 78% outpatients within 52 weeks.
In 2017, Cork hospitals (Bantry General; Cork University Hospital; Cork University Maternity Hospital; Mallow General; Mercy University Hospital; South Infirmary University Hospital) had over 351,000 Outpatient Department attendances. However, almost 43,000 patients across these hospitals did not attend their appointments last year.
The HSE is working with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and my Department to finalise a joint outpatient Waiting List Action Plan focused on improving overall use of resources to tackle long patient waiting times and ensuring timely access to treatment and care for our patients. I hope to publish this Plan shortly. As part of this process the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the HSE are currently reviewing proposals from hospitals for outpatient initiatives.
422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which children or teenagers liable to self-harm continue to have ready access to support services such as counselling and follow-up visits; the degree to which patterns over the past number of years have illustrated the adequacy of such support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18844/18]
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.
424. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the measures being put in place to provide 92 children that attend a school (details supplied) speech and language therapy and occupational therapy; and if the children will have access to the July provision. [22221/18]
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.
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.
425. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of home care hours available from Old County Road public health centre, Dublin 12 on 1 January 2018 and 1 April 2018 (details supplied). [23227/18]
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.
427. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the long waiting times for ophthalmology services in both primary care and acute hospitals. [23545/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government.
Cataract surgery is among the most common surgical procedures carried out in the Ophthalmology specialty. Through the work of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, the overall number of patients waiting for cataract surgery has fallen by 22% since July 2017, while the number of patients waiting more than 12 months has declined by 71% in the same period. For 2018, under the Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan, all clinically suitable patients waiting for more than 9 months for a Cataract procedure will be offered treatment this year, with 5,000 NTPF funded procedures planned in both public and private hospitals.
Last year funding was allocated to provide additional capacity at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital as a result and a cataract theatre is now operational three days per week. This year, in line with the Action Plan, the HSE is planning to open a dedicated Cataract theatre in Nenagh Hospital in July.
In primary care, the HSE published the Report of the Primary Care Eye Services Review Group in June 2017. The Report sets out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be provided in a primary care setting. The recommendations of the Report are to be implemented on a phased basis subject to available resources.
To support the implementation of the Report, funding of €1m was allocated this year to establish primary care eye teams in South and West Dublin and further develop the primary care eye team in North Dublin to help alleviate waiting lists.
428. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason the use of a prosthetic is unavailable and not provided for by the HSE in County Donegal but is available in other parts of the country free of charge (details supplied); if the HSE plans to make the products available in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
429. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the plans being made by the Health Products Regulatory Authority and or the Health Service Executive to licence and make available for reimbursement the drug Ocrevus, ocrelizumab, which treats adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. [23603/18]
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 have been informed that Ocrelizumab for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in terms of disease duration and level of disability, and with imaging features characteristic of inflammatory activity and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features is currently undergoing a full pharmacoeconomic assessment by the NCPE.
430. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the status of the in loco parentis clause in homecare nursing contracts for sick children in view of the difficulties it is creating for parents (details supplied); and if further respite supports are being considered for parents of children with the most serious needs. [23604/18]
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.
431. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours granted and the number of home help hours that are actually provided by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23609/18]
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.
432. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an assessment of need for a child (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23627/18]
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.
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.
433. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23628/18]
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.
434. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the change in the HSE procedure for the statutory assessment of need; if he has approved the new assessment of need standard operating procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23634/18]
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.
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.
435. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the actions which were taken by the HSE on foot of complaints received from the family of a person (details supplied) relevant to their care while a patient of the HSE at St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, County Kilkenny; if the serious issues raised by the family have been investigated; if the HSE has fully engaged with the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23636/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that this issue has been difficult for the family involved.
The HSE's Quality Assurance and Verification Division has been asked to follow up regarding actions required and communication with the family. To further address and provide an update on the case as it is a service matter I have referred the Question to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
436. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the spend on agency and locum staff in hospitals in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by nurses, doctors and so on and by hospital and CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23672/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
437. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health when the appropriate number of MS specialist nurses for the mid-west region will be filled in view of the recommendations of the 2016 national clinical programme for neurology: model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23673/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
438. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) will be brought forward. [23675/18]
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.
