Tuesday, 26 Jun 2018

Written Answers Nos. 321-340

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Ceisteanna (321)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

321. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of lidocaine patches for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Medicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key health service objective. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical evidence.

Lidocaine 5% medicated plasters are licensed for localised relief of post-shingles pain in adults. This is the patch's only licensed use in Ireland. It has been reimbursed in the community drugs schemes since 2010.

Clinical concern arose when, from 2012 on, usage increased significantly, to the point where more plasters were being used in Ireland than in the entire UK National Health Service. In such situations, it is important and appropriate for clinicians to review usage and, in 2016, the HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) reviewed the use of the plasters. The review estimated that only 5-10% of prescribing was for the licensed indication.

From September 2017, following the clinical review, the HSE introduced a new reimbursement approval system for the patches, to support appropriate use and patient care. Under these arrangements, the patient's GP or consultant applies to the MMP for reimbursement approval on behalf of the patient. If an application is refused, the clinician may submit an appeal, making a clear clinical case for the patient, to the MMP. Information for patients and practitioners is on the HSE MMP website at: hse.ie/yourmedicines.

The decision to introduce a new reimbursement approval process is a matter for the HSE and you will appreciate that, as Minister for Health, I cannot intervene in individual cases. However, I fully support the objectives of the HSE Medicines Management Programme.

Mental Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (322)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

322. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the roll-out of 24-7 cover in view of the fact that the HSE has committed to roll out fully 7-7 mental health service cover for the areas that currently are not serviced by the end of the second quarter of 2018. [27540/18]

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (323)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

323. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied). [27542/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since 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.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (324)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

324. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if the position of general manager of University Hospital Waterford has been advertised; when the manager will be appointed; his plans to appoint a substitute at the hospital in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27554/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (325)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

325. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect a decision in respect of a medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27555/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Data Protection

Ceisteanna (326)

James Browne

Ceist:

326. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding lacunae in data protection legislation that may be preventing mental health professionals from informing family members or others that are at risk of violence from a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27557/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I am not aware of any lacuna in data protection legislation as described by the Deputy and therefore I have had no discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality on the matter.

The Deputy will be aware that confidentiality is a fundamental principle of medical ethics and is central to the trust between patients and doctors. In this regard, the Medical Council publishes a "Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics" for registered medical practitioners. This document provides guidance to doctors on matters relating to professional conduct and ethics, including responsibilities to patients as well as the issue of medical records and confidentiality.

It is important to note that the Guide clearly states that registered medical practitioners are specifically allowed to ethically breach confidentiality if, for example, they believe that the patient is at risk of harming himself/herself or others.

I hope this reassures the Deputy, however if he has a specific concern I would ask him to raise it with me for further consideration.

Question No. 327 answered with Question No. 320.

HSE Properties

Ceisteanna (328)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

328. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will grant permission for a feasibility study to be carried out at a property (details supplied). [27562/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care property estate, the individuals named in the Deputy's question should contact the relevant regional HSE Estates Office directly. The contact details can be found on the HSE website www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/estates/.

Question No. 329 answered with Question No. 300.

Home Care Packages Data

Ceisteanna (330)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

330. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons waiting for home care packages; the waiting lists for home care packages in each CHO area; and the way in which this compares with June 2017. [27572/18]

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. 331 answered with Question No. 293.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (332)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

332. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [27577/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (333)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

333. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a MRI appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27586/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since 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.

Disease Management

Ceisteanna (334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

334. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if it is HSE policy that all patients found to be colonised with carbapenemase producing enterobacterales, CPE, are informed of this fact; and if their having been informed is documented. [27587/18]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

335. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if it is HSE policy that all patients found to be infected with CPE are informed of this fact; and if their having been informed is documented. [27588/18]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

336. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if it is HSE policy that all patients who are found to be colonised with CPE and are informed of this fact are offered advice on precautions to be taken to avoid the spread of the bacteria. [27589/18]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

337. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if it is HSE policy that all patients who are found to be infected with CPE and are informed of this fact are offered advice on precautions to be taken to avoid the spread of the bacteria. [27590/18]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

338. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in University Hospital Limerick who have been informed that they are colonised or infected with CPE since the beginning of 2018. [27591/18]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

339. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in Tallaght Hospital who have been informed that they are colonised or infected with CPE since the beginning of 2018. [27592/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 339, inclusive, together.

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

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (340)

Michael Harty

Ceist:

340. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the rate of remuneration paid to general practitioners for attending patients at a nursing home (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27598/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.