Written Answers Nos. 462-478
462. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set out the estimated cost of reopening the minimum of 1,000 hospital beds that are in the health service but closed, as deduced from a comparison of bed numbers from the health service capacity review published in 2018 and the capacity review from 2008. [30200/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Health, I am committed to continuing the effort to address overcrowding in our Emergency Departments, and in particular, the capacity of the system to respond during periods of peak demand. In this context, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system, which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019. A submission received from the HSE in this regard is currently under consideration by my Department.
There is no one capital or revenue cost for opening additional hospital beds. The cost is dependent on the nature of the additional hospital bed (Day Case, In-Patient, Intensive/Critical Care), the clinical speciality and where the additional beds will be provided (an existing hospital, an extension to an existing hospital or the development of a new hospital).
463. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of providing 500 additional hospital beds. [30201/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no one capital cost for building additional hospital beds. The capital cost is dependent on the nature of the additional hospital bed (Day Case, In-Patient, Intensive/Critical Care), the clinical speciality and where the additional beds will be provided (for example, to an existing hospital, an extension to an existing hospital or the development of a new hospital).
464. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the capital costs of providing 500 additional hospital beds. [30202/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no one capital cost for building additional hospital beds. The capital cost is dependent on the nature of the additional hospital bed (Day Case, In-Patient, Intensive/Critical Care), the clinical speciality and where the additional beds will be provided (for example, to an existing hospital, an extension to an existing hospital or the development of a new hospital).
465. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of increasing the number of hospital beds in use in the system by 500, including the capital cost; and the number of beds that could be brought on stream before incurring a capital cost. [30203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no one capital or revenue cost for building additional hospital beds. The cost is dependent on the nature of the additional hospital bed (Day Case , In-Patient, Intensive/Critical Care ), the clinical speciality and where the additional beds will be provided (for example, to an existing hospital, an extension to an existing hospital or the development of a new hospital).
As Minister for Health, I am committed to continuing the effort to address overcrowding in our Emergency Departments, and in particular, the capacity of the system to respond during periods of peak demand. In this context, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system, which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.
A submission received from the HSE in this regard is currently under consideration by my Department. I can confirm that this proposal includes both new beds which incur capital costs and new beds within existing space which have little or no capital cost requirement.
466. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the fully absorbed cost of a hospital bed; the fully absorbed cost of a hospital bed including staff, ancillary services and running costs; the cost per bed, per day and per year. [30204/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
467. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the savings in 2018 through the four-year deal agreed with the pharmaceutical sector. [30205/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2016 Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines (available at http://www.ipha.ie/alist/ipha-hse-agreement.aspx), between the State and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), is expected to deliver approximately €600 million in savings from IPHA companies over the four year lifetime of the Agreement and €150 million in savings from non-IPHA companies.
The 2016 Agreement represents clear additional value to the State over previous agreements. For example, the reference basket of countries, used to set drug prices in Ireland, has been expanded from 9 to 14 countries, including lower cost countries. Also, the Agreement now provides for an annual price realignment, so that Irish medicine prices can be reduced in line with price reductions across the reference countries. This will ensure the State achieves better value for money on medicines as prices in other basket countries are adjusted downwards over time. In addition, the Agreement provides for a 30% reduction in the price of biologic medicines when a biosimilar medicine enters the market.
A key focus of this agreement is to achieve lower prices in the face of both demographic pressures on expenditure and the continued development of new medicines, many of which pose affordability challenges to the Irish health service and internationally.
The estimated saving for 2018 from the Agreement is €185 m.
468. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of reducing the medical card prescription charge by 50 cent. [30206/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra469. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the income raised through prescription charges in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [30207/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra470. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down in tabular form the estimated cost of lowering the drugs payment scheme monthly threshold to €85, €100, €112, €116, €120 and €124. [30208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 468 to 470, inclusive, together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
471. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure on the six-monthly scale and polish entitlement under the dental treatment services scheme in 2009. [30209/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
472. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure on the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment services scheme in 2009. [30210/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
473. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down in tabular form the estimated cost of increasing the number of dentists by ten and 40, respectively. [30211/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
474. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of increasing the number of orthodontists by five. [30212/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
475. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down in tabular form the estimated cost of increasing the number of orthodontists by ten and 60, respectively. [30213/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
476. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of employing and equipping one ambulance with its complement of personnel and support staff. [30214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
477. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of training and recruiting 110 advanced paramedics. [30215/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
478. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to set down the estimated cost of an additional three ambulances, including personnel for each of the four HSE regions. [30216/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
