Written Answers Nos. 378-393
378. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 3 July 2018, if he will consider introducing legislation which requires online advertising campaigns that employ models to sell body focused products to specify if models have disclosed that they are taking anabolic steroids to obtain an enhanced physique (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31389/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland is the independent self-regulatory body set up and financed by the advertising industry and committed, in the public interest, to promoting the highest standards of marketing communications, that is, advertising, promotional marketing and direct marketing. The objective is to ensure that all commercial marketing communications are 'legal, decent, honest and truthful’.
I would advise the Deputy that he should refer his concerns about online advertising campaigns that sell body focused products to this organisation. My Department has no role in consumer protection legislation or regulation relating to false or misleading advertising.
379. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when the Sláintecare office was established; the number employed in the office; the body or person to which the office reports to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31393/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government agreed last year to the establishment of a dedicated Sláintecare implementation office to drive and support the reform programme. €1 million was made available in Budget 2018 to establish the Office and arrangements for the staffing of the Office are being progressed.
The recruitment process for an Executive Director for the Office has been completed following a competitive process run independently by the Public Appointments Service. I expect to be in a position to announce this appointment shortly. The Office will be resourced with an appropriate skills mix including project management, communications, clinical, and data and evaluation expertise. Processes are being put in place to source this expertise.
There will be a robust governance structure in place to support the Office and to ensure a strong focus on implementation. This structure, including reporting and accountability arrangements, will be outlined in the forthcoming Sláintecare Implementation Plan.
380. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when the director of the Sláintecare office will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31394/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment process for an Executive Director for the Sláintecare Programme Office has been completed following a competitive process run independently by the Public Appointments Service. I expect to be in a position to announce this appointment shortly.
381. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when the legislation for the establishment of an independent board for the HSE, as recommended by the Sláintecare report, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31395/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSubject to Government approval, I intend to publish the Bill to establish an independent Board for the HSE next week.
382. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings the independent review group chaired by a person (details supplied) tasked to examine the separation of private practice in public hospitals which have been held to date; when it will produce a final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31396/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraArising from a recommendation in Sláintecare, I established an Independent Review Group (IRG) to examine private practice in public acute hospitals. The IRG has been tasked with making recommendations about the practical approaches that can be taken to remove private practice from public hospitals, the impacts that this removal will have, what timeframe might apply and how to phase recommendations over time and, in particular, to identify any adverse and unintended consequences that may arise. The Group is conducting an independent evaluation of these matters and I have asked them to report to me by September 2018.
383. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when will the public consultation on the alignment of hospital groups and CHO areas will be complete and a report issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31397/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe alignment of Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) and Hospital Groups was set out by the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare as one of the fundamental principles underpinning healthcare reform. It recognised that the relationship between CHOs and Hospital Groups is critically important in the pursuit of connected care and patient-centred service delivery.
I believe that the views of health and social care professionals and of the Irish public are crucial in guiding the progress of this recommendation of the SláinteCare Report. For this reason I held a public consultation on the future alignment of Hospitals Groups and Community Health Organisations. This was launched on the Department’s website on 29 March and was open for submission until 23 May 2018.
The consultation asked respondents to provide their views on the importance of the geographic alignment of CHOs and Hospital Groups, the best way to achieve geographic alignment and opportunities which may arise from it.
Over 200 responses were submitted to this consultation. These responses are currently being considered and analysed by officials in my Department. A report containing the analysis and findings from all submissions will be published on my Department’s website within the coming months.
384. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the number of face to face meetings which have been held between the HSE, his Department and the Irish Medical Organisation since 1 January 2018 on the negotiation of a new general practitioner contract; when he expects these negotiations to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31398/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation on 2 and 9 May to discuss reform of the GMS contract.
The Department subsequently wrote to the IMO setting out the proposals formally. The Organisation has not yet responded to the Department.
In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in a position to give further details while engagement between the parties is under way.
385. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the number of face to face meetings which have been held between the HSE, his Department and an organisation (details supplied) since 1 January 2018 is relation to developing a new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31399/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no face to face meetings between the HSE, the Department of Health and the National Association of General Practitioners since 1 January 2018 concerning the GMS contract.
I have acknowledged that the National Association of General Practitioners is anxious to be involved in discussions about reform of the GMS contract and have already indicated my willingness to consult with them formally on the many issues facing general practice.
386. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards expected to be issued to persons in receipt of the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31400/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2017, the Government announced that additional funding would be provided to enable all carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance to qualify for a GP visit card. To clarify, in respect of the question, it is a GP Visit Card and not a Medical Card. Government approval was given on the 11 April to provide GP services without fees to persons in receipt of either full or half rate Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and to draft the Heads of Bill to legislate for this provision. It is intended that this measure will be implemented this year, subject to the drafting and enactment of the necessary legislation.
Approximately an additional 14,000 people who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit who up to now have not qualified for a medical card or GP visit card on means or age grounds, will now be provided with GP services without fees.
This is in addition to the majority of persons in receipt of Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit that already have either a medical card or GP visit Card.
387. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards which have been issued to persons in receipt the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31401/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
388. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when the three elective only hospitals as recommended in Project Ireland 2040 in Dublin, Cork and Galway will be built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31402/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan is a ten year plan which will provide the capital funding to develop dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities.
We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the populations health needs and achieve value for money.
New dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities will be delivered in Dublin, Cork and Galway. These facilities will provide high volume, low complexity procedures on a day and outpatient basis, together with a range of ambulatory diagnostic services. The aim is to both increase capacity in the hospital system and provide a better separation of scheduled and unscheduled care, in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the Sláintecare Report. They will provide increased, protected capacity for elective treatment and free up capacity in major acute hospitals to address higher complexity and emergency care. These new standalone ambulatory, elective-only hospital and diagnostic facilities will be developed in line with hospital groups' strategic plans. As is to be expected with a ten year plan, many proposals, including proposals for dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities, are at a very early stage and will require to progress through appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm location, timeline or funding required can be established.
389. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide community Parkinson's disease nurses in HSE south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31403/18]
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.
390. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop modular bed units at University Hospital Limerick to address the bed shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31404/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the HSE are currently working to progress a proposal to increase bed capacity nationally in line with the recommendations of the health service capacity review.
As part of this process, I can confirm that the HSE is considering a submission by UL Hospital Group to develop a modular inpatient facility at University Hospital Limerick which will have capacity for up 60 additional inpatient beds. A decision on this, as part of the broader work being brought forward by my Department and the HSE to increase bed capacity in advance of this winter and throughout 2019, will be made as soon as possible.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes provision for a 96-bed replacement ward block at UHL. I can confirm that the draft HSE Capital Plan for 2018 includes funding to progress the design phase of this project.
391. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the stage of development the new 96 bed permanent block at University Hospital Limerick is at; when he expects the project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31405/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of capital developments in the public health service, my Department has asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to capital developments at University of Limerick Hospital.
392. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans for Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel. [31407/18]
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.
393. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent which has been spent to date on the refurbishment of Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel; and the amount the facility is costing in maintenance on a yearly basis. [31408/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care property estate, my Department has asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel.
