Written Answers Nos. 1480-1499
1480. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the net additional number of staff within mental health services on 1 June 2018 in comparison to 1 January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33096/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
1481. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason there was no response from either the HSE or Dublin Fire Brigade to a 999 call placed on 11 May 2018 for a sick child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33098/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the Dublin Fire Brigade to reply to you directly.
1482. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that there is a shortage of at least 20 adult psychiatric beds in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33099/18]
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.
1483. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide an additional adult psychiatric unit in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33100/18]
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.
1484. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to recognise assistant psychologists in a professional role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33102/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approved the introduction of a new grade of assistant psychologist on a two year pilot basis. These assistant psychologist positions are largely located among the primary care psychology services across the 9 Community Healthcare Organisations.
On completion of this pilot, my Department will review the scheme before making any final decisions in relation to the future of this grade.
1485. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of doctorates in counselling psychology positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33103/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
1486. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a payscale for assistant psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33104/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
1487. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for admission. [33106/18]
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, 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.
1489. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the legal basis for general practitioners charging insurance companies or patients for filling out general practitioner or consultant medical questionnaires issued by insurance companies as part of the process of deciding on a patient's claim for insurance for medical treatment [33124/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GMS contract stipulates that fees for medical and visit card holders are not paid to GPs in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".
Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients.
1490. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who has been approved for a homecare package will receive the care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33143/18]
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.
1491. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of persons from Passage West, County Cork, and surrounding areas who are utilising the health centre in Carrigaline. [33146/18]
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.
1492. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding for an organisation (details supplied). [33147/18]
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 a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
1494. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33154/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1495. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an orthodontic referral for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33159/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1496. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will communicate with a person (details supplied) regarding retrospective payment of a specialist qualification allowance. [33177/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
1497. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding care for older persons; his plans to provide the service of the statutory entitlement to care for those who may qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33180/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHome support services received particular priority in Budget 2018, with an additional €18.25m allocated bringing the total home support allocation for 2018 to almost €417 million which includes funding for intensive home care packages. The HSE has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering home and other community-based services for older people. Services are provided on the basis of assessed health-care need. The HSE 2018 National Service Plan provides for over 17 million home support hours to be delivered to 50,500 people at any time and 235 Intensive Home Care Packages for people with more complex needs delivering approximately 360,000 hours in the full year. A further 156,000 hours, relating to adverse weather funding, will be provided this year.
The Department of Health is currently engaged in a detailed process to develop plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for homecare services. The statutory scheme will introduce clear rules in relation to what services individuals are eligible for and how decisions are made on allocating services. The new scheme will help to improve access to the home care services that people need. The system of regulation for home care will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard.
The development of a new national statutory scheme for home care is a complex process. As an initial consultative step in the development of the new scheme, a public consultation on the financing and regulation of home care, to which approximately 2,600 submissions were received, was undertaken last year. A report on the findings of the consultation was published on 26th June and will inform the development of the new scheme. Further consultation with service users will take place later this year. In 2017, the Department of Health also commissioned a review of the home care systems in place in four European countries to ensure that Ireland’s new home care scheme and system of regulation is informed by international experience.
While the publication of the HRB review and of the report on the findings of the public consultation represent important milestones in the process of developing the new scheme, a significant amount of additional work remains to be carried out before final decisions are taken on the form of the home care scheme and system of regulation. This is required if the reforms are to be successful, affordable and sustainable. The Department will continue to prioritise its work in developing the new scheme and every effort will be made to progress this matter as quickly as possible. However a realistic timeframe for the establishment of the new scheme on a statutory basis is 2–3 years. In the meantime, the Department and HSE will also continue to prioritise improvements in the existing home care services.
1498. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the introduction of legislation regarding medicinal cannabis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33182/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, cannabis is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2016, and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder.
For the purposes of clarity, the two most common active components found in cannabis oil are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
While THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, under the Misuse of Drugs legislation products containing THC are strictly controlled and possession is unlawful except under licence. However, although CBD is derived from cannabis, since it is not psychoactive it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation, and does not require a Ministerial Licence.
Access to THC-based cannabis for Medical Use via the Ministerial Licence Route
Under existing arrangements, Irish-based medical practitioners who wish to prescribe cannabis products containing THC may apply to the Minister for Health for a licence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the granting of such a licence must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
It should be noted that it will be a matter for the prescriber and their patient to source the prescribed medical cannabis-based product. It is understood that patients who have been prescribed such products have sourced it from Transvaal Pharmacy in The Hague, at the following address: Kempstraat 113, 2572 GC The Hague, Tel: 070-3469314
Medical practitioners and patients may consult the Department of Health website for detailed information on the issue of cannabis for medical use, including how a medical practitioner may apply for a Ministerial licence.
Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme
On foot of the HPRA report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’, I announced my intention to establish a ‘Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme’ to facilitate access to cannabis-based products, that are not authorised as medicines but are of a standardised quality and meet an acceptable level of quality assurance. The programme will provide access to cannabis treatments for patients who are under the care of a medical consultant for certain medical conditions which have failed to respond to standard treatments.
An Expert Group has drawn up clinical guidance for healthcare professionals treating patients through the Access Programme, which includes guidance on which cannabis products are appropriate for medical use. However, the Access Programme is not yet operational, as further work is required in relation to certain elements, in particular the availability of appropriate quality-approved medical cannabis products that are affordable to patients. This is a critical aspect in establishing the access programme. The Department is working intensively on finding solutions to the supply of appropriate products for Irish patients.
Officials in the Department of Health are working on secondary legislation in the form of three Statutory Instruments, which will underpin the access programme. This work will be finalised once appropriate cannabis-based product, which will be scheduled in the legislation, becomes available to the Irish market.
1499. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore the 10% budget 2018 cut to the health and well-being division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33185/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe budget for the HSE's (now former) Health and Wellbeing Division for 2018 is €241m; in 2017 the budget was €234.6m. The HSE plans and prioritises its service delivery each year on the basis of an approved overall level of spending.
The HSE decided to reduce spending in some areas within the Health and Wellbeing Division in 2018, including funding to a number of grant aided agencies to varying extents, and some of these were reduced by 10%. The relevant agencies were advised that this would be reviewed by the HSE mid way through the year and the HSE has confirmed that they are currently in the process of conducting this review.
