Written Answers Nos. 520-543
520. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit staff to fill the 169 vacancies in emergency departments across the State; the locations in which these vacancies exist; the reason these posts are vacant despite funding being made available; and when he expects these posts to be filled. [37499/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Emergency Department attendances continue to rise, Emergency Departments are under increasing pressure to meet this new level of demand and ensure the provision of timely safe and effective care for patients. A considerable number of patients presenting to the Emergency Departments are frail or acute patients that often require admission. However, acknowledging this, the number of nurses employed in Emergency Departments had increased from 1,231 at end 2015 to 1,500 in September 2018, representing an increase of 269 or 22%. While the vacancies extend to all Emergency Departments, albeit in small numbers, it should be noted a significant number of these vacancies are currently being filled through agency staff and overtime working arrangements.
The HSE remains committed to filling these vacant posts on a permanent basis and have undertaken a number of national and local recruitment campaigns. In addition to this the HSE is also in the process of offering all graduate nurses and midwives contracts upon registration with NMBI, the nursing regulator.
521. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason funding for a person (details supplied) has been deferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37500/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
522. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a response from the HSE (details supplied); his views on whether current waiting times for occupational therapy appointments in CHO1 are acceptable; if extra staff will be provided to clear the backlogs being experienced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37502/18]
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.
523. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a registration board for the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37507/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that I signed the regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 in May this year. The next step will be the appointment of the 13 members of the registration board. The Public Appointments Service is carrying out a recruitment campaign to identify suitable candidates for my consideration. The process to select the candidates from the 94 applications received will take place later this month and it is hoped that the registration board will be appointed before the end of the year.
Once appointed, the registration board will begin the substantial programme of work to draft the various bye-laws to allow the board to establish its registers. The board will also be requested to advise myself and the Health and Social Care Professionals Council on a range of issues pertaining to the regulation of the professions, including minimum standards of education and training and the titles to be protected.
524. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the filling of a full-time vacancy (details supplied) in County Cork. [37508/18]
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.
526. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical card section is seeking renewed information on an application by a person (details supplied) despite the fact this was provided to it through the course of the application; if this file can be reviewed with a view to processing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37522/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
527. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason a review of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) was not undertaken despite being forwarded to the section in advance of the deadline for review; if this review can now take place without delay in view of the fact the information has been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37523/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
528. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether sleep apnea should be included in the list of illnesses under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37530/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
530. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on post-Brexit access to essential PKU food and protein replacement supplements that are currently made and packaged in Britain and shipped here; the measures being taken to ensure that access is not limited in the event of a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37534/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this capacity, the Department of Health is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit.
The Department of Health and its agencies including the HSE have been conducting detailed analysis on the impacts of Brexit in the area of health and intensive Brexit preparedness and contingency planning is underway.
A key issue will be to ensure that there is minimum disruption to health services and that essential services are maintained on a cross-Border, all-island and Ireland-UK basis. Priorities include ensuring continuity in the supply of medicines and medical devices, ensuring access to services, manpower in our health services, continuation of existing cross border health co-operation and public health arrangements.
On regulatory issues, it is clear that having a single set of rules across the European Union is enormously helpful – to protect human health, to ensure consumer protection and to provide a level playing field for industry. Ensuring continuity in the supplies following the UK’s departure from the EU is a priority. The issue of customs is of relevance as it relates to additional food safety controls and medicines. The implications of Brexit for networks and organisations such as the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed are also under consideration.
Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome was identified as an early priority and is now well advanced. Its focus is on the immediate economic, regulatory and operational challenges which would result from such an outcome. It assumes a trading relationship based on the default WTO rules, but also examines the possible effects on many other areas of concern.
This work has provided baseline scenarios for the impact of Brexit across all sectors, which can then be adapted as appropriate in light of developments in the EU-UK negotiations. This is enabling the modelling of potential responses under different scenarios, such as one where a withdrawal agreement, including a transitional arrangement, is concluded and where a Free Trade Agreement is the basis for the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
In line with this approach, the Government has already approved a number of key Brexit preparedness measures focused on East-West trade and has mandated the presentation to Government before the end of September of detailed and costed proposals on the staffing, IT, infrastructural and operational requirements for the implementation at ports and airports of the necessary customs controls and sanitary and phytosanitary checks required as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
The Government’s enterprise agencies continue to work with companies, helping them to deal with Brexit – making them more competitive, diversifying market exposure, and up-skilling teams. In total 51 reports analysing the effects of Brexit across a broad range of sectors and in some cases setting out responses have been published to date by Government Departments. All these reports are available on a dedicated Brexit webpage at: dfat.ie/brexit.
532. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2019 of recruiting 170 extra speech and language therapists and 100 additional occupational therapist posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37558/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
533. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to reduce or completely remove the home help service provided by the HSE and to allow private companies to provide home help services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37564/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Home Support Service is an increasingly important part of the supports for enabling older people to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and for facilitating their discharge from acute hospitals. The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering home and other community-based services for older people and the HSE provides Home Support Services both directly and through service agreements with private and voluntary sector providers. There are no plans to reduce or completely remove the home help service directly provided by the HSE.
534. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); the timeframe for the procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37565/18]
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.
535. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); the timeframe for the procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37566/18]
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.
536. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the existing and future exemptions which are and will be of benefit to persons with disabilities who are working or plan to gain employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37574/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has embarked on a significant programme of reform which is informing a new model of service provision such as Transforming Lives, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings and New Directions initiatives. In 2018, we are continuing to drive through this programme of reform, while ensuring that we continue to develop our workforce to ensure the delivery of a person-centred social care model of service, and strengthen and enhance governance and accountability across the entire disability service sector.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, as well as providing income supports to people with disabilities, offers a range of employment support programmes, including the wage subsidy scheme and the EmployAbility service as well as the partial capacity benefit scheme.
537. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgery appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37578/18]
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.
538. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason a treatment (details supplied) has not been reimbursed here despite it being the first drug approved in all other member countries of the BeNeLuxA initiative, of which Ireland is a member; when he expects reimbursement to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37586/18]
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. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
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 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.
Nusinersen (Spinraza) is for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
An application for the reimbursement of Nusinersen (Spinraza) is currently being processed by the HSE. No decision has been arrived at as yet as the statutory assessment process is still ongoing.
Two members of the Beneluxa Initiative (Belgium and the Netherlands) completed a joint negotiation for the reimbursement of Spinraza in July 2018. This process began before Ireland joined the collaboration and Ireland was not party to these negotiations.
539. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if the home help hours given to a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37589/18]
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.
541. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a sub-committee within his Department to examine recruitment, retention and remuneration issues in the health service to report back to him before the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to remuneration, the report of the Public Service Pay Commission on recruitment and retention issues in certain health sector grades was published on 4 September 2018. This report refers to nursing and midwifery grades, NCHDs and medical consultants. In line with the commitment to meet within four weeks of publication, meetings with relevant trade unions have been arranged for 19 September to discuss issues around implementation.
In November of 2017 I launched ‘Working Together for Health’, A Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning. The Framework aims to support the recruitment and retention of the right mix of workers across the health and social care system to meet planned and projected service need. The Framework outlines an approach to workforce planning for health and social care workers in all settings, including the HSE, wider public and private health service as well as childcare services, and was developed by a cross-sectoral steering group, chaired by my Department.
Initial actions are underway to implement the Framework.
542. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults, respectively, who were admitted to hospitals by county due to injuries sustained with scramblers, quad bikes or other off-road mechanical vehicles in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37603/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
543. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [37607/18]
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.
