Pat Deering
Ceist:268. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be seen by an oncologist in St. Vincent's University Hospital. [38330/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCancer Services Provision
Ceisteanna (268)
Freagraí scríofa
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly.
Hospital Consultant Contracts
Ceisteanna (269)
Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:269. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if an issue (details supplied) will be investigated at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38337/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Report of the Public Sector Pay Commission published on 4 September recognised that the implementation of the settlement of the 2008 Consultant Contract claim, while necessary of itself, would serve to highlight the differential in pay between the pre-existing cadre of consultants and new entrants. It stated that the aggregate level of vacancies for consultant posts at the end of 2017 and evidence of recruitment campaigns with very low levels of applications, suggest a general difficulty recruiting consultants and that the two-tier pay system was among a number of factors raised with it as affecting recruitment. It also stated that the policy responses it expected for new entrants across the public services generally would be unlikely to address the degree of pay differential which applied to new entrant consultants. The Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, to address this difficulty.
New entrant consultants’ are encompassed by the process announced yesterday for new entrants across the public service under Section 4 of the Public Service Stability Agreement and will benefit accordingly. However there will continue to be a pay differential between pre-existing and new entrant consultants. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has noted the Commission's views that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, to address the pay differential between pre-existing consultants and new entrant consultants. The challenge will be doing so in a manner that respects pay policy and our budgetary constraints.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (270)
Mary Butler
Ceist:270. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a MRI scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38338/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (271)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:271. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38342/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Vaccination Programme Data
Ceisteanna (272)
Clare Daly
Ceist:272. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE have obtained all the research behind the Gardasil HPV vaccines research trial data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38353/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minister for Health has no role in examining the raw data from research trials in relation to medicinal products.
Medical Card Reviews
Ceisteanna (273)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card review form will issue in the post to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38368/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (274)
John McGuinness
Ceist:274. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to arrange a hip replacement at UHW for a person (details supplied); his views on whether there is an onus on him to insist that the HSE rectify the situation without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38371/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Ceisteanna (275)
Kate O'Connell
Ceist:275. Deputy Kate O'Connell asked the Minister for Health the length of time persons are waiting on average for drugs to be approved for public funding (details supplied); and the processes and procedures being undertaken to expedite access for persons with MS to new and effective treatments in a timely fashion. [38381/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to reimbursement of medicines.
Under the 2013 Act, if a company wishes to have a medicine reimbursed through the community drugs schemes, it must submit an application to the HSE to have the medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the 2016 Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to add the medicine to the reimbursement list, agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine or refuse to reimburse it.
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 for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
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 ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I am keen to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily available for public patients in Ireland, but innovative approaches must be compatible with the statutory provisions in place and must also recognise fundamental pricing and funding issues, in the context of finite Exchequer resources.
Psychological Services
Ceisteanna (276)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:276. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to recruit a permanent psychologist to a vacant post as part of the school age disability psychology service in County Donegal; the staff cover in place owing to this vacancy to assist staff deliver the service; when the post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38385/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Ceisteanna (277)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:277. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a primary health centre will be provided at locations (details supplied) in County Cork. [38386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
Home Care Packages Provision
Ceisteanna (278)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:278. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages provided in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Roscommon in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38392/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (279)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:279. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff working on the mental health team in counties Kildare and Wicklow; the per capita spend on mental health in County Kildare in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38398/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (280)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:280. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the development of a new endoscopy unit at Naas Hospital. [38400/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
HSE Properties
Ceisteanna (281)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:281. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of refurbishment of the HSE property in Drogheda Street, Monasterevin, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38401/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health-care property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (282)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:282. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if a person over 70 years of age is entitled to a general practitioner visit card once they reach the age of 70 regardless of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38402/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the terms of the Health (General Practitioners Service) Act 2015, all persons aged 70 or older qualify for a GP Visit Card, regardless of income.