Written Answers Nos. 376-393
376. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when proposed changes in the fair deal scheme outlined in the media in February 2018 will be implemented; the full extent of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39605/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, to cap contributions from farm assets at 3 years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset, has been approved by Government. I hope to progress the legislation in the Oireachtas in the autumn session.
The impact of potential changes to the NHSS will be considered as part of Budget 2019, with changes expected to take effect next year following the legislative process. It is intended that this proposed policy change, the 3 year cap, will be extended to eligible existing participants in long term residential care so that they are not disadvantaged, but that there would be no retrospective recoupment of contributions for those who have paid contributions over and above the 3 year period.
377. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for orthodontic treatment in County Tipperary; the waiting times for those waiting for treatment; the number of orthodontists available to treat persons from County Tipperary; the efforts being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39606/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
378. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the expenditure by his Department and-or the HSE on breastfeeding promotion campaigns in each year since 2011, in tabular form. [39610/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
379. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if a general practitioner can charge a person for a home visit even if the patient is in receipt of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39614/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs must be available to provide services in their practice premises or by way of domiciliary visits, as appropriate, for their medical card and GP visit card patients for 40 hours each week. They must also make arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for urgent cases outside of these hours. It is a matter for the GP to decide whether it is appropriate to see the patient in his/her surgery or in the patient's home based on the clinical need, social and other circumstances in any particular case.
There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for a home visit which their GP deems necessary.
If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes they have been incorrectly charged for services provided by their GP, they may wish to report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office who can investigate the charge.
380. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the position of a person (details supplied) on a waiting list; when they will be seen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39615/18]
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.
381. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who has applied for treatment for migraine in Northern Ireland through the cross-border directive; if this application is suitable for reimbursement under the directive; and when the attention of the person will be drawn to the outcome of their application [39616/18]
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.
382. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a rescheduled appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39617/18]
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.
383. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the length of time children are waiting for a public eye test; and the number of persons waiting three months, six months and over one year, respectively for assessment in each CHO area, in tabular form [39623/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
384. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the length of time children are waiting for speech and language therapy in each CHO area; and the number of persons waiting longer than 12 months in each CHO [39624/18]
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.
385. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39641/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where it is felt to be appropriate and cost-effective, taking account of Government decisions and policy including procurement protocols on the matter.
The Department does not collect data in a manner which would allow the Deputy’s question to be answered in full. Data are available up to June 2018, in January, €5,193 was paid to Mediavest in respect of a public consultation on Deprivation of Liberty.
I will revert to the Deputy again if further relevant expenditure has take place since June 2018.
386. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the building projects approved by county; the amount of funding provided to date for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39654/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital funding for Health in the ten years of the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 is €10.9 billion which provides the capital investment for a solid, ambitious plan which will improve our health services. The National Development Plan outlines capital funding for the Health sector for the next five years (2018 to 2022).
|
National Development Plan |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Health Sector |
€493m |
€667m |
€724m |
€780m |
€825m |
The major priority Government projects currently in development comprise:
- the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital at Portrane;
- the new Children’s Hospital along with the Paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly and Tallaght Hospitals;
- the redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital Phase I;
- the National Plan for Radiation Oncology at Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway;
- the Primary Care Centre Infrastructure Programme;
- the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus;
- the long-term residential accommodation programmes for older people (Community Nursing Home Programme) and peoples with disabilities to address regulatory standards for accommodation.
Health capital projects and programmes currently underway will continue and these major priority projects will require the bulk of the notified capital allocation over the initial period of the Plan, 2018-2022.
It is important to recognise that this is a long-term plan, which will roll out over ten years and includes provision for a large number of developments across the country.
As is to be expected with a ten-year plan, many other proposals are at an early stage and, as with all capital development proposals, will require further appraisal, planning, design and tender before a firm timeline or funding required can be established.
387. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a new anti-CGRP medication for the treatment of migraine that has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America; and if there are ongoing negotiations to make this treatment available for use by persons here [39656/18]
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. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the community drugs schemes, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
As outlined in the 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 either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.
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 NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
I have been informed that the NCPE completed a rapid review on 15 August 2018 on erenumab (Aimovig) for the treatment of migraine in adults who have at least 4 migraine days per month. The NCPE recommended a full Health Technology Assessment to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of erenumab compared with the current standard of care.
388. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39665/18]
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.
389. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health the financial assistance available to an organisation (details supplied) to help those with autism and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39674/18]
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.
390. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Louth is awaiting a vascular surgery appointment at Beaumont Hospital; and when an appointment will issue [39687/18]
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.
391. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health if the national cancer control programme will provide funding for a pigmented lesion clinic outreach in-service in a hospital in the South/South West Hospital Group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39691/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA pigmented lesion clinic is available to people in the South/South West Hospital Group at the South Infirmary Hospital in Cork. Funding for 2019 has been sought for a range of services linked to the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. Decisions on the allocation of funds to cancer services for next year will be finalised on completion of the Budget process.
392. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase supports and investment for persons living with dementia in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39698/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to meet the challenges faced by people with dementia, the Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. The Strategy aims to improve dementia care to allow people with dementia to live well for as long as possible and to deliver improved services and supports. The Strategy contains 35 priority and additional actions and its implementation is being led by the National Dementia Office in the HSE. The office has made substantial progress towards developing evidence-based care pathways for people with dementia and progress to date, as well as future plans, is recorded in the mid-term review of the Strategy's implementation, which was published in May this year. Plans are progressing to further implement the Dementia Strategy through the National Dementia Office, including in the area of diagnosis, post-diagnostic supports and care pathways.
In 2016 and 2017, the National Dementia Office partnered with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland on a project to map dementia-specific community-based services and supports. It provides a useful snapshot and baseline study into what, where and when dementia services are being offered. The study has also been used to inform a service finder hosted on the National Dementia Office’s website. This allows people to search for dementia-specific community services in their area. There are gaps in access to services and a large variance in what services are provided across the country. The National Dementia Office has met with senior HSE officials in each Community Healthcare Organisation region to highlight gaps in each area and to develop local action plans to improve service provision.
The National Dementia Strategy calls for the HSE to consider the provision of dementia advisers, based on the experience of demonstrator sites. An evaluation of the Dementia Adviser Service was published on 26th September. It recommends the continuation and expansion of the service to ensure equity of access countrywide.
A priority action in the National Dementia Strategy is the appointment of key workers to coordinate each patient's care and promote continuity, provide expert knowledge and leadership, and ensure that the patient knows who to access for information and advice. Work is under way to further determine the scope and requirements for this role.
The Department of Health secured €6.26 million through the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plans to develop a number of projects which are designed to expand public awareness of dementia and to improve care for people with dementia. Projects receiving funding include the delivery of post-diagnostic supports; a dementia diagnostic service for people with intellectual disability; a national network of memory technology resource rooms; the development of a national dementia registry; the national rollout of a Dementia Training Programme for HSE homecare staff; the development of Dementia Resource Centres; funding for a dementia community activation coordinator; an evaluation of services for people with early onset dementia; and community support projects for people with dementia.
With regard to the provision of additional resources, the level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2019 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE will be considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process and National Service Planning.
393. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to discourage certain illegal marketing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39714/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007, as amended, a medicine cannot be placed on the market in Ireland unless it has a marketing authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or a community marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency. Any product which makes a medicinal claim to treat medical conditions such as autism is considered to be a medicine, and requires an authorisation under this legislation.
The product referred to as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is not authorised as a medicine for sale or supply in Ireland. Any manufacture, supply or sale of this product for the purposes of treating a medical condition is illegal.
The HPRA is the competent authority for medicines in Ireland. The Authority has an Enforcement section, which is responsible for investigating potential breaches of medicines legislation and, where necessary, taking corrective action, including legal proceedings. This can involve investigation into complaints regarding products advertised or marketed as medicinal products but which have no marketing authorisation or certificate of traditional-use registration. The HPRA's investigations are prioritised on the basis of perceived risk to public health.
The HPRA has taken enforcement actions against the supplier of MMS, resulting in the prosecution and conviction of the person responsible in Ireland for such supply. The HPRA continually monitors online platforms for the promotion and sale of unauthorised medicines, including MMS. The Authority does not, at this time, have evidence of the promotion of MMS on social media or any online website registered in Ireland.
The HPRA continues to advise consumers not to purchase or take MMS.
