Written Answers Nos. 166-185
166. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding budget 2019 requests by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40137/18]
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.
167. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of a HSE working group report on the development of a model of care for lymphoedema and lipoedema; when he expects this report to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40138/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the report of the Working Group on a Model of Care for Lymphoedema and Lipoedema Treatment in Ireland is under consideration by the HSE.
The recommendations arising from the report will be considered by my Department once they become available, with a view to progressing implementation by the HSE through the annual service planning process.
168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40143/18]
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.
169. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if there is no working child psychologist in an organisation (details supplied) or the child and adolescent mental health, CAMHS, service serving County Mayo; if maternity cover has not been provided; and if there are vacant posts [40145/18]
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.
170. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant child psychologist posts in County Mayo and in CHO 2, respectively; and the length of time these posts have been vacant for. [40146/18]
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.
171. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting to see a child psychologist in County Mayo and CHO 2, respectively; and the length of time each child has been waiting. [40147/18]
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.
172. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment with a consultant cardiologist at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin 7. [40155/18]
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.
173. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the actions he plans to take to deal with the promotion of the illegal and dangerous so-called MMS as a purported cure for autism in view of the fact that these methods are essentially endangering and abusing children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40157/18]
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.
174. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for surgery. [40164/18]
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.
175. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the way in which a trip was funded for HSE personnel who recently accepted an award (details supplied) in Chicago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the drug Spinraza will be made available to persons who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40171/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his plans to make the Spiranza drug available to persons suffering from the degenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40198/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 179 together.
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.
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.
177. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40191/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA reply has now issued to the Minister's Constituency Office and should be with the Minister very shortly.
178. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the group representing pharmacy assistants arising from new rules drafted under section 30 of the Pharmacy Act 2007; the way in which he plans to address those concerns; if he will sign the statutory instrument giving legal effect to the draft rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pharmacy Act 2007 established the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and the functions of the Society are set out in the Act. The functions of the PSI are carried out on its behalf by the Council of the Society.
Section 30 of the Act provides for an exception to the general provision in the Act which requires the sale and supply of medicines at a pharmacy to be conducted under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist, and specifies that no offence is committed where a registered pharmaceutical assistant “acts on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the temporary absence of the registered pharmacist”.
Section 30 also permits the Council to make rules as to:
1. What may or may not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist; and
2. What constitutes the temporary absence of a registered pharmacist.
On June 21, the Council of the Society approved for issuance for public consultation the proposed draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018. This public consultation commenced on 17 July and ran until 14 August and afforded any interested party the opportunity to make representations on the matter directly to the PSI.
Following completion of the public consultation phase, the Council of the PSI considered the proposed draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 at its meeting on the 20th September 2018 where Council approved the draft rules without amendment.
Correspondence outlining the concerns of registered pharmaceutical assistants has been received by my Department. My role in relation to this process is limited to the consideration of any such Rules once submitted for my approval. I must consider any Rules presented to me from a fair and impartial perspective, without prejudice or prejudgement. This includes consideration of concerns raised by, or on behalf of, registered pharmaceutical assistants.
I await the receipt of the Rules for my consideration from the PSI and until that time, I am unfortunately not in a position to comment any further on the matter raised.
180. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a serious incident of self-harm that occurred in Clontarf Hospital on 9 May 2017; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that staff had prior to the event voiced their concern for the well-being of the person and the lack of training and experienced staff in dealing with patients with psychiatric illnesses. [40199/18]
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.
181. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if, following the incident of self-harm to a person in Clontarf Hospital, a report on the incident was notified to the HSE, HIQA or An Garda Síochána; if a State agency has investigated the incident; and if there are ongoing concerns for patient safety at the hospital [40200/18]
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.
182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct or recommend that HIQA investigate fully the incident of self-harm at Clontarf Hospital; and, if so, if the investigation will ensure that the hospital meets all national guidelines and standards relating to the care of patients with psychiatric illnesses in their care and the manner in which staff were dealt with by management, including a report that staff were forced under threat of disciplinary action to change their statements regarding this incident, is examined. [40201/18]
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.
183. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an audiology assessment and tympanostomy procedure for a person (details supplied), which the medical team has deemed necessary to take place at the same time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
184. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health if the decision to withdraw physiotherapy services from a school (details supplied) will be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40206/18]
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 A Programme for A 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.
185. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will request an organisation to expedite the degree recognition process in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40207/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a matter relating to the recognition application of an individual health and social care professional, the Health and Social Care Professional Council (CORU), the State regulator in this regard, has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
