Written Answers Nos. 151-170
151. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment of sanitary and phytosanitary inspectors and food inspectors to prepare for Brexit; the number of persons his Department expects to hire; the number hired to date; when the recruitment process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42597/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraExtensive work has been carried out across Government Departments on Brexit preparedness and contingency planning based on the ‘central case scenario’, i.e. an orderly withdrawal that incorporates a transition period until the end of 2020 and on an East-West basis. This included the identification of staffing requirements for the implementation of the necessary Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks (official controls) carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) and the HSE’s Environmental Health Service (EHS).
DAFM is the competent authority responsible for checks on live animals, animal products, plants and products of plant origin and the EHS is the competent authority with responsibility for official controls on food products such as food of non-animal origin and some composite food products coming from outside the EU.
On 11 October 2018, my Department advised the HSE that an additional allocation of €2.079 million is being made available to the EHS in 2019 for additional food import controls and export certification (63 whole time equivalents).
The HSE will now carry out further work to ensure appropriate recruitment on a phased basis of the personnel concerned with a view to having all positions filled by the end of 2019.
152. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the progress of the HSE's national clinical programme for dual diagnosis; the number of patients who have been assessed and are being managed through the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42607/18]
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.
153. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the roll-out of the HSE's national clinical programme for dual diagnosis; the locations in which dual diagnosis assessment and management are available across the country; if there are waiting lists to be assessed; if so, the length of these waiting lists; if this service is available to persons under 18 years of age; the details of that service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42608/18]
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.
154. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that agencies providing vital mental health supports to persons and in receipt of State funding are accessible to all persons in need, including those with dual diagnosis needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42609/18]
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.
155. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when the first medically supervised injecting centre will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42610/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe establishment of a pilot supervised injecting facility is a commitment in the 'Programme for a Partnership Government' and is a key action in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. The purpose of the facility is to provide a clean, safe, healthcare environment where people who inject drugs can access medical and social services from healthcare professionals. Evidence from countries with such facilities shows that they are cost-effective in the long-run, through reducing ill-health for injecting drug users and by improving the environment for residents and businesses.
In February 2018 the HSE announced Merchants Quay Project as the preferred bidder to operate a supervised injecting facility in Dublin city on a pilot basis. The awarding of the contract followed a HSE procurement process initiated in August 2017 and is subject to normal planning permission approval. The Department of Health and the HSE have been proactive in supporting Merchants Quay Ireland to develop this facility and have met with a number of key stakeholders.
I am fully committed to the establishment of the supervised injecting facility. Only recently, on 14 September, I visited Merchants Quay Ireland to launch its annual review 2017 and to get an update on progress on establishing the SIF. During the visit, I announced the establishment of a community fund to support improvements in the physical and social environment, so that there are tangible gains for the local community arising from the SIF.
I understand that Merchants Quay Ireland lodged an application for planning permission to establish a supervised injecting facility with Dublin City Council on 8 October, 2018. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the outcome of the planning process.
156. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ease the waiting times for children waiting on assessments of need in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42615/18]
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.
157. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the laboratories involved in testing the smear tests of the 221 women involved in the audit. [42620/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in previous Parliamentary Questions to the Deputy, it would be expected that false negatives would have occurred in all labs contracted by CervicalCheck since its inception. Screening tests are a balance of sensitivity and specificity and therefore include both false negative and false positive results which could affect the screening outcome and treatment of a person who may or who may not have a disease. False negatives are those samples where the slide was originally reported as negative but on review abnormal cells are found.
As outlined in the report of the Scoping Inquiry, some screening programmes divide those false negatives into one of two groups:
1. Abnormalities that most screeners would not have detected;
2. Abnormalities that most screeners would have detected.
It is often a matter for professional judgement and discussion into which of these two groups any single false negative will fit. I again emphasise that false negatives are unavoidable and happen in every screening programme.
The Scoping Inquiry, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, reported in September. Its terms of reference, developed following cross-party engagement, included examination of the tendering, contracting, operation, conflict of interest arrangements, performance information and performance management, accreditation and quality assurance of contracted cytology laboratory services since the inception of the CervicalCheck programme. Dr Scally's report was the result of a period of intensive work which included visits to the contracted laboratories. Dr Scally is clear in his report that the Inquiry is satisfied with the quality management processes in the laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck. Crucially, he has confirmed that there is no reason, on quality grounds, why the existing contracts for laboratory services should not continue until the new HPV testing regime has been introduced. This provides welcome reassurance for women in Ireland about the quality of these services.
Dr Scally has undertaken to carry out a supplementary report into certain further aspects of the laboratories, including accreditation. He has also made a number of key recommendations in relation to laboratory services which I intend to implement and which will help to ensure that the cervical screening programme meets the highest possible standards.
158. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on proposals by an organisation (details supplied) on rules covering the temporary absence of pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42624/18]
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.
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.
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.
159. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if CAMHS and psychologists in CHO 8 scheduled are replaced without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42629/18]
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.
160. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason a unit (details supplied) is not taking admissions at present. [42630/18]
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.
161. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for surgery. [42631/18]
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.
162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of respite care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42632/18]
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.
A Programme for a Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
163. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have died by suicide on the grounds of HSE facilities in the past three years, respectively. [42641/18]
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.
164. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have died by suicide following presentation at, or treatment by, the HSE for mental health in the past three years, respectively. [42642/18]
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.
165. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 11 April 2017, the progress he has made in ensuring that the HSE compiles data which can provide insight into the numbers of persons who have died by suicide while in its care or shortly after seeking its care in order to improve services. [42643/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Minister as soon as possible.
166. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions being recruited for by the HSE in the mental health section; the details based on the discipline of the position; and the length of time of the vacancy and the stage the recruitment process is at. [42645/18]
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.
167. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of new positions that will be created in the new budget period; and the details of the discipline and level of these positions. [42646/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019 Health will have funding of €16.360 billion in gross current expenditure and €667m in Capital, an increase of €1,521m (10.2%) on the 2018 Current Expenditure budget, and €174m on Capital expenditure.
The Health Service Executive is currently in the process of preparing the National Service Plan for 2019, in consultation with officials from my Department. This will inform the number of new positions that will need to be created in 2019.
168. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of his efforts to attract new applicants for vacant positions in the mental health service, including initiatives or measures that are being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42647/18]
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.
169. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if a new clinical psychologist has been hired to replace the vacancy at a service (details supplied); if not, the rationale for same; the timeline for a replacement to be hired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42652/18]
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 Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot receive a doctor's appointment closer to the location in which they live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42654/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
