Tuesday, 6 Nov 2018

Written Answers Nos. 665-686

Health Services

Ceisteanna (665)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

665. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the persons that patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are referred to for further skin removal surgery. [45392/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The question raised is a service matter and I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (666)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

666. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if excess skin removal following bariatric surgery is classified as a medical or a surgical procedure. [45393/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Patient Safety

Ceisteanna (667, 681)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

667. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a group of persons as requested in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45403/18]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

681. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress he has made to date in progressing the adult safeguarding legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45477/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 667 and 681 together.

I understand that the Deputy is raising this important issue in the context of a recent Prime Time programme which was broadcast on 25 October. The Health Service Executive has advised that each of the current instances where some level of a restriction is in place will be reviewed. I welcome that decision.

I can assure you that my Department will be in direct contact with the individual concerned in response to her correspondence, which raises a number of issues.

From a policy perspective, I have taken a number of steps to ensure the voice of patients is embedded in the health service. I intend to appoint two patient advocates to the board of the Health Service Executive. Proposals for an independent Patient Safety Council are at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to bring proposals to Government very shortly.

In December 2017, the Government approved the development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector. The policy, when developed, will cover the public, voluntary and private health sector and will include proposals on collaboration, information-sharing and referral arrangements between the health sector and other key sectors, and will include appropriate underpinning legislation.

My Department submitted a detailed proposal to the Law Reform Commission requesting the inclusion of an examination of the law on adult safeguarding in its Fifth Programme of Law Reform.

Relevant stakeholders were recently invited to submit views on the themes to be covered when developing the health sector policy, to assist my Department in structuring the detailed policy drafting phase which will shortly commence, and will involve ongoing stakeholder consultation. My officials are in the process of putting these structures in place, with a view to:

- commencing the detailed policy drafting process phase in December;

- circulating a draft policy for public consultation by the second half of 2019;

- securing Government approval to detailed and costed policy proposals around the end of 2019; and

- introducing draft legislation to underpin the approved policy thereafter.

Two further major policy initiatives in relation to adult safeguarding in the health sector are under way. The completion by the HSE of a major review and revision of its national operational adult safeguarding policy is at an advanced stage and will be very important in informing my Department’s development of the national health sector policy and identifying possible policy or legislative gaps.

Joint national standards on adult safeguarding for relevant health and social care centres, which are being developed by the Health Information and Quality Authority and the Mental Health Commission, are also at an advanced stage.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (668)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

668. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason some multiple sclerosis patients are being asked to attend the accident and emergency unit in Cork University Hospital for an infusion of a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45411/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Medicinal Products Prices

Ceisteanna (669)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

669. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 18 October 2018, the members of the committee; the expected outputs of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45418/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Medicinal Products Availability

Ceisteanna (670)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

670. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if his officials are examining the new Scottish model of reviewing orphan drugs through the patient and clinician engagement model; if he will bring forward changes to the way in which the health technology assessment, HTA, process reviews orphan drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45419/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (671)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

671. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason Lyme disease is not included in the long-term illness scheme; the criteria for adding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45439/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The 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.

Disease Incidence

Ceisteanna (672)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

672. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve diagnostic screening and testing for Lyme disease here and to monitor and record data on all cases of Lyme disease and not just the more extreme form, that is, neuroborreliosis. [45440/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre of the Health Service Executive is responsible for the surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases such as Lyme disease. As the question relates to a service matter, I have referred this PQ to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Ceisteanna (673)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

673. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have applied for and been approved funding treatment for Lyme disease under the directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare scheme or the treatment abroad scheme. [45441/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Directive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Question No. 674 answered with Question No. 510.

Departmental Meetings

Ceisteanna (675)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

675. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of engagements, meetings or correspondence that each Minister of State in his Department has had with a person (details supplied) in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45460/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Each current Minister of State in my Department has confirmed that they have had no engagements, meetings or correspondence with the Chairman of the company in question.

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Ceisteanna (676)

John Brassil

Ceist:

676. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when a review will take place to determine the next steps for reimbursement of the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system; when he expects the review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45467/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (677)

John Brassil

Ceist:

677. Deputy John Brassil 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. [45470/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Hospitals Data

Ceisteanna (678)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

678. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of surgeries carried out on intersex infants in each of the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 in all hospitals to align the infant's genitals with chromosomal sex. [45471/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (679)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

679. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals of intersex infants for surgery abroad to align the infant's genitals with chromosomal sex made by clinicians in each of the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. [45472/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Data Protection

Ceisteanna (680)

James Lawless

Ceist:

680. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his policy on third-party access to patient data in the context of medical billing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45476/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I am of the view that all processing of patient data, including disclosure of and access to, must be necessary and proportionate and fully in compliance with the provisions of GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and any health related Regulations made under that Act. Under GDPR, transparency is now a core principle and health services providers should ensure that they have arrangements in place to meet that principle so that patients are aware of who may have access to their information and why, especially any third party access. That includes for billing purposes. My Department is currently finalising Regulations under section 36 of the Data Protection Act aimed at introducing further suitable and specific safeguards for the processing of personal data by health services providers.

My Department is also working on a new patient centred Health Information Policy and I plan to publish the results of the public consultation on the policy framework in the next couple of months.

Question No. 681 answered with Question No. 667.

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (682)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

682. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) will be examined. [45487/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Health Services Staff Data

Ceisteanna (683)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

683. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts for paediatric physiotherapists in County Laois; the length of time these posts have been vacant; and when they will be filled. [45488/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Diabetes Strategy

Ceisteanna (684)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

684. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent survey regarding whether funding for extra community-based podiatrists in County Kildare to support the diabetes community will be made available in the context of budget 2019; if his attention has been further drawn to the year-on-year increase in the number of persons with diabetes who underwent a lower-limb amputation in 2017 in County Kildare; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45489/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (685)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

685. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45492/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Question No. 686 answered with Question No. 522.