Written Answers Nos. 429-448
429. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if services at a location (details supplied) in County Galway will continue to operate from these premises; if patients from the town and surrounding areas will be seen in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2830/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
430. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the mental health service in Glenamaddy, County Galway operating at a location (details supplied) will continue to operate from these premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2831/19]
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.
431. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if parental alienation syndrome is recognised by the HSE and other statutory health and social care bodies and agencies; if not, his plans to have the syndrome recognised; the clinical and other pathways available to those affected by the condition in order to avail of appropriate supports and treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/19]
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
432. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2842/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is the pharmacy regulator in Ireland and is responsible for regulating pharmacists and pharmacies in the public interest. Several of the PSI’s functions under the Pharmacy Act 2007 relate to education, including promoting and ensuring the highest standards in education and training for the qualification to practise as a pharmacist, and make sure that relevant experience is gained in the course of that pharmacy education and training.
In 2010 the PSI commissioned a review of the five year programme of education and training for the pharmacist qualification in Ireland. One of the recommendations included the introduction of an integrated 5-year Masters level programme of education and training for pharmacists in line with international best practice, to replace the previous 4 year Bachelor plus 1 year in-service practical training programme.
A National Forum was established to advise and assist the Council of the PSI in its oversight of the development and ongoing delivery of the new fully integrated programme of pharmacy education, training and assessment. The National Forum for Pharmacy Education and Accreditation Interim Report of November 2013 noted that it was an essential component of the integrated degree that the student remain a student for the full five years of study. Under the previous model, students became employees during their final year.
Since September 2015, students commencing their pharmacy education undertake a PSI-accredited five-year fully integrated Master's degree programme in pharmacy, with the first cohort awarded this MPharm degree graduating in 2020. This programme is operated by the schools of pharmacy in three universities in Ireland (Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and Royal College of Surgeons Ireland).
This newer pharmacy programme provides for both the academic and practical experience that is required by students to qualify to practise as a pharmacist in Ireland. Students qualify after 5 years with a Masters in Pharmacy and are eligible to apply for registration as a pharmacist with the PSI.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Education and Training) (Integrated Course) Rules 2014 (S.I. No. 377 of 2014) is the legislation which underpins the new 5 year MPharm educational programme. It includes the programme recognition and accreditation requirements, and details about the in-service training placements for students.
Part of the PSI’s accreditation process involves visits to the universities operating the MPharm programme, which includes meeting with representative students at each School of Pharmacy. The accreditation teams assess the programme of training and education various standards, including one related to students and the supports available to students.
The PSI has stated that it will continue to engage with the academic institutions that deliver the MPharm programme and their role is to ensure the quality of the MPharm programme and high standards in education and training for the qualification to practise as a pharmacist.
433. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of infants who have used clinical milk supplies from Northern Ireland and the UK over the past five years; the contingency plan for access to milk bank supplies from the UK and Northern Ireland in the event of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2847/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question relates to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
434. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a letter of exceptional need will be provided to a person (details supplied) who requires it to pursue medical studies in the United States of America. [2849/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Letter of Exceptional Need issued on Thursday 17 January 2019.
435. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of plans regarding a community hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2850/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
436. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when the primary healthcare facility at a location (details supplied) will be opened; the services which will be provided in this centre; the persons who can attend this facility; the opening hours of the centre; the services which will be provided to the elderly, young children and those suffering with addiction problems; the cost of construction of the facility; the number to be employed in the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2864/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
437. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if there will be changes to the situation by which the HSE sends young children to the UK for certain treatments, such as eating disorders and psychiatric conditions, in view of the uncertainty in relation to Brexit; if this will cause delays in receiving treatment in the UK; and if children will have to be sent to other EU countries. [2867/19]
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.
439. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he has prepared plans to counteract delays to insulin delivery from Denmark should the UK landbridge be closed in the event that a no-deal Brexit occurs at the March 2019 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2879/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the whole of Government response to Brexit, my Department is working on a comprehensive and coordinated set of actions to ensure, as far as is possible, continuity of supply of medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Significant work has already been undertaken by the Department, the HSE, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), together with industry, to ensure that risks to the continuity of supply are mitigated to the greatest possible extent.
Both the HPRA and HSE have requested that medicines manufacturers and suppliers highlight any issues regarding the availability of specific products associated with Brexit - to date, no major issues have been identified through this process.
The HSE and HPRA are contacting the suppliers of certain products, such as medicines subject to cold storage, to ensure that contingency plans are in place for Brexit. The agencies are also working with the Revenue Commissioners to ensure that any delays at customs are minimised. In any event, the existing distribution system for medicines already holds sufficient stocks to help absorb any short-term supply delays.
The Government’s Contingency Action Plan for a no-deal Brexit outlines the wider approach to landbridge issues that may arise as a result of a no-deal Brexit.
440. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the home help co-ordinator based in a centre (details supplied) will be replaced as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/19]
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.
441. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason Versatis has been removed from the approved drug list; and if cost was the main factor in the decision. [2892/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key health service objective. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical evidence.
Lidocaine 5% medicated plasters are licensed for localised relief of post-shingles pain in adults. This is the patch's only licensed use in Ireland. It has been reimbursed in the community drug schemes since 2010.
Clinical concern arose as usage increased significantly, to the point where more plasters were being used in Ireland than in the entire UK National Health Service. In such situations, it is important and appropriate for clinicians to review usage and, in 2016, the HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) reviewed the use of the plasters. The review estimated that only 5-10% of prescribing was for the licensed indication.
From September 2017, following the clinical review, the HSE introduced a new reimbursement approval system for the patches, to support appropriate use and patient care. Under these arrangements, the patient's GP or consultant applies to the MMP for reimbursement approval on behalf of the patient. If an application is refused, the clinician may submit an appeal to the MMP, making a clear clinical case for the patient. Information for patients and practitioners is on the HSE MMP website at: hse.ie/yourmedicines.
The outcome of an application or an appeal for reimbursement of lidocaine patches is a matter between the MMP and the treating clinician. The Deputy will appreciate that, as Minister for Health, I cannot intervene in individual cases.
The decision to introduce a new reimbursement approval process for a particular treatment is a matter for the HSE. However, I fully support the objectives of the HSE Medicines Management Programme.
444. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of a shared diabetes centre of excellence between Letterkenny University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2904/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
445. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the access persons with type 1 diabetes attending Letterkenny University Hospital have to psychology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2905/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
446. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the staffing details of a team in a hospital (details supplied); if the members of the team are permanent posts; if there are vacancies on the team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2909/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
447. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the status of the new diabetes centre at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2912/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
448. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a diabetic dietician in Sligo University Hospital; his plans to appoint an additional diabetic dietician for the purpose of ensuring the Berger programme is operating for all who require it without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2922/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
