Alan Kelly
Ceist:164. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments cancelled in January 2017, 2018 and 2019 by week and hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7486/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospitals Data
Ceisteanna (164)
Freagraí scríofa
Maintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
In relation to the information requested by the Deputy, as this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
National Children's Hospital Expenditure
Ceisteanna (165)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:165. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the date the European Investment Bank was informed of the increased cost of the national children’s hospital project; if the cost estimate presents a difficulty in terms of the EIB loan for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7487/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On the 9th January 2019 my Department wrote to the National Treasury Management Agency in order that they formally update the European Investment Bank in relation to the increased costs and completion dates of the new children’s hospital and associated outpatient and urgent care centres project.
My Department is keeping the European Investment Bank apprised of the position in relation to the project as agreed between all parties to the loan.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Ceisteanna (166)
John Brady
Ceist:166. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the stage plans are at for the new primary healthcare centre in Arklow, County Wicklow; the timeframe for the completion of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7489/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
EU Programmes
Ceisteanna (167, 168)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:167. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason Ireland participated in the DEMOCOPHES pilot biomonitoring project but did not continue on to the EHBMI-HBM4EU human biomonitoring initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7490/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Martin
Ceist:168. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason Ireland is not monitoring the level of chemicals in the population via the EHBMI-HBM4EU human biomonitoring initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7491/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.
This is a matter for the HSE so I have referred the question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
Home Help Service Provision
Ceisteanna (169)
Martin Ferris
Ceist:169. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if extra home help hours will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (170)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:170. 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. [7505/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (171)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [7508/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (172)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the person or body families should contact in an emergency situation when they are unable to care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7518/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
The Programme for 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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (173)
Clare Daly
Ceist:173. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has been denied an inpatient place in a facility on the basis of being dependent on alcohol despite having been referred there by the child's psychiatrist. [7526/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
National Children's Hospital Expenditure
Ceisteanna (174)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:174. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the possible inflationary pressures that may result in the final build cost of the national children’s hospital rising further taking the current gross maximum price of €1.433 billion as the base; the details of the contract terms relating to the treatment of costs associated with sectoral employment orders and hyperinflation as defined in the contract; if the €1.433 billion includes a provision for construction inflation or other inflation; if so, the potential for further percentage and nominal increases that could impact on the final build cost; the reason provided for in the contract that could result in the build cost rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7529/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are clearly defined procedures around the recovery of excessive tender inflation in relation to the build cost for this project. The Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) procurement process agreed with the contractors requires the contractors to take all risk for quantities following completion of the GMP process, and limits their recovery of additional costs incurred by them to clearly defined scope changes and in excess of 4% inflation (as per the average of three published tender price indices) which may occur post July 2019.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board has also identified as a potential risk the industry-wide Sectoral Employment Order which was introduced in 2017. The independent review underway into the cost escalation associated with the new children's hospital construction project, as part of its Terms of Reference, will comment on the major residual risks and the robustness/completeness of the current forecasts and, where possible, quantify those risks contractually excluded from the GMP/adjusted contract sum. This review is expected to be completed by the end of March 2019.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Ceisteanna (175)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to provide a drug (details supplied) under the GMS in view of its reported efficacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7533/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
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.
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.
The NCPE competed a health technology assessment on 29 August 2018 for Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). They recommended that Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments.
On 4 October 2018 the NCPE completed their assessment for Ocrelizumab indicated for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). They did not recommend that Ocrelizumab be reimbursed for this indication.
The HSE is the statutory decision-making body for medicine reimbursement. It will make the final decision on whether Ocrelizumab will be reimbursed, taking into consideration the statutory criteria in the 2013 Act.
Finally I wish to advise the Deputy that as Ocrelizumab is administered by intravenous infusion it would only be available in a hospital setting and not under the General Medical Services Scheme.
Hospitals Capital Programme
Ceisteanna (176)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:176. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated in the 2019 capital plan for the 50-bed ward block at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7546/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 and beyond having regard to the available capital funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway and the relevant priority of each project. The requirements of the new children's hospital and other health capital projects, currently at various stages of development, are being considered as part of this process. Once the HSE has finalised its Capital Plan for 2019, it will then be submitted to me for consideration.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to the current position in relation to the development of a new ward block at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (177)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:177. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7547/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (178)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a second medical option can be sought or offered in the case of the daughter of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7551/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.