Wednesday, 6 Mar 2019

Written Answers Nos. 167-191

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (167)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

167. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11038/19]

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.

Medicinal Products Supply

Ceisteanna (168, 169, 170, 171)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

168. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health when Spinraza treatment will be rolled out to persons with spinal muscular atrophy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11045/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

169. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that Spinraza is made available to persons with spinal muscular atrophy here. [11048/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

170. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to date in relation to ongoing requests by persons with spinal muscular atrophy and their families to have Spinraza made available. [11049/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

171. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to assist persons with spinal muscular atrophy. [11050/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 171, inclusive, together.

The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

The Act specifies the criteria to be applied in the making of reimbursement decisions which include the clinical and cost effectiveness of the product, the opportunity cost and the impact on resources that are available to the HSE.

I am advised by the HSE that an application for the reimbursement of Nusinersen (Spinraza) was considered by HSE Leadership at its meeting on 12 February 2019.

Following detailed consideration of the application, the HSE Leadership made the decision that it was unable to recommend reimbursement of Spinraza and concluded that the evidence for clinical effectiveness is still quite limited and that the current price proposed by the manufacturer was not a cost-effective use of resources.

The HSE has written to the company involved and informed them of the proposal to refuse reimbursement at the current price offering. Under the requirements of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the company now has 28 days to respond or make representations to the HSE’s proposed decision.

The HSE remains open to considering any new evidence or information which emerges regarding the clinical effectiveness or price of this medicine.

Nursing Staff Data

Ceisteanna (172)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of agency nurses employed at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [11051/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Nursing Staff Data

Ceisteanna (173)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

173. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of agency nurses employed at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore from 1 January to 31 December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (174)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service has embarked on a process of converting ambulances with excessive mileage that have been withdrawn from front-line service to emergency equipment carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11053/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to reply you directly.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (175)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

175. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the cost involved in converting ambulances with excessive mileage to emergency equipment carriers. [11054/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (176)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

176. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the possibility of purchasing modern vehicles for use as equipment carriers was explored; and the cost of this particular option. [11060/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (177)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

177. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason the decision to use ambulances with excessive mileage as equipment carriers was deemed appropriate; and the factors that influenced this decision. [11061/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (178)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

178. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the maintenance costs by year for the use of ambulances with excessive mileage as equipment carriers. [11062/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Air Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (179, 180, 181)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns that four of the five helicopters in use for interhelicopter transfers are not capable of landing on the rooftop of the new national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11063/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the aviation providers were consulted in the design process of the new national children's hospital. [11064/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

181. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding night-time helicopters being unable to land on the proposed helipad at the new national children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11065/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 181, inclusive, together.

There will be an elevated helipad at the new children's hospital, which will have direct and rapid access to the critical care, theatre and emergency departments within the hospital. This enhanced direct and rapid access will improve clinical outcomes for the sickest children and young people.

The helipad at the new children's hospital has been designed in close consultation with the National Ambulance Service Aeromedical Liaison Service who are responsible for providing helicopter services to hospitals. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) also consulted with the Irish Aviation Authority and the Air Corps who are the primary provider of paediatric helicopter services to the National Ambulance Service. At the time of application the Air Corps confirmed to the NPHDB that they are capable of providing night time landings.

The NPHDB has also advised that, when reviewing the alternatives with the Irish Aviation Authority and the Air Corps, they recommended against a ground helipad due to the constrained flight paths and obstacle clearance. Use of elevated landing sites on the roof of hospitals is widespread in the UK and Europe and many of the recently completed paediatric hospitals have elevated helipads.

The Air Corps is the primary provider of paediatric helicopter services to the National Ambulance Service. Air Corps helicopters comprising Augusta Westland AW139 can land on a raised landing site or the roof of a building which is designed and certified for such operations. The Irish Coast Guard provides reserve support to the National Ambulance Service, when required, through its Sikorsky S92 search and rescue fleet primarily for search and rescue missions. The Sikorsky S92 helicopters are not licensed to land on helipads and, for access to the St. James's Campus, will land in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham from which patients will be transferred in an ambulance by road, as is current practice.

The majority of patient transfers to the three Dublin children’s hospitals are completed by road. In any major emergency rescue in a rural area, a Sikorsky Helicopter will bring the patient to the nearest regional hospital for stabilisation resulting in an appropriately planned transfer to the new children’s hospital.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (182, 183)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

182. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason there are still only two ambulance controls in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11066/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

183. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand the number of ambulance controls in Dublin city. [11067/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.

I have no plans to expand the number of ambulance control centres in Dublin.

Currently, we have two separate ambulance control centres in Dublin; the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) control room in Townsend Street and the HSE National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght. Our current call taking arrangements represents an unacceptably high patient safety risk and can give rise to delays in the allocation of ambulance resources to patients, including in potentially life-threatening situations.

Since the 1990s several reports have raised concerns about the existence of two separate ambulance call and dispatch centres in Dublin. In line with recommendations set out in these reports, Dublin City Council and the HSE have proposed the transfer of all DFB ambulance call taking and dispatch functions to the National Emergency Operations Centre, such that all such services across the state are consolidated in one centre. This issue is currently the subject of a mediation process between Dublin City Council and DFB staff associations.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (184)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

184. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on private ambulances at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore from 1 January to 31 December 2018. [11068/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (185)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on private ambulances at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise from 1 January to 31 December 2018. [11069/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Ambulance Service Staff

Ceisteanna (186, 187, 188, 189)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

186. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount paid out by the HSE to members of the ambulance service in the past 15 years in relation to alleged bullying cases. [11070/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

187. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of alleged bullying cases made to the HSE by ambulance personnel over the past 15 years. [11071/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of alleged bullying cases made to the HSE by male ambulance personnel over the past 15 years. [11072/19]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

189. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of alleged bullying cases made to HSE by female ambulance personnel over the past 15 years. [11073/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 189, inclusive, together.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Ambulance Service Staff

Ceisteanna (190)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

190. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of stage 2 and 3 grievances pursued by ambulance personnel who were dealt with under the grievance procedure in the timeframe set out by the HSE over the past 15 years. [11074/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (191)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an additional morning hour will be approved in the case of a person (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11080/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.