Written Answers Nos. 439-461
439. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in refunding the costs of a hip operation carried out in London on a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12155/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
440. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to the impact of the general data protection regulation and health research regulations on the ability to undertake clinical research; if researchers here are being put in a unique position which differs substantially from other European countries and may deprive persons here of timely access to potentially life-saving treatments and making Ireland less attractive to pharmaceutical companies engaged in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12160/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union wide regulation protecting citizens' personal data from improper use across the spectrum of recording, processing, usage and storage, to include data for health research. To this end, it is a welcome regulation, providing harmonisation across EU member states and protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of our populations. GDPR came into effect in May 2018, having provided all data controllers with a two-year lead-in phase to review processes and procedures of data protection.
The GDPR is not the first time that principles and requirements were set out for data protection in Ireland. There has been data protection legislation since 1988. In the previous legislation, informed consent was a key requirement for the processing of data for research purposes whereas in GDPR it is called explicit consent - the only difference in interpretation being that GDPR stresses that explicit consent must be clear and unambiguous and that a researcher must be able to provide evidence of the consent secured should they be asked to present it.
While both the GDPR and Ireland's subsequent Data Protection Act 2018 mentioned health research, both had a broader remit and specific regulations were required to provide clarity for health researchers. The Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) Regulations 2018 sought to provide safeguards for Article 9(2) of GDPR, providing certainty to the health research community with regard to processing of special categories of personal data and the necessity of obtaining explicit consent from individuals for their inclusion in health research. As such, the Health Research Regulations (HRR) provide a framework for current practices in this country that are standard, or at least are expected to be standard, and as such should not be onerous on the research community.
However, in highlighting that explicit consent should continue to be sought and secured for the purposes of processing personal data for health research purposes, the Department was very aware that there are situations which arise where securing consent is either impossible or impracticable for various reasons. Therefore, the HRR importantly contains an innovation in Irish law (the establishment of the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee- HRCDC) to directly address these situations where consent for a health research project is of significant public importance but where it is not possible to obtain consent. This is a major development that will certainly benefit those carrying out important health research who could not secure explicit consent, and it will provide them with a mechanism to put forward their proposal and to secure a lawful decision from the Committee.
Far from seeking to make Ireland a restrictive place to do research, the Minister and the Department of Health have repeatedly publicly stated the importance of health research to better patient care and treatment, the development of innovative and life-saving therapies and at a wider economic level to bringing in foreign investment and creating high skilled jobs. Ireland has a vibrant and growing research community, supported by significant investment by the Department of Health, and there are high levels of public support for, and trust in, health research conducted in Ireland. The purpose of the HRR is namely to promote the conduct of health research in Ireland aligned with best international practice, while at the same time maintaining and promoting public confidence in health research.
The long-term success of health research in any democratic society requires public confidence. Without that confidence, the necessary support for health research, especially in evolving and complex areas such as genomics or artificial intelligence, will not be forthcoming. Above all, the purpose of the HRR is, therefore, to promote the long-term success of health research in Ireland by ensuring that individual patients and the public generally can have confidence in how their sensitive health information is being used.
441. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders awaiting dental surgery at a clinic (details supplied); the number of medical card holders awaiting dental surgery at another clinic; the number of persons at both surgeries waiting more than six, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12165/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
442. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment; the waiting time for orthodontic treatment in the Galway region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12176/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
443. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the upgrade to Clonakilty Hospital in accordance with the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, regulations will proceed as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12181/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
444. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the upgrade to Skibbereen Hospital in accordance with the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, regulations will proceed as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12182/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
445. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the upgrade to Kinsale Hospital in accordance with the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, regulations will proceed as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12183/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
446. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the upgrade to Castletownbere Hospital in accordance with the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, regulations will progress as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12184/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
447. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if the upgrade to Dunmanway Hospital in accordance with the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, regulations will proceed as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12185/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
448. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot claim reimbursement for a drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12186/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
450. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the minimum staffing level for intermediate care operative grades in County Limerick; and the provisions that have been put in place to cover absences for the grade in the area. [12241/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
451. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason overtime for intermediate care operative grades in the national ambulance service in County Limerick has been discontinued; and the amount paid to private ambulances from 1 January to 31 December 2018 in County Limerick. [12242/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the queries raised by the Deputy relate to operational issues, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
452. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of interns in the national ambulance service that have used the emergency accommodation provided by the HSE for nursing staff of St. Marys Hospital in a location (details supplied) in the past five years. [12243/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
453. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if emergency accommodation is provided by the HSE for nursing staff of St. Marys Hospital at a location (details supplied) occupied by the national ambulance service DNL; and if so, the number of managers of the service who have used the accommodation facility in the past five years. [12244/19]
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.
454. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a vacancy for a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Mater child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in Dublin; if the position will be filled to facilitate the estimated 150 patients of the consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12249/19]
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.
455. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding primary care psychology for children in County Wexford; the number of children awaiting a primary care psychology appointment; the number waiting more than six, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12254/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
456. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a medical device (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12258/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
457. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if the drug Sativex is available for use by prescription in all HSE areas; if not, the HSE areas it is available in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
458. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his future plans for dermatological services at Letterkenny University Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these services were recently removed and relocated to Sligo University Hospital; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this decision has caused considerable disruption to those wishing to avail of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12305/19]
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.
459. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1195 of 20 June 2017, if he will provide the international benchmarking exercise used to compare the construction cost of the planned national children’s hospital with other hospitals built throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12310/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital and outpatient and urgent care centres.
Following evaluation by the NPHDB in early 2017 of main construction tenders and the selection of preferred contractors, the final cost of the design, build, and equipment programme for which the NPHD is responsible was €983m. At the time, an NPHDB post-tender exercise, led by quantity surveyors Linesight, benchmarked construction costs of the new children's hospital against construction costs for major acute hospitals internationally. That exercise demonstrated that construction elements of the project compared favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale.
Following completion of the second stage of the two-stage tender procurement process in November 2018, the capital project is now at €1.433n. Prior to concluding the Guaranteed Maximum Price process an international hospital construction costs benchmarking exercise, carried out by AECOM for the NPHDB, concluded that in terms of cost per sq.m, the new hospital was at the higher end but aligned with similar projects.
I have asked the NPHDB to respond to you directly regarding the benchmarked post tender construction costs exercise led by Linesight and the international hospital construction costs benchmarking exercise carried out by AECOM.
460. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the progress being made on offering the FreeStyle Libre device to diabetic patients over 21 years of age for free; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12313/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
461. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours provided by local health area to date in 2019; the number of hours to be targeted in 2019; the number of home help hours delivered in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12319/19]
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.
