Written Answers Nos. 346-364
346. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of women on the gynaecology outpatient waiting list; the number awaiting surgery; the length of time each woman is waiting by six-monthly intervals; the number of surgeries completed in each year since 2007, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15327/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular queries raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
347. 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. [15330/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
348. 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. [15331/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
349. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations on the new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15351/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra366. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when it is expected a new general practitioner contract will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15504/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 366 together.
Talks between the State and the IMO on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the current GMS contract resumed in October 2018.
There has been intensive engagement in recent weeks which has resulted in good progress being made, however there are a number of issues that remain to be clarified.
Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual reform would provide substantial benefits for patients and facilitate a very significant increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multi-annual basis.
In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in position to give further details while engagement between the parties is under way.
350. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the care of a person (details supplied) who re-registered late with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15353/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maintenance of the register of nurses and midwives is a matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). I have asked the NMBI to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
351. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for an ASD assessment with west Limerick children services; the number of children assessed to date in 2019 (details supplied); the expenditure in this area for 2019; his plans to bring improvements in the assessment process to reduce the time children have to wait to be assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15375/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
352. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if his Department has undertaken procurement processes regarding consultancy agencies, media or otherwise, to assist it with formulating or contributing to policy messaging on social media or videos relating to departmental strategies or policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15391/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has not undertaken procurement in relation to consultancy agencies to assist with formulating policy messaging on social media or videos. The Department produces its policy messaging for social media internally.
Healthy Ireland undertook a procurement process for the development of an overall strategy on the use of social media. This was provided by the Digital Training Institute - the cost was €7,010. The services provided included:
1) The development of a Healthy Ireland Social Media Communications Strategy
2) Provision of a workshop on Social Media for local authority staff working on the Healthy Cities and Counties project, which promotes comprehensive local strategies for health protection and sustainable development.
353. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the way in which his Departmental officials have been contributing to and taking part in Government of Ireland social media messages; the way in which they are coordinated in each of the policy areas of his Department; the Department that is the lead Department in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15408/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health’s social media channels have supported the ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’ campaign which includes ‘Government of Ireland’ branding. The Department of the Taoiseach is the lead Department on this campaign. We also share @MerrionStreet messages where applicable to the Department.
354. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the way in which families are kept involved and informed when a family member enters mental health services (details supplied). [15423/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware and acknowledge that patient outcomes tend to be better where families and/or carers are involved in the development of the patient's care and treatment plan. However, patient confidentiality is also important, and some service users do not welcome or consent to this approach and health professionals must respect their wishes unless there is an immediate concern of risk to the individual or others.
Last year, the HSE’s Mental Health Services Division published a very useful document in this regard titled the ‘Family, Carer and Supporter Guide’. One of the reasons for this Guide is to highlight the benefits for service users, their families and supporters and service providers of dealing with the issue of confidentiality in a constructive manner that can hopefully be helpful to all. The guide acknowledges that a service user’s views can vary at different points in his or her care and the HSE recognises that it is important to have conversations with both the service user and the family from the start, and continuing throughout the period of care, about the different factors that need to be taken into consideration about sharing information. This guide is available on the mental health service page of the HSE’s website.
In addition to the above, it is also importance to mention the following:
- the Medical Council's existing Ethical Guide allows a doctor to ethically breach confidentiality if the doctor believes that a patient is at risk of harming himself/herself or others,
- the Expert Group Review of the Mental Health Act 2001 in its 2015 Report recommended that there should be greater ‘proactive encouragement for the patient at all stages to involve his/her family/carer and/or chosen advocate in the admission process and in the development of the care and treatment plan with the patient’s consent’,
- the Mental Health Commission's ‘Code of Practice on Admission, Transfer and Discharge to and from an Approved Centre’ draws particular attention to the need to encourage residents in approved centres to involve their families in their care - this is an issue that the Commission has also raised with the health professional bodies that they deal with,
- it is expected that family involvement in mental health services and planning will also feature in the refreshed Vision for Change Mental Health Policy, which is due to be finalised in the coming weeks, and
- I also understand that the College of Psychiatry of Ireland will shortly issue ethical guidelines to members which will include some points on the general issue of family members involvement on treatment and care which must be considered in the context of an individual’s right to confidentiality.
355. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to make provision in regulations or law to allow pharmaceutical assistants who qualified before 1978 to continue working as heretofore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15424/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pharmacy Act 2007 established the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and the functions of the Society are set out in the Act. The functions of the PSI are carried out on its behalf by the Council of the Society.
Section 30 of the Pharmacy Act 2007 provides for an exception to the general provision in the Act which requires the sale and supply of medicines at a pharmacy to be conducted under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist and specifies that no offence is committed where a registered pharmaceutical assistant “acts on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the temporary absence of the registered pharmacist”.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2019 were developed by the PSI in accordance with Section 30 of the Pharmacy Act 2007, which also permits the Council to make rules as to:
1. What may or may not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist; and
2. What constitutes the temporary absence of a registered pharmacist.
On 08 March 2019, the PSI submitted the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2019 to me for my consent, in accordance with the requirements of the Pharmacy Act 2007.
Under the Pharmacy Act 2007, my role in relation to this process is limited to the consideration of any such Rules once submitted for my consent.
As the Rules submitted to me are currently subject to legal challenge and I am a party to the proceedings I will not be commenting further on the matter.
356. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide free IVF treatment to those who have a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15427/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2017, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research, based on the published General Scheme. The process of drafting this Bill will be completed in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. In addition, the Joint Committee on Health is currently conducting a review of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January of last year. The review is ongoing and the Joint Committee intends to report thereon before the summer recess. However, it is not possible at this time to give a definitive timeline for the completion of the draft Bill and its subsequent passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Interlinked with the legislation, officials in my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, are developing a model of care for infertility and an associated public fund for AHR. This work includes developing proposals on the allocation for a €1 million fund for use in relation to providing public AHR treatment during 2019 that was announced by the Taoiseach in December 2018.
The development of a model of care for infertility will help to ensure the provision of safe, effective and accessible services through the public health system as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology. Once the funding proposals have been submitted and approved by Government, there will be an announcement regarding the commencement of this fund. As such no specific decision has been made at this time in relation to the parameters of any potential public funding model, including what eligibility criteria may be included.
While AHR treatment is not currently funded by the Irish Public Health Service there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility i.e. Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
357. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if respite care services will be provided in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15433/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
358. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the charging of medical card holders for the taking of bloods by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15435/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Notwithstanding this, I am aware that some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances.
This is a matter of concern for me as it has long been the position, under successive Governments, that no user charges should apply to GP services provided to GMS and GP visit card patients. If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office.
359. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the value to each hospital of the car parking charges system in tabular form; the amount raised from car parking charges if the system is under the hospital control; and the amount made in payment from a private operator if the system is privatised. [15441/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of car parking charges systems in each hospital which are run by the hospitals and private companies; the status of the contractual agreement with the private companies; and when these contracts lapse. [15442/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.
As theses queries are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
361. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his Department has an operating language scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003; and the date when such a scheme was introduced. [15493/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has a Language Scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003 which covers the period 2015-2018 and which is currently under review. A public consultation process for a new Language Scheme to cover the period 2019-2022 has been completed and the Department is finalising its new scheme taking account of the results of this consultation and a review of the commitments in the current scheme in order to identify areas for future enhancement. Following the finalisation of the Department’s new language scheme once considered by the Management Board and the Minister for Health, it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
362. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15500/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
363. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
364. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when he plans to publish the review of the system for setting up nursing home prices under the nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15502/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Report of the NHSS Review published in 2015 identified a number of issues for more detailed consideration, including a review of the pricing mechanism used by the NTPF, with a view to:
- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;
- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.
A Steering Group was established to oversee and manage the pricing review. The Steering Group is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). As part of its work on the review the NTPF sought various inputs including external expertise and stakeholder engagement to inform the review. These inputs are being considered in detail.
I understand that the NTPF is now close to completing the report and it is expected that the Steering Group will be provided with a final draft very shortly. Once complete the report of the review will then be submitted to the Department of Health.
It is recognised that any change to any part of the Scheme must be considered in terms of the short- and long-term impact on the viability of the Scheme and accessibility of long-term residential care in general. It is therefore important that the relevant issues are considered thoroughly through the review process.
