Written Answers Nos. 304-317
304. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if appropriate measures will be taken to prevent persons who are drunk causing noise and disturbance in emergency departments; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these persons create difficulties for hospital staff and other patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20475/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 aims to reduce consumption of alcohol in Ireland. On 1 November, I signed an order to commence 23 of the 31 sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 which includes initiatives to be rolled out over the next 2 years aimed at restricting alcohol advertising, in particular, in locations where children and young people could be exposed to it.
Improving the quality of care provided to patients and the working environment for staff is a key priority. The HSE is committed to ensuring that patients and staff are treated with dignity and respect at all times.
In relation to the particular query raised about measures being taken in hospital Emergency Departments, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
305. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the admissions figures to Beaumont Hospital emergency department on the weekend of 6 and 7 April 2019; the number of doctors on duty per shift; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that patients in a serious condition requiring surgery were waiting over 12 hours for an initial consultation by a doctor and were left waiting in the reception area of the emergency department on hard plastic chairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20476/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
This is a very busy period for our health services, with many hospitals reporting significant numbers of patient attendances. For the first quarter of 2019, the number of patients attending hospital EDs increased by 7.6%, and the number of ED admissions increased by 4.7% compared to the same period last year.
However, despite the significant increase in demand, our health services have managed better this winter than in previous years. While any patient on a trolley is a patient too many, figures from the HSE have shown a very significant reduction in the number of patients waiting on hospital trolleys so far this year.
In relation to the specific information requested, I have asked the HSE to provide this to the Deputy directly.
306. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if he has been requested to meet Rehab over the past 12 months; the dates these requests came in; if a meeting took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20489/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives.
I want to acknowledge the important services provided by Rehab and the commitment of staff to people with disabilities and their families.
I am informed that Rehab wrote to my Government colleague, Minister Harris on 17 September 2018, 08 April 2019, 19 April 2019 and 06 May 2019. Minister Harris and I agreed that we would meet Rehab at an appropriate time, pending an ongoing process between Rehab and the HSE.
Minister Harris and I held a joint meeting on Tuesday 07 May last, with Rehab and the HSE. Rehab and the HSE committed to working together intensively with a view to making substantive progress in reaching a solution to the issues.
A further meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow, 15 May.
Our collective aim is to ensure service continuity for service users and their families.
307. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) will have to wait for an orthopaedic appointment at Croom Hospital in view of the fact they have been waiting four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20498/19]
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.
308. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) will have to wait for an assessment of needs with the Blackberry Park team in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20499/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra309. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) will have to wait for a child psychology appointment with the Blackberry Park team in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20500/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.
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.
310. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 18 April 2019, when a reply will issue from the HSE. [20514/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has been informed that the Health Service Executive issued a response on 08.05.2019.
311. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health when the last unannounced inspection carried out by HIQA at St. Mary's Hospital nursing home, Drogheda, took place; the staff-patient ratio at the hospital; the mechanisms in place to ensure the implementation of each individual patient care plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20529/19]
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.
312. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the position regarding reimbursement of the drug, Spinraza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20539/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Oireachtas put in place a strong legal framework, in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, to give full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on reimbursement of medicines, taking account of a range of objective factors and expert opinion as appropriate.
In the case of Spinraza, following detailed consideration of an application for reimbursement and lengthy engagement with the company, the HSE decided that it was unable to reimburse Nusinersen (Spinraza). The HSE concluded that the evidence for clinical effectiveness was still quite limited and that the price proposed by the manufacturer was not a cost-effective use of resources.
On 21 February 2019, the HSE wrote to the manufacturer 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 had 28 days to respond or make representations to the HSE’s proposed decision.
I am advised by the HSE that the manufacturer submitted additional information and that the matter remains under consideration by the HSE.
313. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review of nursing home prices as per the nursing home support scheme; his plans to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20540/19]
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. 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.
I understand that the NTPF has now completed its report and the Steering Group has completed its consideration of it. It is expected that the Report will be submitted to the Department shortly. Any recommendations included in the report will then be considered.
314. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding negotiations concerning the revised general practitioner contract; if negotiations cover the duties of general practitioners to attend to care needs of nursing home residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20542/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am happy that we have been able to conclude an agreement with the IMO on a major package of GP contractual reforms which will benefit patients and general practitioners, and make general practice a more attractive career option for doctors.
Agreement has been reached on the provision of new services, including a structured chronic disease programme, commencing in 2020, which will benefit over 430,000 medical card and GP visit card patients. A wide-ranging set of modernisation measures has also been agreed in the areas of eHealth, medicines management and multidisciplinary working.
There will be increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas. Improvements in the maternity and paternity leave arrangements have also been agreed, in recognition of the need to ensure that general practice is compatible with doctors’ family friendly commitments.
Under 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 medical services provided under the contract.
GPs contracted by the HSE under the GMS scheme are obliged to provide services to their medical card and GP visit card patients, including those resident in nursing homes. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. Currently, an annual capitation payment of €434.15 is payable in respect of each GMS patient over 70 years of age residing in a private nursing home approved by the HSE for periods in excess of 5 weeks.
The recent phase of talks with GP representatives did not specifically address the provision of services to residents of nursing homes but focussed on the development of a range of modernisation, reform and sustainability measures for GMS and GP visit card patients. Along with most other capitation rates, the nursing home rate will increase by approximately 48% over the next 4 years, under the recent agreement.
315. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no CAMHS clinics held in Clifden, west Connemara, County Galway; the reason all persons who wish to avail of this service from the area have to make a round trip of 200 km for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20572/19]
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.
316. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide extra funding to the HSE western region for the provision of full-time residential care for persons with severe intellectual disabilities in view of the shortage of places in the region for such care and the unfair burden being placed on families that require this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20573/19]
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.
317. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the speech therapy services available in An Cheathrú Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe, to children resident in the south Connemara area at present; his plans to augment these services in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20575/19]
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.
