Tuesday, 28 May 2019

Written Answers Nos. 290-307

Employment Rights

Ceisteanna (290)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

290. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 19 January 2011 and the response of the HSE, the actions taken by his Department and the HSE to resolve the issues raised; if he is satisfied that the investigation undertaken that the employment rights of a person (details supplied) were honoured and protected by the HSE; if his Department reviewed the findings; if he will take further action to resolve all matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22759/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Health Insurance

Ceisteanna (291)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

291. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason private health clinics are seeking details of both private health insurance in addition to medical card details from persons who hold both; his views on whether the seeking of the information by them means they are claiming twice for patients with medical cards and private insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22770/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

My understanding is that the Deputy is referring to the administration of patient registration and admission in public hospitals.

The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient and out-patient hospital services including consultant services. All persons, irrespective of illness/condition, accessing public in-patient or out-patient services in a public hospital are liable for the relevant statutory charges, subject to a number of exemptions, including where a person is a medical cardholder.

Persons can opt to be treated privately on admission to a public hospital, irrespective of whether or not they have private health insurance. Private patients are liable for the consultants fees and hospital charges arising for that episode of care, whether paid for directly by the patient or by a health insurer on a patient's behalf.

As the matters raised by the Deputy relate to management of the patient administration system within public hospitals, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (292)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

292. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for reimbursement under the cross-border directive by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22775/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (293)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

293. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the 15 additional posts in disability services for children in the south east community healthcare area that have been secured to improve access and assessments by county (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22781/19]

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.

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Ceisteanna (294)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

294. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for reimbursement under the cross-border directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22782/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Home Care Packages Administration

Ceisteanna (295)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

295. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of a home support application by a person (details supplied); if their local public health nurse has been in contact to update and communicate with them in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22803/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Administration

Ceisteanna (296)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

296. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied). [22804/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of 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 and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Ceisteanna (297)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

297. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 788 of 8 May 2019, the reason the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, MBI, does not have an in-house legal team to deal with fitness to practise and other everyday legal issues at the organisation in view of the fact that the organisation spent approximately €7 million on legal costs and fees between 2016 and early 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22823/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter I have referred it to the NMBI for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (298)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

298. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [22825/19]

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.

HSE Complaints Procedures

Ceisteanna (299)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

299. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints lodged with the HSE in relation to University Hospital Limerick in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22826/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Home Care Packages Provision

Ceisteanna (300)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

300. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health when an approved increase in home support will be in place for a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22829/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Departmental Policy Reviews

Ceisteanna (301)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

301. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the contraception working group within his Department which was due to commence in April 2019 will commence; if a chair and members have been appointed; if finalised terms of reference have been agreed; the stakeholders that will be engaged with; and when they will be engaged with. [22830/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Department of Health Working Group to examine the policy, regulatory and legislative issues related to improving access to contraception commenced its work on 30 April. The group, including the Chair, is comprised of officials from the relevant policy areas within the Department.

The group is working to a mandate agreed by the Minister to -

- Conduct a rapid review of the literature on contraception and associated issues;

- Examine the extent to which cost is a barrier to accessing reliable methods of contraception in Ireland and to consider whether there are other factors influencing access to contraception;

- Consider mechanisms to address any access issues identified;

- Consult with relevant stakeholders; and

- Make recommendations on the optimal policy options and next steps.

The group is currently developing its approach to stakeholder consultation. It is intended that the Group will report back to the Minister by end-September.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (302, 303, 304)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

302. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if a third party reviewer of the drugs approval and procurement process has been appointed; if so, the name of the reviewer; and if they have commenced their work. [22831/19]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

303. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the review of the drugs approval and procurement process will have a consultation with clinicians, patients or industry. [22832/19]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

304. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the review of the drugs approval and procurement process will include specific recommendations. [22833/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 to 304, inclusive, together.

The Department recently completed a tender process for a review of the HSE reimbursement and pricing decision-making process. Mazars has been appointed as the consultancy firm to complete this review.

The review is expected to be completed within three months of commencement and consideration will be given, in due course, to publication of a final report.

Although it is not specifically included in the terms of reference, consideration will be given to consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The review will make recommendations, as considered appropriate, in respect of any required improvements to the HSE’s systems, structures, processes, governance arrangements or use of specialist resources in respect of the review.

In making its recommendations, the review will have regard to best practice regarding the procurement of medicines, the conduct of high-value commercial negotiations, governance, organisational structures, skill-mix and oversight.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (305)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

305. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reduce unnecessary energy consumption in buildings and the carbon dioxide emissions that accompany same in view of the range of buildings across the health service and the number of employees in the health service. [22834/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy, all public bodies are required to take action to assess and improve their energy usage and efficiency.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a matter concerning energy savings across the health service (buildings and health service employees), I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Hospitals Policy

Ceisteanna (306)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

306. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if officials in his Department or the HSE are working with vendors and suppliers to ensure that all products which hospitals purchase are as environmentally friendly as possible from medical supplies to printer paper. [22835/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (307)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

307. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22844/19]

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.