Written Answers Nos. 407-426
407. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 310 of 19 November 2019, if an organisation (details supplied) will continue to provide services for children at a school in Waterford city; if not, the person or body that will be providing the service if it discontinues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51599/19]
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.
408. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of dental treatments offered to primary school children in circumstances in which children in sixth class in schools in areas of south-west County Cork have never been seen by a dentist and many are called after they leave primary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51600/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
409. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the recent report of a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51605/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday 3 December, the Aggregate Report of the Independent Clinical Expert Panel Review of CervicalCheck, led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, was published on the website of my Department.
The Expert Panel has concluded, based on its overall findings, that for many women who participated in this Review, screening undoubtedly saved their lives, that there is no doubt that the Programme has been successful and that it is working effectively, and that women can have confidence in the CervicalCheck Programme. This is very welcome reassurance in regard to our national cervical screening programme.
A key finding in the report is that, in the case of 308 or 29.8% of the participants, the Review disagreed with at least one of the individual’s original CervicalCheck slide results. Of these, there were 159 cases in which the Expert Panel felt an opportunity to prevent cancer or to detect cancer at an earlier stage may have been missed. The findings in this regard are reflective of the position, as stated by the Panel, that cervical cancer screening will fail to prevent 30-35% of cancers, even in well run programmes.
Colposcopy management was also reviewed in 106 cases, of which 27 were considered suboptimal. The Expert Panel noted that it was inevitable in a review such as this that a small number of cases would be found where practice was suboptimal but were clear that this should not be taken to conclude that colposcopic practice in the CervicalCheck programme is substandard.
I note the findings of the RCOG report in which the Expert Panel noted that colposcopy is an integral component of any cervical screening programme, that colposcopy management was in line with standard practice in the vast majority of cases reviewed and that the Review Team has said that women can have confidence in colposcopy services and in the Programme overall.
Clearly, screening failures have a serious and sometimes devastating impact on the lives of women and their families. The Expert Panel has stated that these are unfortunately inevitable given the limitations of cytology-based screening.
We must do all we can, therefore, to make cervical cancer a rare disease in Ireland. This can be done through a combination of screening and vaccination, together with strong uptake, and this is my priority. HPV vaccination has now been extended to boys as well as girls, and the HSE has committed to introducing HPV primary screening in Q1 next year.
The Report of the Expert Panel contains ten recommendations, and I have written to the HSE in regard to these.
410. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the recent resignation of the patient representative from the CervicalCheck steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51606/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatient representatives make a significant contribution on an ongoing basis to the work of the Department, the HSE and health agencies. In relation to CervicalCheck, the patient voice has been at the centre of the work underway to address the range of issues arising, and to implement the recommendations of Dr Scally's Scoping Inquiry. I received the resignation of one of the patient representatives on the CervicalCheck Steering Committee at the end of October. I have written to her to thank her for her work, perseverance and dedication and for ensuring the patient voice is at the centre of decision-making.
411. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to funding concerns in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; if representations have been made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51619/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) received an allocation of €15.972 million (revenue funding). This was an increase of €0.193m on its 2018 allocation.
The FSAI has indicated that its 2020 budget situation will be challenging, and it has made a request to the Department for additional funding in 2020. This is currently being considered within the Department as part of the finalisation of agency allocations for 2020.
412. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason it is necessary for applicants for psychotherapist posts to hold a social science degree and a degree in psychotherapy to qualify for psychotherapy posts. [51623/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
414. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a second consultant for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51630/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
415. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if the HSE ensures compliance with best practice in the provision of medical services by private contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51631/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
416. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if the HSE ensures compliance with best practice in the purchase of hyperbaric medicine services for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51632/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
417. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if HSE hospitals refer patients to non-compliant centres for hyperbaric medicine services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51633/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
418. 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. [51639/19]
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.
419. 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. [51640/19]
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.
420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for assistance for a hearing aid by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51641/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
421. 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. [51642/19]
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.
422. 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. [51643/19]
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.
423. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51644/19]
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.
424. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if the funding available to severe asthma centres for anti-IL5 inhibitor treatments will be increased in the HSE national service plan 2020, in view of recent reports of a significant shortfall in funding and large waiting lists for eligible patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51650/19]
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.
425. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of women that applied to join a group (details supplied) recently; the number that should have been included initially, that is, they met the criteria for joining; the reason they were not invited to join initially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51651/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 221+ Patient Support Group was set up in July 2018 to provide information, advice, and support to women who were found by the original CervicalCheck audit to have a discordant cytology result. 221+ has confirmed that women and next of kin identified as having discordant results through the RCOG Independent Review are also eligible for membership of that group. These were identified on completion of the RCOG review, as individual reports were communicated to women or their next of kin.
The Group is funded by my Department but is independent, and my Department does not hold details on the numbers who have applied to join.
426. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health when the HPV test will be launched for women nationwide; the reason the September 2018 and 2019 deadline for same was missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51652/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding to implement the switch to HPV screening was allocated in Budget 2019. The introduction of primary HPV screening is in line with developments in cervical screening internationally. Ireland will be among the first countries in the world to make this transition. The HSE has been engaging with other countries who have already made the switch – the Netherlands, and Australia - or who are preparing to do so, to identify learnings for the project across a range of workstreams including reconfiguration of laboratories, procurement, ICT and colposcopy services.
The HSE has committed to introducing HPV primary screening in Quarter 1 2020. While false negatives will continue to be an inherent part of screening, the introduction of HPV primary screening can be expected to reduce the number of false negatives. Together with HPV immunisation for both boys and girls, which is now in place, and good uptake of both screening and vaccination, it is a key element in ensuring that cervical cancer becomes a rare disease in Ireland.
