Written Answers Nos. 860-879
860. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to versatis patches being made available to persons with a medical card; the eligibility criteria for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3705/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Following a review, the HSE introduced a new system for the reimbursement of the lidocaine 5% medicated plaster (Versatis), which is licensed only for the localised relief of post-shingles pain in adults.
Patients are reviewed by the Medicines Management Programme (MMP) for reimbursement approval, on foot of an application by the patient’s clinician, through the HSE online system.
In exceptional circumstances, the product may be approved for supply for unlicensed uses.
If an application is refused, the clinician may make an appeal, making a clear clinical case for the patient to the MMP at mmp@hse.ie.
This process ensures the appropriate use of the patch and that post-shingles patients, and other patients as clinically appropriate, can continue to have this treatment.
861. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a new appointment date for a hip operation. [3719/20]
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.
865. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the status of promised funding for a centre (details supplied) for adults with mild and moderate disabilities; and if he will request the HSE and Pobal to restore funding to the service. [3744/20]
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.
866. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional respite places for children and adults will be provided in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3758/20]
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.
867. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be provided for a training centre (details supplied) in view of the increasing demand for additional places and the increase in costs over recent years in providing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3759/20]
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.
868. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of Dundalk primary care centre. [3761/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
869. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, premises in Dundalk which was to be operative in quarter 4 of 2019. [3762/20]
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.
870. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Louth waiting for occupational therapy initial assessments; and the length of time they have been waiting. [3763/20]
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.
871. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Louth waiting for occupational therapy interventions; and the length of time have they been waiting. [3764/20]
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.
872. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to groups working with persons in addiction in County Louth in each of the past five years. [3765/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
873. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if there is an unfilled position for a maintenance craftsperson electrical in Louth County Hospital; if so, the length of time there has been a vacancy; the person carrying out the role since the vacancy arose; the cost of same; the timeframe for filling the vacancy; the reason for the delay; the recruitment process for the position; if there are candidates ranked from an interview process that could fill the vacancy; and if there are other maintenance craftsperson positions in Louth County Hospital that are not filled. [3766/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
874. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a 16 year old must register in the adult accident and emergency department should he or she present to Tallaght University Hospital; the reason for the anomaly (details supplied); and the policy of the HSE regarding the age limit for children and adults for admission at accident and emergency departments in hospitals nationwide. [3769/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
875. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for a child seeking supports in the community health organisation, CHO, 7 catchment area; the key staff posts or personnel required to fill vacant positions; and the new measures being applied to deal with lengthening waiting times in view of the growing waiting list for children with profound speech and language difficulties in the CHO 7 area. [3770/20]
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.
876. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the waiting time to see a consultant dermatologist in St. James’s Hospital following an intervention by a general practitioner; if it can be a period of up to 19 months; and his views on safety concerns in relation to the long delay. [3771/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures.
Budget 2020 announced further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €75 million in 2019 to €100 million in 2020. The NTPF will work with the hospital system to provide additionality to improve access to inpatient/daycase treatment and with a particular focus on hospital outpatient services. In this regard, I would encourage all hospital groups and individual hospitals to engage with the NTPF to identify waiting list proposals this year.
The latest published National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures show that at the end of January there were 3,614 patients on the St. James Hospital dermatology outpatient waiting list. Of these, 48% (1,740) are waiting 6 months or less, 67% (2,408) are waiting 9 months or less and 83% (2,986) are waiting 12 months or less. The NTPF figures show that currently there are no patients waiting over 18 months.
The data requested by the Deputy regarding the dermatology outpatient waiting list at St. James Hospital, is outlined in the table below. The dermatology outpatient waiting list data for St. James Hospital is also publicly available on the NTPF website (www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.)
|
0-3 mths |
3-6 mths |
6-9 mths |
9-12 mths |
12-15 mths |
15-18 mths |
Total |
|
1,021 |
719 |
668 |
578 |
430 |
198 |
3,614 |
877. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an updated medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3791/20]
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.
878. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when provision will be made for a residential programme to be offered to children with profound sensory disabilities with particular reference for the need to address the concerns of parents who have tried on their own to cope; if arrangements will be made to ensure speech and language therapy will be offered without interruption to children with severe autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3792/20]
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.
879. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when ambulance transport will be restored to patients such as a person (details supplied); if the case will be reviewed urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3793/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
