Written Answers Nos. 521-529
521. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status and cost of development of management of really sick patients with anorexia nervosa, MARSIPAN, and management of really sick patients under 18 with anorexia nervosa, Junior MARSIPAN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12521/22]
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.
522. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the evaluation that has taken place of staff training and education needed for specialist eating disorder teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12522/22]
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.
523. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status and cost of developing telemedicine and virtual medicare for geographical areas of low density for persons with eating disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12523/22]
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.
524. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a review has been carried out of the national clinical programme for eating disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12524/22]
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.
525. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the proposed out-of-hours crisis café for mental health will have the option of self-referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12525/22]
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.
526. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of each community adult mental health service team by staff, funding and the number of referrals by community healthcare organisation, CHO, area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12526/22]
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.
527. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the crisis resolution team due to commence in the first quarter of 2022 (details supplied); the other sites or community healthcare organisation, CHO, areas that have been identified for pilot testing; when they are due to commence; the breakdown of staffing; the estimated cost for each crisis resolution team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12527/22]
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.
528. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if hearing aids are covered for a person (details supplied) given they have a full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12537/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
529. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current usage of Birr nursing home; and plans that are in place for optimal capacity to be utilised. [12547/22]
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.
530. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if provision has been made for an increased dietetic service for Wexford child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12576/22]
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.
531. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the vacant senior dietician post for Waterford and Wexford child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, has been filled from the national panel in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12577/22]
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.
532. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if an expression of interest to qualified external dietetic service providers has been made in order to fill the approved appointment of a senior dietician post for Waterford and Wexford child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12578/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
533. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an urgent cataract appointment at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12584/22]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
534. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will include all north Kerry child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, families in the upcoming audit of north Kerry CAMHS cases, as opposed to a sample of only 50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
535. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the south Kerry child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, review to facilitate the inclusion of an assessment of long-term harm, the ongoing disclosure of families and patients involved, the findings of the whistleblower and input from non-consultant hospital doctor one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12592/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis matter is of the upmost importance to me and the following are the steps I have taken in response to the report to satisfy myself, service users, and their families, with the standard of CAMHS services in general across the country, in the most timely and independent manner.
The full nationwide audit of compliance with existing CAMHS operational guidelines by all CAMHS teams is specific to CAMHS. I have written to the HSE to direct them to commence it immediately.
As well as this audit, the HSE is finalising the details of the further independent-led audit of case files in North Kerry.
I am in ongoing discussions on the independently-led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams, which I sought as an additional action, beyond the recommendations set out in the Maskey report. It is important to me that this audit is comprehensive and robust. It will cover community and inpatient teams and it will be independently led.
I have also requested that the CAMHS Experience Study by the HSE commence immediately so that no further time is lost.
The HSE committed to implementing the 35 recommendations of the Maskey report as quickly as possible. 6 have already been implemented with 13 having commenced implementation. It is a priority for me, and for Government, that all recommendations of the report are implemented as quickly as possible, including those relating to the specific issues raised by the Deputy.
In addition to these audits, the Mental Health Commission has commenced a separate review.
Finally, the Government has committed to a non-adversarial scheme for compensation for those children, young people and families affected by the report and the details of the operation of such a scheme are being finalised.
I am in regular contact with the HSE locally and nationally regarding supports for the children and young people involved. I met with a group representing the families last week when they travelled from Kerry. The HSE has assured me that it is in ongoing direct communication with the families. This follows the HSE writing to all of the young people to let them know what the review found in their care; meetings between families and the HSE to discuss the care deficits they received; and a verbal and written apology for any harm caused. Families and young people affected can still meet with the HSE, if they did not wish to previously, and the HSE helpline remains available.
536. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will request a public inquiry into Kerry child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12593/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI do not propose at this stage to establish a public enquiry in relation to Kerry CAMHS and the Maskey report. This matter is of the upmost importance to me and the following are the steps I have taken in response to the report to satisfy myself, service users, and their families, with the standard of CAMHS services in general across the country, in the most timely and independent manner.
A full nationwide audit of compliance with existing CAMHS operational guidelines by all CAMHS teams will be carried out. I have written to the HSE to direct them to commence this immediately.
As well as this audit, the HSE is finalising the details of the further independent-led audit of case files in North Kerry.
I am in ongoing discussions on the independently-led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams, which I sought as an additional action, beyond the recommendations set out in the Maskey report. It is important to me that this audit is comprehensive and robust. It will cover community and inpatient teams and it will be independently led.
I have also requested that the CAMHS Experience Study by the HSE commence immediately, so that no further time is lost.
In addition to these audits, the Mental Health Commission has commenced a separate review.
Finally, the Government has committed to a non-adversarial scheme for compensation for those children, young people and families affected by the report and the details of the operation of such a scheme are being finalised.
537. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the necessary resources requested by Kerry child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, families to develop a care plan for each child; if he will provide clarity on the resources that will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12594/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
538. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, resources in place in County Kerry compared to the recommended CAMHS resources per 12,500 population of children aged under 18 years as identified in A Vision for Change and A National Model of Care for Paediatric Healthcare Services in Ireland in each of the years 2014 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12595/22]
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.
539. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way capacity challenges at the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics can be addressed to avoid significant delays in the evaluation process of oncology medicines in Ireland through the reimbursement pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12596/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) was established in 1998. Its remit is to advise the HSE and the Department of Health in relation to the cost-effectiveness of medicines, through the carrying out of health technology assessments (HTAs).
The NCPE's workload has increased significantly in recent years, from fewer than 10 assessments per year in 2007 to 98 assessments in 2021. In addition, the complexity of individual assessments has increased.
Following an independent review of the NCPE's work in 2017, an additional €750,000 was allocated by the Minister for Health in 2018 to support the working of the NCPE, increasing its staffing from 10.5 to 20.5 WTEs.
The NCPE advises that cancer drugs account for 33% of the NCPE's rapid reviews and 50% of full Health Technology Assessments (HTAs). The average timelines for these are approximately 4 to 6 weeks for a rapid review and 158 days for full HTAs. Given the complexities involved in such assessments, these timelines can be considered within expectations.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving an application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.
