Written Answers Nos. 426-447
426. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was referred on 22 December 2022, will receive a date for assessment with regard to surgical management of cataracts. [23611/24]
View answerUnder 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.
427. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a primary care appointment for a child (details supplied). [23644/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
428. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a primary care appointment for a child (details supplied). [23654/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
429. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the date on which the change to the availability of post-partum services in CUH was reduced from parents of a child aged up to ten months down to four months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23656/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
430. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of parents of children aged between four to ten months were on the list when the change to the availability of post-partum services in CUH was introduced; and if these parents received an appointment. [23657/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
431. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of parents who availed of post-partum services in CUH in 2022 and 2023 who had a child aged between four to ten months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23658/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
432. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the extent of the waiting list for post-partum services in the CUH; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23659/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
433. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the dental practices within Westmeath which now accept medical card patients. [23660/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
434. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Clare who are signed up to the dental treatment services scheme for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23666/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
435. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 640 of 8 May 2024, if he will list all the preparatory steps which are required prior to commencement of the Public Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023; and if he will offer a progress report in respect of each of these steps. [23668/24]
View answerThe Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 provides a legislative framework for a number of important patient safety issues, including the mandatory open disclosure of a list of specified serious patient safety incidents that must be disclosed to the patient and/or their family, and the expansion of HIQA’s remit into private hospital services.
Prior to commencement of the Act, there are a number of preparatory steps required. These are currently being progressed and significant multi-stakeholder engagement has been taking place across the health system.
The Act establishes a mandatory requirement for the notification of certain serious patient safety incidents. To facilitate this notification process, a new module to the existing National Incident Management System (NIMS) must be designed, tested and implemented before this provision can be commenced. Work with key stakeholders, including the HSE, State Claims Agency, HIQA and the Mental Health Commission, is nearly complete.
To facilitate commencement of the Act, the HSE is working on a new open disclosure training policy and communications plan for all staff regarding the new disclosure and notification requirements under the Act. The HSE advise that this work is ongoing and nearing completion.
The Patient Safety Act also mandates open disclosure of patient requested reviews of cancer screening and the implementation of a communications programme regarding such reviews. The HSE and the Screening Services are currently finalising these processes.
Prior to commencement, the Department is also in the process of making a technical amendment to the Act to address a minor drafting error. This amendment was approved by government decision S180/20/10/2859, is technical in nature and does not alter the policy intention of the Act. The amendment is currently making its way through the legislative process and will be implemented shortly.
436. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in relation to the urgent case of a person (details supplied) waiting to start treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23670/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
437. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a medical appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23671/24]
View answerUnder 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.
438. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average cost of delivering an in-patient clinical setting bed. [23679/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
439. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department is taking to address medical card renewals and medical card assessments for those with lifelong/permanent mental disabilities, unable to independently apply for/renew their applications; if a process is available for these cases.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23696/24]
View answerEligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.
The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
Applications for a medical card and GP visit card can be made online at mymedicalcard.ie. This is the quickest method of getting the card. All of the required documentation that will assist in your application can also be uploaded along with the online application.
Application forms are also available from your local health centre or Local Health Office www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/lho/. for your area. The HSE strives to have an application process for medical cards which is as streamlined and straightforward as possible for all applicants. Assistance is therefore offered to persons completing application forms through the National Medical Card Unit and Local Health Offices if needed. Alternatively, an application form can be downloaded from the HSE’s website.
The HSE is also required to undertake periodic reviews of eligibility in order to ensure that a person continues to meet the qualifying criteria required to continue holding eligibility. It is important to note that where any medical or GP visit card holder has a review process initiated, he/she will continue to retain his or her eligibility for the duration of the review process (typically three months).
Since December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for people in receipt of Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week and applies to the assessment process for single people and to family assessments. This significant policy change gave effect to an important recommendation of the Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities report. This substantial increase in allowable earnings acknowledges that a Medical Card is a particularly significant support and ensures that people with disabilities can continue to be supported to access care when needed.
Furthermore, people who have been on a disability payment for at least a year can retain a Medical Card for a further three years on return to work, provided they were in receipt of the payment for a period of at least 12 months prior to commencing employment.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
440. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current position and plans to develop a national service for nephrology transitional care in a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23697/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
441. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that an immediate recruitment process will be put in place in spite of the HSE recruitment freeze, to fill an essential post in Ennis General Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23701/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
442. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is reasonable that a child in County Mayo (details supplied) with additional needs has to wait two years from referral to be seen by two specialties, namely Mayo primary care child psychology service and the paediatric occupational therapy service in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23710/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
443. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on when Section 39 workers can expect to receive agreed pay increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23712/24]
View answerSection 39 organisations are not public bodies. They are privately operated, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. Although we are not the employers, the Departments are aware that staff employed across the hundreds of HSE funded organisations have been employed using a multiplicity of terms and conditions, including different rates of remuneration and are dependent on Government for funding.
At 16th May, of 1,159 organisations to whom communication was made by the HSE, 483 have made submissions. This process is ongoing with Section 39 organisations who have submitted their claim. The objective of the HSE is to ensure all employees can access their entitlements under the WRC agreement. They have already made significant payments to qualifying organisations and continue to work with each of the organisations to ensure payments are made without delay.
444. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23715/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
445. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a patient (details supplied) is waiting so long for neck surgery and is enduring severe pain while awaiting surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23718/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
446. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23722/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
447. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that medication as recommended by Children's Health Ireland will be made available at an early date for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23723/24]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed. The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.
The HSE considers the following criteria prior to making any decision on pricing / reimbursement, in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013:
(1) The health needs of the public,
(2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services,
(3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement,
(4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks,
(5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item,
(6) The clinical need for the item or listed item,
(7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety,
(8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and,
(9) The resources available to the HSE.
In terms of the specific details of the application for pricing and reimbursement of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®):
Dravet Syndrome
• The HSE received an application for pricing and reimbursement of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) on the 28th July 2023 from UCB Pharma (the applicant) for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome as an add-on therapy to other anti-epileptic medicines for patients two years of age and older.
• The first step in the process is the submission of a Rapid Review dossier (a clinical and economic dossier) to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) for assessment. The HSE commissioned the Rapid Review process on the 31st July 2023.
• The NCPE Rapid Review assessment report was received by the HSE on the 7th September 2023. A full health technology assessment (HTA) was recommended to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) compared with the current standard of care.
• The HSE commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the 29th September 2023 as per agreed processes.
• A full submission was received from the applicant on the 16th May 2024.
• A preliminary review was sent to the applicant on the 20th May 2024.
• The NCPE publishes details of medicines where the HSE has commissioned a Rapid Review assessment and / or a full health technology assessment on their website. The website is updated at regular intervals and includes assessment outcomes and updates on reimbursement for each individual medicine and indication listed. Details of the assessment(s) of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) for Dravet Syndrome are available at: www.ncpe.ie/fenfluramine-fintepla-for-dravet-syndrome-hta-id-23048/.
• The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications.
• The Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members. The pharmacoeconomic report will be reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group along with the outputs of any commercial negotiations, and any patient group submission(s) received. The HSE Drugs Group will consider all of the evidence and make a recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team.
• The decision making authority in the HSE is the HSE Executive Management Team. The HSE Executive Management Team decides on the basis of all the demands it is faced with (across all services) whether it can fund a new medicine, or new use of an existing medicine, from the resources that have been provided to it in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
