Written Answers Nos. 643-661
643. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress on compiling the business case for the development of a primary care centre for the region of An Cheathrú Rua and Leitir Móir in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29659/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
644. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to review and respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29916/24]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important work carried out by all Clinical Placement Coordinators. Their work is of significant value to our services.
Recent increases applied to the Clinical Nurse/ Midwife Manager 2 (CNM/CMM) scale were a result of the implementation of recommendation 45 of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery and Labour Court recommendation LCR22828.
Recommendation 45 of the ERB set out that the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 and Clinical Midwife Manager 2 pay scales would be extended by an additional scale point making Point 10 the new max of scale. The scale would also gain an LSI at Point 11. As part of the new Public Service Agreement, 2024-2026, it was agreed that the recommendations set out by the Labour Court would be implemented with effect from 1 January 2024.
While it is the case that certain grades in the HSE have similar pay scales, this does not mean that they are linked to one another. LCR22828 refers only to the implementation of recommendations 44-46 of the ERB and their encompassed grades.
645. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number on the waiting list for CAMHS for the month of June 2024, by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29034/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
646. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Bill to reform the Mental Health Act 2001; when it will be published; if he expects this to pass through the Houses of the Oireachtas before the dissolution of the current Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29035/24]
View answerThe Mental Health Bill is currently undergoing quality assurance by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and consultation with other key Government Departments is underway.
The Bill will be submitted for approval by Cabinet this month and be introduced to the Oireachtas immediately upon its return after the summer recess.
647. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the Mental Health Commission’s annual report for 2023; if he will report on the 42 reports of sexual assault mentioned in the report; if all of these were escalated to the gardaí; the locations of these reported assaults, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29036/24]
View answerThe report of the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health Services provides an important independent insight into where we are performing well and where improvements can be made.
The report findings show that during 2023 inspections five centres achieved 100% compliance and 26 centres, including many HSE centres attained 90% or better compliance. In addition, the frequency and duration of the admission of children to adult approved centres continued to decrease in 2023. The HSE is reviewing the report and has in place various initiatives currently underway to address many of the recommendations made. Each Centre will provide a Corrective And Preventative Action Plan to address concerns.
In answering this question the Department of Health engaged with the Mental Health Commission, who advised:
'The MHC corresponded with the National Director, Community Operations in the HSE about alleged sexual assaults in approved centres which resulted in correspondence being issued to all Chief Officers and the creation of the HSE’s Sexual Safety Task & Finish Group.
Following the communication from the National Director, the MHC saw an increase in reported alleged sexual assaults as approved centres followed a consistent approach to reporting.
Upon being notified of an alleged sexual assault, the MHC requests the approved centres to submit a confirmation that the gardaí have been informed of the alleged incident and the evidence of same.
As part of the follow-up on the reported alleged sexual assaults, the MHC asked the approved centres about their progress with the implementation of the joint HIQA and MHC National Standards on Adult Safeguarding, their safeguarding arrangements or training in relation to same. Safeguarding is now one of the mandatory pieces of training outlined in Judgement Support Framework 2024 to determine compliance with Regulation 26: Staffing of the Mental Health Act 2001 (approved centres) Regulations 2006.'
Both the Government and the HSE value the regulation of our mental health services as it provides a framework in which to constantly review and improve our services, so they remain person-centred.
The Government values the role of the MHC, which is to promote high standards and good practice in mental health services. It is positive to note there has been an overall improvement in compliance in recent years. However, it is acknowledged that further improvement is needed. We will continue to work closely with both the MHC and HSE to improve mental health services in line with Sharing the Vision.
648. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children up to the age of 18 years who died from sudden infant death syndrome or sudden unexpected death in childhood in each county in the past five years, in tabular form. [29042/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
649. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a physiotherapy appointment. [29043/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
650. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the provision of funding for the drug palforzia in Ireland being made available to help reduce allergic reactions to peanuts for children aged 4 to 17 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29087/24]
View answer651. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update in relation to the use of a drug, palforzia, used to reduce allergic reactions to peanuts; if, given that the European Medicine Agency has approved, it will be now approved for use by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29093/24]
View answer657. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has progressed the provision of palforzia, which is a life-saving drug that helps reduce the reaction to peanut allergies, considering its availability in the UK and other European countries; if there are ongoing negotiations between the HSE and pharmaceutical companies in relation to price reductions as recommended by the NCPE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29116/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 650, 651 and 657 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. I have reached out to the HSE on this matter.
As per the 2013 Act the HSE must 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 people living in Ireland.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
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 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 Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) for the treatment of patients aged 4 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. (Palforzia® may be continued in patients 18 years of age and older):
The HSE received a complete application for pricing / reimbursement on the 30th March 2022 from Aimmune Therapeutics (the applicant) for Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) for the treatment of patients aged 4 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. (Palforzia® may be continued in patients 18 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 1st April 2022.
• The NCPE Rapid Review assessment report was received by the HSE on the 5th May 2022. The NCPE advised the HSE that a full HTA was recommended to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) compared with the current standard of care.
• The HSE commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment on the 26th May 2022 as per agreed processes.
• The NCPE Health Technology Assessment Report was received by the HSE on the 29th November 2023. The NCPE recommended that Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments. (ncpe.ie/defatted-powder-of-arachis-hypogaea-l-semen-peanuts-palforzia-hta-id-22019/ ).
• The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications. CPU met with the applicant to discuss their application for Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®).
• 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 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 Senior Leadership Team.
• The decision-making authority in the HSE is the HSE Senior Leadership Team. The HSE Senior Leadership 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. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
652. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when the CT scanner at University Hospital Kerry will be fixed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29094/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
653. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment at Sligo University Hospital; if the referral was routine or urgent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29095/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
654. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the HSE was approached by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the possibility of partnering with it to provide services, including a pilot service, in the south Tipperary area; if those discussions have continued; if funding for SECH mental health services will be considered for Budget 2025 to develop such arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29099/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
655. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health for an update on the drug enhertu, and the current status of its application. [29100/24]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
656. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a former HSE employee will receive the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
658. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide the details on the total funding provided for primary care services to each of the CHO areas, to include the total numbers of population served in each of the relevant CHOs, from 2015 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29120/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
659. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for a timeline on the provision of extra transport services to a day centre in County Sligo (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29130/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
660. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive full payment in relation to monies that are owed from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29132/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
661. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses recruited to work in each hospital in the country in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [29138/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
