Wednesday, 15 Apr 2015

Written Answers Nos. 559-575

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• Ceisteanna Parlaiminte
  • Ceisteanna scríofa
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• Nuair a bhíonn tionchar tromchúiseach ag aithrisí

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (559)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Ceist:

559. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will establish that the guidelines that were agreed by the chief fire officers in counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo fire service, ambulance service, Health Service Executive West, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and CAMP West, to identify the circumstances when it is appropriate for the call taker receiving the emergency call to request the attendance of the fire service to render assistance at the scene of a road traffic collision, are being adhered to in every instance where an emergency call is received. [14414/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Health Insurance Community Rating

Ceisteanna (560)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

560. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if persons currently working and paying taxes in Northern Ireland and availing of the National Health Service there, but who are resident in the Republic of Ireland, will have to pay lifetime community rating on private health insurance if they take out a policy when they retire from working there after 1 May 2015. [14415/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) is being introduced to encourage people to take out private health insurance at a younger age. Encouraging more people to join the market at younger ages helps spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market, helping to support affordable premiums for all. From 1 May, there will be 'late entry loadings' for those aged 35 and over who have not bought health insurance by then. The loadings are set at 2% per year starting at age 35, up to a maximum loading of 70% at age 69 and over. Where an individual is resident in the State, there is a grace period until 30 April 2015 to allow as many people as possible to take out health insurance without incurring loadings.

The Irish public health system provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cardholders) and limited eligibility (all others). Persons with full eligibility are entitled to a range of services including all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultants services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants services. Persons with limited eligibility are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. Private health insurance in this country is optional. The eligibility of a resident in the Republic, working elsewhere as a cross-border worker and entitled to treatment by the health service where they work, does not impact upon their capacity to purchase voluntary health insurance in this State. All residents in this State during the current grace period, who choose to wait until after 30 April 2015 to purchase private health insurance, will be subject to the provisions of the LCR regulations.

Medical Card Data

Ceisteanna (561)

Derek Nolan

Ceist:

561. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of medical card applicants in the category aged 66 years and over who obtained credits under the headings: allowances for dependants under 16 years of age, rent, mortgage, mortgage protection, travel to work costs - applicant, travel to work cost - spouse and-or partner, child care costs and maintenance payments for the years 2012 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14416/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 562 answered with Question No. 502.

Alcohol Sales Legislation

Ceisteanna (563)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

563. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if measures (details supplied) will be considered as part of the alcohol strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14427/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Government has approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse to be incorporated in a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. These measures are based on the recommendations contained in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012. The General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was approved by Government on the 3 February 2015. The Scheme includes provisions for minimum unit pricing, health labelling on products that contain alcohol, restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol and the regulation of sports sponsorship. As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the measures are being debated in detail by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. The hearings commenced on the 10 March and are due to conclude next week.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will make it illegal to sell or advertise for sale alcohol at a price below a set minimum price. Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) sets a minimum price per gram of alcohol. The minimum price of an alcohol product would be based on the number of grams of alcohol in the product. MUP is a targeted measure, aimed at those who drink in a harmful and hazardous manner, and designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. MUP is able to target cheaper alcohol relative to its strength because the minimum price is determined by and is directly proportional to the amount of pure alcohol in the drink.

The University of Sheffield study reported that the alcohol products most affected by this policy are those that are currently being sold very cheaply, often below cost prices, in the off-trade, i.e. supermarkets and off-licences. On the other hand, the study found that a ban on below-cost selling (implemented as a ban on selling alcohol for below the cost of duty and Value Added Tax) would have a negligible impact on alcohol consumption or related harms.

The Public (Health) Alcohol Bill will also make it illegal to market or advertise alcohol in a manner that is appealing to children. It provides for the making of regulations regarding the marketing and advertising of alcohol and includes provisions, inter alia, for restrictions on broadcast marketing and advertising, cinema advertising, outdoor advertising, print media and the regulation of sponsorship by alcohol companies. The existing Code of Practice for Sponsorships by Drinks Companies will be put on a legal footing with statutory powers and penalties. The provisions in relation to marketing and advertising will be reviewed after three years to gauge their effectiveness.

The Department of Health is continuing to work on the preparation of the legislation. It is expected that the Bill will be published during this session.

Autism Support Services

Ceisteanna (564)

David Stanton

Ceist:

564. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive regional specialist autism spectrum disorder teams; the location of each team; the areas they cover; if he will provide a list of the clinical and administrative staff typically employed by the executive for each team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14442/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this question concerns detailed operational matters, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct response to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (565)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

565. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that 20 inpatient rooms for cystic fibrosis patients are needed at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, where there are currently only seven such rooms; if more money will be allocated to ensure these 20 rooms are provided by 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14444/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

National Children's Hospital Status

Ceisteanna (566)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

566. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the construction of the national children's hospital; his views on concerns regarding delays in constructing the hospital and the impact this is having on treating patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14445/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The new hospital will be co-located with St James's Hospital, and ultimately tri-located with a maternity hospital to be developed on campus. In addition to the main hospital, the project includes two satellite centres at the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals.

The Project Brief has now been completed and approved. The Project Brief sets out details of the specialties to be provided and the planned accommodation. This will include 384 in-patient beds, all in single en-suite rooms with in-room parent accommodation, a further 85 daycare beds and 14 theatres, including three hybrid theatres to facilitate access to imaging during surgery, all in the main hospital. There will be 111 outpatient consulting examination rooms across both the main hospital and the two satellite centres, as well as ED and urgent care facilities.

A design team is now working on detailed design development with planning submission scheduled for June 2015. Subject to planning, work is scheduled to commence at the main site at St. James's, and at satellite centre sites at Connolly and Tallaght, in January 2016. Transition of services to the new hospital is expected to begin in April 2019, and to the satellite centres in 2017. Until then, paediatric services will continue to be provided at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Children's University Hospital Temple Street and at Tallaght Hospital, which are working together as the Children's Hospital Group towards the operational integration of the three existing children's hospital services well in advance of their move to the new hospital.

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (567)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

567. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the critical shortage of front-line cystic fibrosis staff in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14446/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Ireland has one of the highest reported incidences of cystic fibrosis in the world, with 1:1353 live births. 2009 marked the first year that the proportion of adult cystic fibrosis patients was higher than that of paediatric patients, reflecting improved care and management of cystic fibrosis patients.

There was a requirement to reduce public service numbers and maximise savings in the public service from the time of the downturn in the economy. The HSE introduced an embargo on recruitment in 2007, and this was followed by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public sector in 2008. Notwithstanding that the HSE has had the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services. This is reflected in the current recruitment campaign where the HSE is actively recruiting to fill consultant, NCHD and nursing posts.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in budget 2015 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly within allocated pay frameworks will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has advised that the HSE and Department of Health are required to submit a 2015 Pay and Numbers Strategy. Following approval of the strategy by DPER, a letter of delegated sanction for staffing will be issued. Pending this sanction, the existing moratorium and ECF arrangements will continue to apply. However the number of nurses employed has already increased by nearly 500 in the past 12 months. This increase encompasses initiatives undertaken by the HSE to reduce reliance on agency and to offer contracts of employment where agency can be replaced by full time posts.

Proposed Legislation

Ceisteanna (568)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

568. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of upcoming legislation that impacts on cystic fibrosis care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14447/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Cystic fibrosis care may be impacted by legislative proposals to give effect to an opt-out system of consent for organ donation. These proposals are being progressed and it is hoped to finalise the Heads of a Bill this year. Under the proposed opt-out system, consent will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered his/her wish not to become an organ donor after death. However, it is proposed that, even though consent is deemed, the next of kin will in practice always be consulted prior to removing any organ.

A second Bill which will support a number of health service goals, such as encouraging health research, facilitating the development of information systems and promoting an improved patient safety culture is the proposed Health Information Bill. I will be bringing a revised general scheme to Government in respect of this Bill in the coming months, with a view to publishing it later this year.

Proposed Legislation

Ceisteanna (569)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

569. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the health information Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14448/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Because of changes to the Health Information Bill since the general scheme was approved by Government, I will be bringing a revised general scheme to Government in the coming months, with a view to publishing the Bill this year. The Bill will support a number of health service goals by providing an enabling legal basis to:

- facilitate the development of information systems, information capacity, data quality and the eHealth agenda through provisions on health information resources, data matching and interoperability;

- promote an improved patient safety culture, in line with recommendations by the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, in the areas of patient safety incident reporting, open disclosure of adverse events to patients and clinical audit; and

- encourage health research by providing for a new streamlined research ethics approval structure for health research not governed by statutory regulation and EU law.

Questions Nos. 570 and 571 answered with Question No. 536.

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (572)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

572. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, who has submitted all relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14475/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 573 answered with Question No. 454.

National Dementia Strategy Implementation

Ceisteanna (574)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

574. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will review the funding model for private nursing homes to recognise the complex and high-dependency needs of persons with dementia in specialist care units, the specialist services provided to support persons with dementia, in order that the allocation of resources more realistically reflects the needs of such patients, the skill mix of staff employed in such units, their training needs, the level of care expected to be delivered, the actual cost of care and the requirement for capital investment in such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14486/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Irish National Dementia Strategy was published in December 2014. Its primary focus is to enable people with dementia to live well in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, and it sets out ways of achieving this. The Strategy is accompanied by a National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme co-funded by the HSE and the Atlantic Philanthropies. It includes the provision of intensive home care packages, an information campaign and resources for GPs, who are most often the first port of call for people worried about dementia.

The Strategy acknowledges that while current health and social policy is focussed on caring for people with dementia in their own homes, there will come a time for many when home care may no longer be feasible or appropriate and when long-term residential care will be the best option. This can particularly arise when 24-hour care is needed or when the person with dementia is living alone. There is clearly a case for dementia-specific facilities as dementia is sometimes accompanied by behavioural and psychological symptoms such as agitation, aggression, disinhibition, wandering and sleep disturbance and these can occur at any stage of the illness. These behaviours can pose significant challenges for staff and other patients and can be dangerous and distressing for the person with dementia, and a specialist facility is sometimes necessary.

The Nursing Home Support Scheme is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Upon commencement of the Scheme a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after 3 years. One of the Terms of Reference for this Review is to examine the overall cost of long-term residential care in public and private nursing homes and the effectiveness of the current methods of negotiating/setting prices. The Review will also make recommendations for the future operation and management of the scheme. The draft Review requires further analysis and this is ongoing at present.

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (575)

James Bannon

Ceist:

575. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14499/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

• Written Answers Nos. 545-558
• Written Answers Nos. 576-586