17th May – Minister Reilly Doorstep – HIQA report into Tallaght

• Read the Statement from the Minister for Health following the HIQA report into Tallaght Hospital

The Minister said “I want to offer my deepest sympathies to the family concerned. We must never forget that this report is first and foremost about patient safety and that it all began because of the death of a patient on a trolley in a corridor adjacent to the Emergency Department. I know that the loved ones involved will find this traumatic and that patients in all of our acute hospitals need the assurance that this matter is being dealt with in an effective way, that lessons have been learned and that Quality Assurance Systems are being put in place across the country”
The Minister recognises this report as an important element in driving the Health Reform Programme which is focusing on and prioritising patient safety and best governance. “The HIQA report gives us the template for hospital governance which will be the foundation for the governance of the new Hospital Groups to be established this year. I have also today approved the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. These standards will support the development of quality safe healthcare services” the Minister said.

The Minister said that he was seeking the greatest collaboration and personal commitment from all involved in the acute hospital system to protect patients and ensure the very best outcomes despite the challenging economic and financial circumstances we face.
  
Many changes have already occurred and others are underway in Tallaght Hospital and the report recognises this. The Minister said that he wanted to acknowledge the contribution of staff at the hospital to implementing change.
  
“The staff of the hospital have a hugely important role in responding to the challenges ahead, restoring confidence in this hospital and supporting it to achieve its potential. I would also ask the local community to support the staff and the Hospital as it faces the challenges ahead” the Minister said.
  
As recommended in the report, the Minister is putting in place, as a priority, an oversight committee to implement its recommendations. He also announced that the Chief Medical Officer has referred the report to the Medical Council and An Bord Altranais.

“It is completely unacceptable that there was no clarity as to who was providing medical supervision of these patients. For that reason the Chief Medical Officer has referred the report to the Medical Council and An Bord Altranais to ask them to address the significant issues that arise here.” the Minister said.

The Minister has also noted the report’s findings into certain financial issues within the hospital. The Minister welcomes the involvement of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Office into this matter but given the role of the C&AG, the Minister does not wish to comment further in light of his investigation.

Ends

• Listen to Minister Reilly doorstep regarding the HIQA report into Tallaght Hospital

Topics included: Audits, Level 1 Consultant, Smaller Hospital Framework, National Childrens Hospital,

16th May – Minister Reilly Doorstep at Aviva

Pictured: Jerry Flannery, former Irish rugby player and Minister for Health Dr James Reilly, T.D. pictured today at the launch of Back-Up by Aviva Health Insurance

Speaking at the launch of Back-Up at Aviva Stadium, Minister Reilly said,

 “I very much welcome this innovative case management initiative which provides advice on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for neck and back pain.  It complements this Government’s policy of strengthening primary care services and ensuring that, to the greatest extent possible, care needs are met in the primary care setting.  Our aim is to provide up to 95% of health and social care services in local communities and this will be achieved by increasing activity in the primary care setting and redirecting health services away from acute hospitals to the community.  I am confident that this initiative can play a part in achieving this aim.”

16th May – Minister Reilly Speech at Aviva

• Read Aviva Press Release (word document) Back Up Press Release
• Listen to Minister Reilly doorstep at this event

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question on the National Centre for Pharmoeconomics (NCPE), Minister of State at the Department of Health, Ms. Shortall said: The National Centre for Pharmoeconomics (NCPE) plays an important role in the assessment process of new medicines. The findings of the NCPE are not however the sole deciding factor in the process of allocating resources for new and expensive treatments.  The NCPE report is an input into decision making and not the decision.The NCPE investigates the robustness of pricing proposals and cost effectiveness documentation forwarded by pharmaceutical companies at a range of values.  It is entirely appropriate to investigate cost effectiveness at a range of values. Such investigations provide very useful information to the HSE regarding the most appropriate use of resources and in relation to negotiating positions with pharmaceutical companies when discussing price. Furthermore the assessment process may identify where additional information is required from a pharmaceutical company. 

The assessment process conducted by the HSE and the NCPE is a perfectly legitimate tool in assessing the best application of limited resources, it is designed not to prevent access to medicines but to ensure that the best value can be achieved so that more medicines can ultimately be provided from within limited budgets. The NCPE economic assessment process is robust and internationally respected and is an important input for decision makers.

There are a number of new and expensive drug treatments currently being considered by the HSE. Drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer including Abiraterone (Zytiga) and Canazitaxel (Jevtena) are within the decision making process.  It would be inappropriate for me to comment further while this process is ongoing.

There has been recent media coverage regarding reimbursement approval for new and expensive medicines. The Chief Medical Officer is exploring with the HSE the adoption of a new and robust system for decision making in relation to drugs to promote and drive evidence based prescribing.  This should help to create capacity on a sustainable basis to provide for necessary new drugs when there is evidence to support their use.

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question on  Hepatitis C Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly said:  I am pleased to confirm that a decision has been made to make Boceprevir (Victrelis) and Telaprevir (Incivo), which are Hepatitis C protease inhibitor drugs,  available within the hospital system for the treatment of Hepatitis C. The new treatments have been found to be effective in treating adult patients with Hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, who have compensated liver disease and who are previously untreated, or who have failed previous therapy.  The use of these drugs requires a detailed programme of treatment and monitoring of progress.  The HSE is putting in place the protocols and structures to allow treatment to begin as soon as possible. 

Anyone who meets the criteria under the protocols will have access to these new treatments.

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question on Health Amendment Act (HAA) Card the Minster of Health Dr James Reilly said: The Health Amendment Act (HAA) Card is given to men, women and children who contracted Hepatitis C from the administration within the State of blood or blood products. 

Under the Health (Amendment) Act,1996 the entitlement of an individual to a HAA Card and to related services is decided by the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive.  The CEO is bound by the definition of eligibility in the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006, which requires a positive diagnostic test for applications received by the Tribunal after the specified date of 20 June, 2006.A great deal of consideration has been given to the issue of recipients of Anti-D who have neither tested positive for Hepatitis C, nor had a positive Tribunal decision in their favour.  A number of women who have tested negative for Hepatitis C have experienced a variety of symptoms. However, there is no scientific proof that the symptoms are specific evidence of Hepatitis C infection.  Indeed some symptoms of Hepatitis C, such as fatigue, fibromyalgia and depression, are common conditions that occur in the general population.

It is estimated that up to 16,000 women in Ireland were exposed to potentially infectious batches of Anti-D and approximately 1,000 of these women were infected with Hepatitis C. Extending eligibility for HAA cards to those who have tested negative for Hepatitis C would have significant implications for the scheme overall. 

I am sympathetic to the women in question, but taking account of international practice and the rationale which led to the passing of the 2006 Act, I am satisfied that the present arrangements are reasonable in the circumstances.