Michael McGrath
Question:956. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33669/14]
Written Questions Nos. 956 to 983
Medical Card Applications
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.
Medical Card Reviews
Arthur Spring
Question:957. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has had their medical card reviewed when they were initially awarded a medical card under the EU medical card scheme. [33677/14]
The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates under the legislative framework of the Health Act of 1970, as subsequently amended. In the interest of probity, the HSE is obliged to ensure that a person’s eligibility is correctly recorded in line with the eligibility legislation and the national guidelines. The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement. All medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. As part of the review process, where a person who holds a medical card under the EU Regulations, there is only a requirement to demonstrate to the HSE that they continue to qualify under the EU Regulations and there is no requirement to submit income details and details of savings.
If a person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation, the person will not qualify for a Medical Card under EU legislation, but may qualify for a means-tested Medical Card under national legislation. (A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI.) In carrying out reviews of eligibility under EU Regulations the HSE has responsibility to establish if an applicant is subject to Irish social security legislation.
Any person who has been issued with a medical card under EU Regulations and has had it withdrawn should contact the HSE to confirm that their circumstance has not changed.
Question No. 958 answered with Question No. 761.
Question No. 959 answered with Question No. 793.
Hospital Appointments Status
Brendan Griffin
Question:960. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for an appointment for a MRI scan will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33716/14]
In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Prescriptions Charges
Charlie McConalogue
Question:961. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when persons who had to pay prescription charges to receive their medication will be refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33721/14]
Persons suffering from prescribed conditions can get free drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of that condition under the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme. Medical card holders are required to pay prescription charges. Prescription charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme.
In the case of persons who have both the medical card and an LTI book, it was Health Service Executive (HSE) policy that they should use their medical card to access medicines. The main reason for this was that when a retail mark-up of 20% was payable to pharmacists for items supplied under the LTI Scheme it cost the HSE considerably more to supply medicines under the LTI Scheme than under the GMS Scheme.
Following a review of the rates of fees payable to health professionals (under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009) the elimination of the retail mark-up was announced on the 2nd of July 2013. As a result, the HSE revised its policy on this matter and persons who have both a medical card and LTI can now access medication for their qualifying long term illness condition(s) under the LTI Scheme.
The HSE is actively in the process of identifying any person who had eligibility under the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme and who, while having concurrent eligibility under the Medical Card Scheme, paid prescription charges prior to the 1st December 2013 for drugs, medicines, medical and surgical appliances related to their qualifying long term illness(es) dispensed under the GMS Scheme, by a registered pharmacist.
The HSE is collating the details regarding the numbers of people affected and how much they will be refunded. It is anticipated that the HSE will be in a position to make refunds to the relevant individuals in the coming months.
Health Screening Programmes
Eoghan Murphy
Question:962. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's policy on foetal abnormality testing; the State support provided; and the guidelines or policy that is in place for the HSE in dealing with religious and cultural beliefs that may be at odds with the welfare of women in this State. [33731/14]
Antenatal screening i.e. tests that assess whether your unborn baby is at risk of certain conditions or abnormalities is part of the antenatal care provided to women during their pregnancy. The provision of antenatal screening is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
Health Services Staff
Michael Lowry
Question:963. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in County Tipperary; the number of vacant public health nursing positions in County Tipperary; if he will provide a breakdown of where these vacant positions occur; the length of time these positions have been vacant; the reason these positions have not been filled; if he will take steps to ensure these vital posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33739/14]
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters.
Health Services Funding
Robert Troy
Question:964. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure adequate funding is allocated to a care centre (details supplied) in County Longford in view of the fact that it currently faces a deficit of over €450,000 due to extreme budgetary cuts since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33747/14]
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Questions Nos. 965 and 966 answered with Question No. 914.
Medical Card Reviews
Charlie McConalogue
Question:967. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a discretionary medical card will be reinstated in respect of a person ( details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33753/14]
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.
Medical Card Reviews
Charlie McConalogue
Question:968. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a discretionary medical card will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33754/14]
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.
Medical Card Reviews
Charlie McConalogue
Question:969. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a discretionary medical card will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33756/14]
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.
Health Services
Finian McGrath
Question:970. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding independent living in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33758/14]
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
It is suggested that if Anthony is not happy with his circumstances at Nua Health Care institution, he should make a formal complaint there in the first instance.
He could also make a complaint to the HSE, by completing the form 'Your Service, Your Say' leaets that are in each HSE service.
Hospital Admissions
Finian McGrath
Question:971. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was left on a trolley in a hospital storeroom for three days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/14]
In relation to the particular patient incident raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Disability Services Funding
Finian McGrath
Question:972. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33765/14]
The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive are working in a structured way towards the development and implementation of an individualised budgeting framework in the context of implementing the recommendations in the Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland. The move towards individualised budgeting also mirrors the wider changes in the health sector described in Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012 – 2015.
The move towards an individualised budgeting framework raises legal and practical issues, and will require careful consideration and planning. Future Health explains that central to the introduction of individualised budgeting will be suitable financial systems; transparent and comprehensive governance arrangements; a National Standard Needs Assessment framework; underpinning legislation and the introduction of a regulatory system for providers to ensure quality and safety for the recipients of social services.
Demonstration projects are already underway to examine the practical aspects of introducing this major change in the disability sector and to establish the costs and benefits. An analysis of the projects will be necessary to determine their wider applicability, clarify the issues which must be resolved before the projects can be scaled up, and identify the best way forward. The completion of this analysis is a primary recommendation in the VFM Review and is required for all significant public service expenditure proposals.
HSE Staff Remuneration
Finian McGrath
Question:973. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding gratuities in lieu of pensions (details supplied). [33767/14]
I have no direct role in this matter. The HSE will reply directly to the deputy.
Question No. 974 answered with Question No. 761.
Health Services Provision
Ciaran Lynch
Question:975. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when requisite treatment will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33777/14]
In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Health Services Provision
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:976. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will give an undertaking to have a monthly review of the physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiology and social work services being provided at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; if meetings will take place with the management of the school to ensure that the proper level of service required is being provided; if he will provide the names and roles of the persons on the board of governance; and the amount they are paid. [33782/14]
With regard to the query raised in relation to the school’s board of governance, I have taken this to refer to the school's Board of Management. I have been advised by the Department of Education and Skills that board members do not receive payment for their work as members of Boards of Management. I understand that details of currently serving Boards of Management can be obtained directly from individual schools.
The provision of health related therapy supports to children attending the school in question is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for this part of the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Mental Health Services Funding
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:977. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the mental health services budget for 2015. [33783/14]
The question of funding for Mental Health Services in 2015 will be considered in the context of the normal budget process between the Department of Health and the Departments of Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform.
Question No. 978 answered with Question No. 826.
Question No. 979 answered with Question No 914.
Hospital Staff Data
Billy Kelleher
Question:980. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of senior house officer positions in each of the public and voluntary hospitals on 1 August 2014; the number of such positions vacant on the same date; the number of these positions being filled by locums on the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33790/14]
Billy Kelleher
Question:981. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of registrar positions in each of the public and voluntary hospitals on 1 August 2014; the number of such positions vacant on the same date; the number of these positions being filled by locums on the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33791/14]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 980 and 981 together.
As these are operational matters, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the HSE for direct reply.
Question No. 982 answered with Question No. 914.
Home Care Packages Provision
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:983. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will require the Health Service Executive to make immediate provision for a home care package to facilitate the return to home of a person (details supplied) in County Laois. [33795/14]
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.