Skip to main content
Normal View

Health Board Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Questions (760, 761, 762, 763)

Jack Wall

Question:

938 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason health boards (details supplied) differ in regard to payments for medical expenses for persons in receipt of psychiatric treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22514/04]

View answer

Written answers

The current situation regarding the supply of psychiatric drugs to public out-patients in the Eastern Regional Health Authority differs from that in other health board areas. This is an anomaly which has occurred for historical reasons. I understand that the Eastern Regional Health Authority is currently examining a number of options to rectify the situation.

Question No. 939 answered with QuestionNo. 913.

Jack Wall

Question:

940 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the possibility of an early appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22535/04]

View answer

Responsibility for the provision of health services to persons residing in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Jack Wall

Question:

941 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons with medical cards are being charged for chiropody services within the South Western Area Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22536/04]

View answer

Jack Wall

Question:

942 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons under 65 years of age are not entitled to chiropody services within the South Western Area Health Board region even though they have medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22537/04]

View answer

I propose to take Questions Nos. 941 and 942 together.

The chiropodists providing services to medical card holders in the Eastern Regional Health Authority's board areas have taken a decision to levy medical card holders in respect of services being provided under the chiropody scheme in operation in that area. Arrangements for the provision of the service are between the chiropodists and the authority.

The Department was made aware of this action by the chiropodists and wrote to the authority advising of the inappropriateness of the charging of levies to medical card holders. A series of meetings have taken place between the authority and the Department in an attempt to assist the authority to resolve its difficulties with the chiropody scheme.

Health boards are not statutorily obliged to provide chiropody services. It is not one of the attendant benefits of being a medical card holder. However, where they are provided, it is normally to people aged over 65 years and those with particular medical conditions.

Top
Share