Written Answers Nos. 1141-1161
1141. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when a podiatrist will be appointed to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, as was recommended by the Health Service Executive in 2011; if same will now proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48343/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1142. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if any provision exists for applying for European health insurance card, formerly the E111 form, retrospectively, particularly in the case where a patient took ill suddenly, required immediate surgery in a foreign country and did not know of its existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48347/12]
View answerUnder EU Regulations, all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland are entitled to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which covers them for necessary health care during a temporary visit to another EU Member State. All persons are entitled to healthcare under EU regulations in another Member State even if they do not hold a EHIC at the time treatment was provided.
If a person does not hold a current EHIC, it is possible to request a Temporary Replacement Certificate from the HSE whilst on a visit to another state. If this facility was not availed of and costs were incurred, the local Health office can process a claim for a refund by the patient on return to Ireland. The HSE can issue a temporary certificate retrospectively provided entitlement existed. However, it is the other EU Member State that determines the amount to be refunded and if the treatment provided was under EU regulations.
1143. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the appointment of a patients advocate where such a role would provide patients and their families with the necessary information to avail of the European health insurance card, formerly the E111 form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48348/12]
View answerAll relevant information concerning the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is currently available on the Health Service Executive EHIC website: www.ehic.ie. Information is also available on the citizen's information website. More recently this information is available as a smartphone application which provides information on how to access health services in the Member State that a person is visiting and provides information on the processes to follow if an individual does not have an EHIC.
In light of this, I do not intend to appoint a patient's advocate to make this information available.
1144. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on a specific national approach to improve the health and well-being of persons with rare diseases, as recommended by the European Council action group in the field of rare diseases; the current status of a national rare disease strategy for the State in view of the number of persons estimated to suffer from a rare disease in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48354/12]
View answerIreland has been supportive of the EU proposals on rare disease which concluded with a council recommendation in June 2009. The end point is that countries are recommended to develop plans or strategies preferably by the end of 2013. We are now well advanced in developing this work.
I established a National Steering Group, in April 2011, to develop a policy framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of rare diseases based on the principles of high quality care, equity and to be patient centred. The policy will operate over a 5 year period, take account of the EU Council Recommendation on Rare Diseases (2009) and define priority actions subject to resource availability. Similar plans are being drafted by individual countries across the EU, including in the UK. The National Steering Group identified a number of areas relating to rare diseases which it is currently considering including centres of expertise, access to appropriate medication and technology, orphan drug development, research and information and patient empowerment and support. In addition, the steering group consulted extensively with patients and key stake-holders in June and July of this year on the broad proposals and recommendations that will emerge.
1145. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that a replacement physiotherapist covering cystic fibrosis has been provided in a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin 1; if he will confirm that there has been no gap in physiotherapist services for children with cystic fibrosis attending the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48357/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1146. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the negotiations that have taken place between the Health Service Executive and the Clarke Partnership, Malahide, County Dublin in relation to Health Service Executive services and staffing level to be provided at the proposed Primary Care Centre at (details supplied) in Dublin 5 [48359/12]
View answerThe management and delivery of health care infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1147. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the names of the commercial companies that provide home care packages to those persons approved by the Health Service Executive; the total cost of home care packages in 2011; the amount paid to each company; the number of hours provided by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48367/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1148. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the safeguards in place to ensure that those persons in receipt of home care packages from private providers are actually receiving the service that the State is paying for; the way the State guarantees that these persons providing the home care are properly qualified; in view of the fact that the State is the funding agency, is there a State complaints mechanism in place where people in receipt of home care can make complaints; the mechanism in place to terminate a contract between the State and a home care provider; what constitutes a breach leading to a discontinuation of the arrangement between the State and home care provider; if the State has ever terminated an arrangement for the provision of home care with an individual provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48370/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1149. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card renewal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48371/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1151. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the position regarding plans for the development of a health campus in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; the current annual cost of maintaining and securing the Grove Hospital site; the future plans for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48382/12]
View answerThe management and delivery of appropriate health care infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1152. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when an ambulance crew and ambulance will be allocated on a permanent basis to an area (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48383/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1153. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current timetable for the development of a 24/7 ambulance base for the West Roscommon and East Mayo area; the progress made to date on providing a temporary location for an ambulance to service the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48384/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1154. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of MRSA and clostridium difficile in hospitals over the last 12 months; the number of cases in 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48385/12]
View answer1157. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of MRSA and Clostridium difficile in hospitals in the last 12 months; the figure for 2010 and 2011 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48393/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1154 and 1157 together.
The information available on the number of cases of MRSA and Clostridium difficile in hospitals for 2010, 2011 and the first 6 months of 2012 is as follows.
MRSA: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) which collates statistical information on bloodstream infections from all hospital laboratories, both public and private, reports on a quarterly basis. Provisional statistics for 2012 to end-June 2012 only are now available. MRSA statistics for 2010 and 2011 record 305 and 263 cases respectively. The figure to end June 2012 is 128 cases. The number of cases of MRSA has fallen by 55% between 2006 and 2011 (from 592 to 263 cases) and the downward trend is holding per statistical returns to date.
Clostridium Difficile: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) or C. difficile associated disease (CDAD) has been a notifiable disease in Ireland since May 2008. Prior to 2012 only new cases of CDI were notifiable. The case definition for this disease has been revised and since 1st January 2012 both new and recurrent cases are notifiable. Clostridium Difficile statistics for 2010 and 2011 record 1,693 and 1,848 cases respectively. Provisional data for the first half of 2012 using the enhanced surveillance system which records both new and recurrent cases, indicates that there have been 939 cases of C. difficile. It is difficult to comment on these figures in that some of the increase may be due to changed testing practices.
The control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance continues to be a challenge worldwide and the Department will continue to work at all levels to support healthcare policy development and assist healthcare providers in reducing same.
1155. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding ambulance services (details supplied). [48388/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1156. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [48389/12]
View answerAs 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.
1158. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card appeal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48422/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1159. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medication in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48427/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1160. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when a date for an orthopaedic out- patient appointment at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, County Meath, will be scheduled in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48430/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1161. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to be covered by their medical card for specialised shoes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48434/12]
View answerAs 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.
