Written Answers Nos. 607-625
607. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the cost of supplying Viagra prescribed under the GMS scheme of the Health Service Executive on a yearly basis from when it was first available to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/13]
View answerI wish to advise that this information is being collated by the HSE and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
608. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
609. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health the way his targets for in-patient and out-patient waiting times for orthopaedic treatment will affect Galway Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/13]
View answerThe initial focus for the Special Delivery Unit's Scheduled Care Team has been on waiting times for in-patient and daycase elective surgery. By the end of December 2012, the number of adults having to wait more than 9 months for inpatient and day case surgery was down to 86 from 3,706 in December 2011, a 98% decrease. The number of children waiting over 20 weeks for inpatient or daycase surgery was down to 89 from 1,759 in December 2011, a 95% decrease. The number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for a routine endoscopy procedure went down from 4,590 in December 2011 to 36 at the end of December 2012, a 99% decrease.
These are significant achievements that show what can be done to tackle access to inpatient and daycase services. The progress made in 2012 does not mean the problem is solved, and 2013 will remain very challenging. However, these improvements reflect my commitment, and that of this Government, to ensuring patients can access the acute hospital services they need, when they need them.
Improving access to outpatient services is also a priority for the Government and for the Special Delivery Unit Scheduled Care Team. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the NTPF has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time, clear and comprehensive data on this problem is being reported. In the first instance, the data now being collected will allow the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. A maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment by 30 November 2013.
In relation to the specific query raised in relation to the Galway group of hospitals, as this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
610. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the percentage of medical card holders who do not hold Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2592/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
612. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional emergency respite beds when carers are unable to carry out their duties on a short time basis, for example, when a carer takes ill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2596/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
613. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2617/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures for the number of applications received to date for the Health Service Executive nursing/midwifery graduate scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2620/13]
View answerThe HSE is proceeding with arrangements to commence the Graduate Nurse Placement Initiative. The recruitment process for Phase 1 for registered general nurses and covering the Acute Hospital setting and the Community commenced on 11th January, with the first of the appointments to be in place by the end of February 2013.
On 16th January, the HSE announced that it had extended the scope of this scheme to encompass nurses and midwives who graduated in 2010 and 2011, in addition to 2012 graduates, and the reopening of Phase 1 on this basis. As the recruitment process for this Phase is still in train, it is not possible to assess the number of valid applications. I will ask the HSE to reply to the Deputy when they become available. Applications under Phase 2 of this initiative, which will cover Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Midwifery and Paediatrics, will be invited from February 2013.
615. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an application for a full medical card now under appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be expedited and approved based on his medical circumstances [2631/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
616. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the commitment to provide free general practitioner care and other benefits to those who are on the high tech drugs scheme; the timeline for the implementation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2655/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to reforming the current public health system by introducing Universal Health Insurance with equal access to care for all. As part of this, the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, GP care without fees within its first term of office. Primary legislation is required to give effect to Government commitment to introduce a universal GP service without fees.
Legislation to allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to GP services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses is currently being drafted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Department and it will be published shortly. Implementation dates and application details will be announced in due course.
617. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding accident and emergency charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2665/13]
View answerThe current statutory out-patient charge i.e. the A&E charge, is provided for by the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 1994 (as amended). The charge is currently €100 in respect of the first visit of any episode of care at a designated Accident and Emergency Department, subject to exemptions. The exemptions include medical card holders and those who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner.
I have requested to Health Service Executive to investigate this particular case and to reply directly to the Deputy.
618. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress made of the implementation of the 2011 document standards and recommended practice guidelines for post mortem examination services in the Health Service Executive; if it has been signed off as policy in all hospitals nationally; if the post mortem documentation is in use in all hospitals nationally; the number of staff who have been trained in communicating with families regarding post mortems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has published "Standards and Recommended Practices for Post Mortem Examination Services" and has circulated these to relevant hospital staff. The overall aim of the standards and recommended practices for post-mortem examinations is to drive high quality post-mortem examination services, which are based on current legal requirements and in keeping with best professional practice.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific issues raised.
619. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when appropriate supports and services will be made available to cater for this person's health needs; if he will detail same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2728/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with disability including those with autism. Significant resources have been invested in recent years in the health sector in these services and the HSE provides a range of community and residential services including therapeutic services and respite. The HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children and young people with disabilities under its Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People (0-18 years). This aims to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way both early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities are delivered. A detailed action plan is being implemented with the following objectives:
- One clear pathway to services for all children with disabilities according to need
- Resources used to the greatest benefit for all children and families
- Health and education working together to support children to achieve their potential.
The health and education sectors co-operate on a regular basis with a view to integrating their services for these children as much as possible and targeting them to areas of greatest need. At the same time there is a need to strengthen this co-operation and I am personally committed to this issue. I have established the Children, Adolescents and Young People with Complex Disabilities Unit in my Department led by a Principal Officer. This important development aims to foster greater collaboration between my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on children’s disability issues including autism and to build on the cross-sectoral working arrangements that are already in place.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
620. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the total number of hospital consultants in tabular form by gender and by Health Service Executive region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2731/13]
View answerSubject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. I have asked the Executive to compile the information requested by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
621. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Donegal who have had their medical cards withdrawn following reviews by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2732/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
622. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide data in terms of the number of applicants from County Donegal who have had their medical cards withdrawn following reviews in 2012 by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in 2012 [2735/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
623. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on situations in which Health Service Executive dentists visit primary schools and identifiy children whose adult teeth have decayed and recommend that these children visit private dentists without any financial support from the HSE even for families covered by medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2737/13]
View answerThe Public Dental Service of the HSE provides dental services for children and patients with special needs. In some areas the priority is emergency care, special needs and screening of children aged from 11 to 13 years. Usually where a child has been screened they are provided with care for their adult primary teeth. In some cases it may be necessary to place a child, who has been examined through the school screening service, on a treatment waiting list. Treatment for a child who receives emergency care is generally confined to the relief of pain and sepsis.
The HSE Public Dental Service is currently being re-structured. It is expected that the new arrangements will facilitate standardisation of services available nationally.
624. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the recent contacts he has had with the group Patients Focus; the steps he has taken to address the concerns of those women who were excluded from the redress scheme (details supplied) [2770/13]
View answerWhile I have had no recent contact with the organisation referred to by the Deputy, I have met them previously in relation to this sensitive issue. I envisage further consultation as the matter progresses.
As the Deputy is aware, a commitment was made in the Programme for Government to seek a mechanism to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone from the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme. The Scheme of Redress approved by Government in 2007 was a non-statutory, ex-gratia scheme. Awards were determined by an independent Redress Board in 2007 and 2008.
My Department has been engaged in a review to identify the most appropriate mechanism to compensate these women. This review has included taking instructions and legal advice, including advice from the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to bringing proposals to Government for a decision. This process is ongoing, and it is my intention that it will be brought to a satisfactory, legally sound conclusion as quickly as possible.
625. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the supports in place to assist patients who are unable to travel for medical appointments within the State due to a lack of means. [2771/13]
View answerIn general, patients are expected to make their own travel arrangements to and from hospital and OPD appointments, using private or scheduled public transport. The exceptions are for dialysis, cancer (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and post-operative transplant patients where transport may be provided. In these cases, the patient's appointment or treatment should be directly related to the condition. Transport may also be provided where, in the clinician's view, the patient would be unable to make the journey without clinical assistance or where the patient must be transported on a stretcher.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection administers a scheme which may help meet essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. These payments are known as Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs). Enquiries relating to this scheme should be addressed to the Department of Social Protection.
