Written Answers Nos. 519-536
519. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health the funds available from his Department to support cancer care organisations; the date by which applications have to be made; and what the funding is available for. [11235/13]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, my Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures, along with the application form are set out on the Department's website - www.doh.ie.
520. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
521. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if home help hours will be restored in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite the matter. [11243/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
522. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if provision of hearing aids will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will expedite the application and give an early date for assessment. [11245/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss and prescribes hearing aids as required. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
523. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a home care plan will be put in place in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if respite will be arranged at Thomastown or Castlecomer Hospitals Kilkenny before discharge to their home; and if he will expedite the matter. [11247/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
524. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date for a hip operation will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [11248/13]
View answerIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
525. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a bed will be made available as soon as possible in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11249/13]
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.
526. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason an operation was cancelled in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11257/13]
View answerIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
527. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if home help and respite will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if he will expedite a review of the case. [11259/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
528. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his future plans for the services for the elderly programme at the Cavan day-care centre in Lisdarn Unit for the Elderly, County Cavan; if it is under threat; if staffing problems have, or are predicted to be, a problem for the provision of these services into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11264/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
529. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will review the decision not to award a medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11265/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
530. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the bed turnaround times at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and if there are any bed management issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11267/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
531. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the waiting times for chronic pain patients at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11268/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
532. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the stage the consultation process under the terms of Section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11270/13]
View answerOn Budget Day, it was announced that the fees and allowances payable to certain health professionals will be reviewed. The professionals concerned are General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians who hold contracts with the HSE, Smeartakers contracted under the CervicalCheck programme and Consultant Psychiatrists who hold contracts with the Mental Health Commission. On 13 December 2012, the Department of Health placed a notice in the National newspapers and on the Department’s website advising that a review of payments to the above health professionals was being carried out under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. Interested parties were invited to provide written submissions by Friday, 4 January 2013. The consultation period ended on 11 January 2013.
Detailed consideration of the various submissions is still ongoing. Following careful consideration of submissions made during the review and having due regard to Section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009, the Minister for Health will decide whether any reductions in fees/allowances will be made, and, if so, the scale of reductions that would be fair and reasonable in the circumstances. Should the Minister decide that reductions are warranted, Regulations will be made under the FEMPI Act with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
533. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to consult with the Irish Medical Organisation on the reform of primary care and when will meetings take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11274/13]
View answerA key commitment in the Programme for Government and a fundamental element in the health reform process involves significant strengthening of primary care services to achieve Universal Primary Care (UPC) with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients. In order to deliver on this commitment, the preparation of a new General Medical Services (GMS) contract with GPs will be required. The Department and the HSE are currently examining the changes that need to be made to the GMS contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. I have recently had discussions with the IMO during which I outlined the Government’s policy in relation to free GP care. I intend to engage in further discussions with the IMO once the legislation regarding the extension of free GP care is published.
534. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) in Dublin 22 has not yet received an assessment for autism from the Health Service Executive in Dublin. [11278/13]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
535. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Donegal currently in receipt of home help; the number of these that are living alone; the number of persons in County Donegal who have had their home help package reviewed on 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of these who have had their home help package reduced as a result of the review; the number of those with reduced home help hours who live alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11283/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
536. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath was discharged from the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11292/13]
View answerIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
