Róisín Shortall
Question:252. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the dental care provided under the medical card scheme for diabetes type 1 patients. [11879/13]
View answerDental Services Provision
Questions (252)
Written answers
The Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders. The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs including patients with type 1 diabetes.
Health Services Issues
Questions (253)
Róisín Shortall
Question:253. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the decision to allow treatment to commence in respect of a person (details supplied). [11883/13]
View answerWritten answers
In 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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (254)
Bernard Durkan
Question:254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in respect of determination of entitlement to a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11889/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (255)
Gerry Adams
Question:255. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address the lack of a level 2 general practitioner in the Drogheda, County Louth area; the steps being put in place to deal with patients who require methadone treatment; the number of persons that will be affected by this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11912/13]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that a Level 2 General Practitioner who was based in Drogheda has just moved practice to Duleek, Co Meath and that his opioid substitution clinic will be held there this week. Approximately 35 people attend this GP for methadone treatment. I am advised that the HSE is working to put arrangements in place to again facilitate clients to be treated in Drogheda, if they so wish, as soon as possible. The HSE continues to work with GPs across the region with a view to recruiting more community-based prescribers for opioid substitution treatment.
Special Delivery Unit
Questions (256)
Patrick Nulty
Question:256. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health in respect of each staff member working in the special delivery unit, if he will provide details of their title-grade, salary, method of payment and recruitment process through which they were employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11927/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) was formally established in the Department of Health in September 2011. It was staffed by persons with the necessary clinical, IT, operational and management skills to address issues relating to both unscheduled and scheduled care, who were seconded to the Department from the HSE and some other organisations. Administrative support for the SDU was provided by Department of Health staff. Dr. Martin Connor of Value Based Health Solutions was contracted in June 2011 to provide a number of services, including the setting up and operationalisation of the SDU. In order to maintain and build on the work achieved from June 2011, a Government Decision was made on 29 November 2011 to re-engage his services to provide expert advice to the Department and to the SDU.
In order to deliver the required improvements in relation to emergency departments, elective, outpatient and diagnostic services, a need for directors of performance management in scheduled and unscheduled care was identified. Whereas the post of Director of Performance Management in Scheduled Care was filled by open competition in December 2011, a similar competition for the post of Director of Performance Improvement in Unscheduled Care failed to secure a suitably qualified candidate. The services of Ms. Lis Nixon of Lis Nixon Associates were secured by open tender in January 2012 to address this situation. As the SDU transferred operations from the Department of Health to the HSE with effect from 1 January 2013, the Deputy's question, insofar as it relates to other SDU staff members, has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
Hospital Services
Questions (257)
Patrick Nulty
Question:257. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the number of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients, classified as poor grade, that were denied emergency treatment in the neurosurgical centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012; the outcome for those patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11928/13]
View answerWritten answers
In 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.
Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 223.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (259)
Finian McGrath
Question:259. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [12014/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Action Plan for Jobs
Questions (260)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:260. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when he expects to bring forward proposals for the establishment of the national hub as identified in the Action Plan for Jobs; if he envisages that the creation of this hub will require legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12015/13]
View answerWritten answers
The establishment of the National Health Innovation Hub is one of seven 'Disruptive Reforms' included in the Government's Jobs Action Plan 2013. The aim is to establish a Hub to drive collaboration between the health system and the enterprise sector leading to the development and commercialisation of new healthcare technologies, products and services, emerging from within the health system and /or the enterprise system.
The steps deemed necessary to progress the establishment of the Hub are outlined in the Jobs Action Plan 2013, with the accompanying Table of Actions providing more detail. The Actions for 2013 include the preparation of a detailed proposal for Government consideration for the establishment of the National Health Innovation Hub with a timeline of Q4 2013 for this work. At this stage it is not envisaged that legislation will be required. Details of the Jobs Action Plan and the accompanying Table of Actions are available on the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation website (www.enterprise.gov.ie).