Written Answers Nos. 219-226
219. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will be given an appointment date to see a consultant dermatologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13350/13]
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, which has 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.
220. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the ophthalmology Department at the Midlands Regional Hospital, County Offaly, is only accepting referrals for medical card patients; the reason this decision was taken; when this will be corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13371/13]
View answerI have been advised that the Ophthalmology Department at the Regional Hospital Tullamore accepts referrals for both adults and children. However, in relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, my Department is liaising with the HSE on the matter and it will write to the Deputy when it has further information.
221. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be assessed by the Health Service Executive west occupational health department for a decision to be made on an application to retire on the grounds of permanent infirmity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13375/13]
View answerAs the Deputy's query relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
222. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the additional immediate steps being taken to reduce the waiting times in the accident and emergency department of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13381/13]
View answerOn my appointment as Minister for Health, I set out to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients being treated in our hospitals. I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which is working to unblock access to acute services by improving patient flow through the system, including Beaumont hospital. An intensive work programme is underway between the SDU's liaison officers, the Clinical Programmes and Beaumont hospital teams. The SDU is satisfied that there is increased engagement at all levels in the hospital ensuring that emergency patients are seen in a timely manner, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care. There has been some improvement in treatment times for patients at Beaumont Emergency Department (ED) - 59% of new ED patients were admitted to a ward or discharged in less than six hours from their arrival time at Beaumont in January 2013 compared to 50% in May 2012.
I relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy in relation to additional immediate steps being taken to reduce waiting times at the hospital, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
223. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the reason emergency medical technicians who carry out all the duties of a paramedic and have the same legal and professional responsibilities as a paramedic are paid less than a paramedic; his plans to change this structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13403/13]
View answerAs the Deputy's query relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
224. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 472 of 5 March 2013, the steps that are open to citizens when they have evidence that a claim was made under the drug payment scheme on their behalf, although the medication was neither received by them nor ordered by them. [13405/13]
View answerThe HSE takes any information provided in relation to fraudulent activity very seriously. If any person has any information in relation to fraudulent activity of any kind they should provide that information to the HSE, or to the Gardaí, and appropriate action will be taken.
225. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health when items will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry by the prosthetic, orthotic and limb absence rehabilitation unit at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork, in view of the importance of the items to their everyday living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13406/13]
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.
226. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the action that is being taken to resolve the dispute between hospital pharmacists and the Health Service Executive that has resulted in nearly 1,000 people with hepatitis C, including more than 200 haemophiliacs, being denied access to new high tech drugs (details supplied) that were approved and funded in 2012; when he expects the dispute to be resolved; if any alternative options are being explored to ensure that those who need these products will be able to access them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13407/13]
View answerTwo new anti-viral drugs for the treatment of Hepatitis C were approved during 2012, which are administered under specialist care in 7 hospitals (St. James's, the Mater, Beaumont, St. Vincent's, Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital and St. Luke's in Kilkenny). The treatment regimes involved are complicated, multi-drug regimes that require significant and intensive involvement of pharmacists with patients to ensure the optimum outcome for patients. All patients must be closely monitored throughout the weeks of treatment in a hospital pharmacy environment to ensure proper and safe administration of the drugs.
The HSE has been working with all parties, including patient representative groups, to transition these services to a hospital based service. Arrangements are in place in each of the seven hospital hepatology units to ensure that all patients in urgent need of treatment are prioritised during this transition phase. All parties, including hospital pharmacists, have been actively planning for the changes to ensure that these services are delivered effectively and safely to patients.
The HSE Service Plan 2013 provides funding for the continued rollout of this service. The HSE has made arrangements to ensure that the appropriate pharmacy capacity and resources are available in each of the 7 hospitals to provide the anti-viral treatment as soon as possible to patients who have been assessed as suitable to receive it. This includes the recruitment of additional hospital based pharmacists to ensure that treatment is available to all patients in a timely manner. The pharmacists representative body has written to the HSE confirming it agrees with this arrangement. In this context, the HSE does not envisage any further delays.
