Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 26 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 549-565

Health Services Access

Questions (549)

Gerald Nash

Question:

549. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason the ante natal clinics in Dundalk and Navan are being discontinued; if he is concerned about the impact of these changes on disadvantaged women and those who do not have access to frequent public transport; if he is satisfied that the decision is in keeping with Health Service Executive service plan commitments to local access to safe and high quality essential ante natal services; if the decision can be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14945/13]

View answer

Written 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.

Tobacco Control Measures

Questions (550)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

550. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the 2000 plus respondents to the consultation on a proposal for an EU Directive on the Tobacco Products Directive that were for or against the changes proposed by the EU Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14946/13]

View answer

Written answers

The analysis of submissions received arsing from the public consultation for the Tobacco Products Directive is not yet complete. Approximately 6,500 submissions were received with over 6,000 of these in the form of printed postcards from the retail sector.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (551)

Michael McGrath

Question:

551. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the medical assessors who assess the medical aspect of medical card applications are qualified doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14947/13]

View answer

Written answers

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (552)

Robert Troy

Question:

552. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the eligibility criteria for medical cards for those persons who have worked both in this State and another EU Member State, and who are in receipt of a non-social welfare pension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14959/13]

View answer

Written answers

Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. Any person who is ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility (medical card holder) or limited eligibility (all others) for health services.

Determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE. Medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the HSE, unable to provide practitioner, medical and surgical services to themselves and their dependents without undue hardship.

Under the provisions of EU Regulations, a person may also be granted a Medical Card under the Regulations if; the applicant is living in Ireland and receiving a social security payment from another European Union /European Economic Area (EU/EEA) country or Switzerland and is not getting an Irish social welfare payment (apart from Child Benefit or Early Childcare Supplement) - such applicant must not be liable to contribute to the Irish Social Welfare System, (i.e. PRSI); the applicant is living in Ireland and working in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland and is liable to pay Social Insurance Contributions in that country; the applicant is living in Ireland and is the dependent spouse or child of someone employed in another EU/EEA country and Switzerland. The applicant must not be getting an Irish Social Welfare Payment apart from Child Benefit or Early Childcare Supplement and must not be liable to contribute to the Irish social welfare system.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (553)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

553. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14963/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Water Fluoridation

Questions (554)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

554. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he is giving consideration to ending the practice of artificially fluoridating our national water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14966/13]

View answer

Written answers

Water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. In 2002 the Forum on Fluoridation, which was established to review this policy, concluded that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, monitors new and emerging issues on fluoride and its effects. It advises that the balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, at the optimal level, does not cause any ill effects and is the safest and most cost effective method of protecting the oral health of the population. The opinion of the Expert Body is supported by the World Health Organisation; the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Service and the Surgeon General of the United States; the World Dental Federation; the International Association for Dental Research; the Royal College of Physicians of England and by major international scientifically validated reviews in many countries. The effects of fluoridation on health and related matters are kept under constant review.

Respite Care Services

Questions (555)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

555. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if, in the context of determination of eligibility for respite care/home help in respect of their child in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly, consideration will be given on the basis of their residency within the administrative area of County Kildare as opposed to their postal address for this area of County Kildare; if provision can be made to ensure that investigation into their entitlement proceeds forthwith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14972/13]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Hospital Services

Questions (556)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

556. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 5 March 2013, if he will provide the names of hospitals that referred 13 sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients who were not admitted for emergency neurosurgical treatment in the Neurosurgical Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, from April 2012 to June 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14976/13]

View answer

Written answers

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, with the names of the hospitals concerned.

Question No. 557 answered with Question No. 534.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (558)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

558. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of oncology patients in Mayo General Hospital on average for each week over the past year that have been left awaiting an oncology bed at their nearest Cancer Centre of Excellence at University Hospital Galway; the reason for this delay; if he will direct immediate action to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14984/13]

View answer

Written 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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (559, 560, 561, 562, 563)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

559. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if a package of supports for children who suffer from unique narcolepsy disorder is being submitted to the interested Departments for comment and approval; if the package has been prevented from being enacted by the office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14985/13]

View answer

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

560. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he is still committed to making a range of supports available for children who suffer from unique narcolepsy disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14986/13]

View answer

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

561. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the number of the children and young adults suffering from narcolepsy caused by the pandemrix vaccine that he has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14987/13]

View answer

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

562. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he will agree to meet with representatives of the SOUND advocacy within the next three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14988/13]

View answer

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

563. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the lack of progress of the report to him containing the list of necessary supports for the children and young adults suffering from narcolepsy caused by the pandemrix vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14989/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 559 to 563, inclusive, together.

Both myself and officials from my Department, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education and Skills have met with SOUND, the advocacy group for those diagnosed with narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination, on a number of occasions, to address their concerns and to outline the services available. My priority is to ensure that children/adolescents affected by narcolepsy, with symptom onset post pandemic vaccination are provided with a range of services and supports to meet their health needs.

The Health Service Executive has responsibility for health service delivery and at my request the HSE developed a range of appropriate services and supports to address the needs of this group. Together, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills provide a very comprehensive range of services and supports to those affected. These supports and services include access to rapid diagnosis, clear treatment pathways, temporary medical cards and reimbursement of expenses incurred. This includes expenses for counselling services for individuals and also for families of children affected by narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination, in cases where such services are not already available through the HSE. Multi-disciplinary assessments which allow for the appropriate individualised health and educational supports to be put in place are ongoing. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is also engaging with the HSE and with the individual schools and parents of children concerned to identify and provide educational supports for the children and adolescents affected.

The HSE's advocacy unit is in regular contact with the support group SOUND and last met representatives of the group on 28 February 2013. Through regional co-ordinators, the HSE also has frequent contact with individual members of SOUND and recently held an information day to ensure those affected were fully aware of all of the the services available.

My Department is considering all possible supports which may need to be put in place for those affected by Narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination. My Department is considering all other possible supports which may need to be put in place for those affected. Any such supports require my approval and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. My officials are engaged with relevant Departments to progress this issue. I would like to assure the Deputy that this matter continues to be a priority for my Department. A further meeting with representatives from the support group will be arranged when the matter has been concluded.

Hospital Charges

Questions (564)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

564. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if it is correct that a person (details supplied) in County Cork who, in emergency, availed of private treatment for hip replacement may not now avail of the public system to treat the second hip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15068/13]

View answer

Written answers

Section 55 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for the charging of private in-patients. An essential element of the eligibility arrangements is that the public or private status of a patient must be specified on admission to hospital. Where a patient elects to be treated privately by a consultant the hospital must treat that patient as a private patient. Persons who opt to be private on admission to hospital are liable for the fees of all consultants involved in his or her care and for such charges under section 55 for that episode of care.

Question No. 565 answered with Question No. 534.

Top
Share